Lincolnshire Regiment, 5th Battalion, Service no. 53192
Killed in action 15th April 1918, aged 21
Story
Born in Kippax in 1897, Joseph was the son of William Mills and Fanny Arrundel. William was a bricklayer from Wretton, Norfolk, born in 1841, and his first wife, Jane, passed away in 1893 aged 53, and William began living with Fanny Arrundel, although they never married. The family lived on Well Lane. Next door on one side lived the Henshaws, with Hottewell Henshaw who would also enlist. On the other side were the Nortons, with John William Norton, who also enlisted, and was killed. Next to the Nortons lived Thomas Byers, who enlisted and survived. Private Joseph Mills enlisted for the army in Leeds.
Lincolnshire Regiment, 5th Battalion
When the Volunteers were subsumed into the Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms in 1908, the 3rd Volunteer Battalion was converted into the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. The Lincolnshire Regiment were not involved in any offences on the day Joseph was killed, although two other men from his regiment were killed on the same day. It is likely Joseph was killed during the German Spring Offensive.
Kippax Roll of Honour 