Background
Fred was the son of Frederick and Ann Mills of Hanley, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent.
Fred was the son of Frederick and Ann Mills of Hanley, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent.
He finished the 1932-1933 season with three goals in 37 appearances.
He was killed during World World War World War II
Mills joined Portuguese Vale from Middleport, initially as an amateur, in April 1932. He scored twice in 37 Second Division games in the 1933-1934 campaign. He was sold to Leeds United in June 1934, as the club were running short of money.
He made his debut for Leeds at centre-forward, before switching to inside-right.
After 16 games of the 1934-1935 season he broke his leg, causing him to miss the entire 1935-1936 campaign. He played 32 times at wing-half in the 1936-1937 season, and scored twice in 12 First Division appearances in 1937-1938.
He played eight games in 1938-1939, but left Elland Road after the outbreak of World World War World War II
Mills joined the 6th Battalion King"s Shropshire Light Infantry, a new unit formed in 1940, which was converted into 181st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1942. On 5 December 1944, after the fighting for Blerick in the Netherlands, the regiment was in convoy and halted in a taped route through a minefield.
"The story goes that Paddy had found most of a German Machine Gun and was keen to complete his trophy … Suddenly Paddy was heard to shout "That"s just what I"m looking for" or words to that effect.
He jumped out of the lorry, and into the minefield. lieutenant"s not clear whether he stepped on a mine, or the box he picked up was booby-trapped, but Paddy was killed instantly." He left a widow, Lucy, and is buried in Venray War Cemetery.
Gunner Mills was known to his comrades as "Paddy" and was strong member of the regimental football team
