Colonel Sir Eric William John Millhouse (26 December 1891 – 24 February 1950) was a South Australian lawyer, noted for his work for returned servicemen.

History

Millhouse was born at

Mount Gambier Mount Gambier is the second most populated city in South Australia, with a population of 25,591 as of the 2021 census. The city is located on the slopes of Mount Gambier (volcano), Mount Gambier, a volcano in the south east of the state, about ...

, a son of Joseph Edward Millhouse and his wife Mary Jane Millhouse, née Mahood. He was educated at the

Port Pirie Port Pirie is a small city on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, north of the state capital, Adelaide. Port Pirie is the largest city and the main retail centre of the Mid North region of South Australia. The city has an ex ...

school and subsequently

Prince Alfred College Prince Alfred College is a private, independent, day school, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, South Australia, Kent Town, near the Adelaide city centre, centre of Adelaide, South Australia. One of th ...

. He graduated LLB at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

University in March 1915, serving his articles with Young, Newland, & Ward, then worked as managing clerk for Francis "Frank" Villeneuve Smith, and was admitted to the Bar in the following month. He remained with Smith until 1916, when he joined the Crown Law Office and in 1921 succeeded Shierlaw as Crown Prosecutor, becoming the youngest in the history of Australia.

Returned servicemen

Millhouse enlisted with the

1st AIF The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 15 Aug ...

in September 1914, serving as a gunner with the 8th Battery in France, in July 1919 promoted to sergeant librarian. Soon after his return from the front, he received a commission in the Legal Corps and served as a part-time officer until placed on the retired list in 1949. He was State president of the RSL from 1942 to 1944, then elected Federal president in 1946, the second to hold the post after G. J. C. Dyett. He pushed energetically for preference in employment and rehabilitation for returned World War II servicemen.

Other activities

*In February 1933 he succeeded Sir Frank Moulden on the district staff of the

St. John Ambulance Brigade St John Ambulance is an affiliated movement of charitable organisations in mostly Commonwealth countries which provide first aid education and consumables and emergency medical services. St John organisations are primarily staffed by volunte ...

. *He was chairman of the Police Appeal Board for some time, replacing W. R. Kelly SM in July 1933, replaced in 1950 by E. L. Bean. *He was elected unopposed as chairman of the SA National Football League in March 1940, he was re-elected in February 1946, for a further term. *He was a keen lacrosse player, and represented South Australia in interstate matches. *In May 1936 he was elected president of the SA Amateur Billiards Association.

Recognition

*In 1933 he was appointed an honorary Special Magistrate by Executive Council *Millhouse was appointed KC in September 1945 *Millhouse was knighted in the 1950 New Year's list. Among prominent RSL officials who attended his funeral were the acting Federal president G. W. Holland, the Federal secretary James Clarence "Jim" Neagle of the RSL, and the Minister for the Army,

Josiah Francis Sir Josiah Francis (28 March 1890 – 22 February 1964) was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1922 to 1955. He was a minister in the Lyons and Menzies governments, serving as Minister in charge of War Ser ...

, flew in from interstate to be present. Tributes were read from the Governor, Sir

Willoughby Norrie Lieutenant-General Charles Willoughby Moke Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie, (26 September 1893 – 25 May 1977), was a senior officer of the British Army who fought in both World Wars, following which he served terms as Governor of South Australia and ...

, the Premier, Tom Playford, and the State president of the RSL Arthur S. Blackburn, VC.

Family

Joseph Edward Millhouse ( –1920) married Mary Jane Mahood ( –1944) in 1884. Their family included: *Dr. Ernest J. Millhouse (1885–1948), North Terrace dentist *Eric Millhouse married Marjorie Franklin Wald (1892–1955) in 1906. They had a home on LeFevre Terrace,

North Adelaide North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct (Australia), precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands. Laid out in a grid plan in three section ...

:*Ian Wald "Billy" Millhouse (1920–1943) *Vivian Rhodes Millhouse (1902–1963), also a lawyer :*

Robin Millhouse Robin Rhodes Millhouse, QC (9 December 1929 – 28 April 2017) was, at various times, the 39th Attorney-General of South Australia, the first Australian Democrats parliamentarian, and the Chief Justice of both Kiribati and Nauru and a judge ...

, lawyer and politician

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Millhouse, Eric 1891 births 1964 deaths Australian lacrosse players Australian Knights Bachelor Australian King's Counsel Australian military personnel of World War I Australian veterans activists People from Mount Gambier, South Australia University of Adelaide alumni People educated at Prince Alfred College