On December 10 / December 11 1917 at Givenchy, France, after an intense gas attack a strong enemy patrol tried to rush British posts, the garrisons of which had been overcome. Private Mills, although badly gassed himself, met the attack single-handed and continued to throw bombs until the arrival of reinforcements and remained at his post until the enemy had been finally driven off. While being carried away he died of gas poisoning but it was entirely due to him that the enemy was defeated and the line remained intact.
Grave Location: Buried at Gorre British & Indian Cemetery, Nr Bethune, Pas-De-Calais, France.
His VC Medal was buried with his Daughter Ellen, who died in the 1920s.