The Australian Cricketer

Keith Miller

Operational units based at RAF Ouston have been described by Philip Pain on this web-site – see sections relating to Flying Units & Aircraft as well as Models of Ouston’s Aircraft. The many units include No. 62 Operational Training Unit. It was formed in August 1942 at nearby RAF Usworth to train observers and radio operators in Air Interception techniques. In November 1943 an Australian named Keith Miller was posted to RAF Ouston. In the years before WW2, Keith Miller was becoming a prominent sportsman both in cricket and Aussie rules football. After the war, Keith Miller went on to become one of the greatest batsman/bowler all-rounders in the world. Search any contemporary list of Test Cricket all-rounders and his name remains near the top. This is in spite of modern era Test Cricket providing many more opportunities for creating records as international travel by air replaced voyages by sea. Here are some notes about his life before and after his time at RAF Ouston.

Early Life

Keith Ross Miller was born 28^th November 1919. His Christian or ‘given’ names were linked with flying. His parents were inspired by brothers Keith and Ross Smith famous for flying the first aircraft, a Vickers Vimy from England to Australia. His family home was in Sunshine, Victoria State near the city of Melbourne. His three bothers all played football in the winter and cricket in the summer, coached by their father a strong footballer and able cricketer. Unlike his elder brothers, young Keith was slow to fill out and acquired the name, “Weedy”. As he reached the age of seventeen, he put on a growth spurt also began to fill out. After progressing through schools’ cricket to state teams, by end of 1939, he was in the team from Victoria State playing the New South Wales team that included the legendary Don Bradman.

World War Two

At first the war in Europe seemed a long way off, but when the Luftwaffe began bombing London in September 1940, Miller decided to join the army reserve. Somehow, despite being fined for insubordination to an officer, he managed to wangle leave to continue to play cricket in the next season. However, returning to Army camp, he struggled with discipline and in November 1941 signed on to the Royal Australian Air Force. With 20 -20 vision he graduated from the initial training flying school in South Australia towards the end of 1942. Miller then sailed to England, via Boston, USA where he met his future wife Peg. His continuation training saw him billeted near Bournemouth before being posted to RAF South Cerney near Cirencester. Whilst here, he was put on a charge for answering back and almost thumping his Commanding Officer who had treated him as a “colonial”. To quote his biographer Perry page 87 “Miller displayed a hostile attitude to authority, pomposity, snobbery and pretentiousness”.

RAF Ouston

Flight Sergeant Miller arrived at Ouston in November 1943. Here he flew Anson’s and Oxford’s, twin engine aircraft training personnel in Airbourne Interception. The eight other Australians at Ouston at this stage of the war, hung around together but Miller‘s best mate was called Angus 'Gus' Glendinning, a professional footballer who played for East Perth. Miller managed to continue playing cricket in England despite the war. With so many RAAF personnel in the country there was a large pool of Aussie’s that were talented cricketers. Ouston being 300 miles north of London did not stop Miller playing in the main matches in the Home Counties. On one occasion, when selected to play in a London match, he begged a lift in an aircraft returning south to RAF Northolt, just west of the capital. The pilot was Battle of Britain ‘ace’ Wing Commander Laddie Lucas. They became good friends.

Back at Ouston, there were long periods of boredom for the energetic Miller. Occasionally, a wrestling troupe arrived to put on a show for the base, Miller would challenge the biggest visitor. One night he was thrown and landed awkwardly causing a back injury that stayed and affected his career as a bowler of cricket balls.

By spring 1944, the momentum of the war was moving in favour of the Allies. Miller’s time off from flying duties at Ouston allowed games of cricket played in nearby Clara Vale village on the south bank of the River Tyne. He was promoted from Flight Sergeant to Pilot Officer on 4^th May 1944. Later that summer, he travelled to Lord’s cricket ground in London on 15^th July to play against a British Civil Defence Team. He was on 96 when a Flying Bomb flew overhead. The players paused but no one ran for cover. After it passed, play resumed and Miller got his century.

Back to flying at Ouston, he and Glendinning, newly promoted officers were posted to RAF Cranfield for more advanced training on Blenheim V’s then Beaufighters followed by Mosquito’s. Given two weeks leave before transfer, the pair spent the time drinking in Newcastle. This culminated one night when Miller borrowed a Sergeants uniform so back at RAF Ouston he could carry on drinking with his Aussie mates in the Sergeants Mess. After too much drink, Miller caused a rowdy disturbance smashing a door and causing a fellow pilot to cut their hand very badly. The injury was an accident but part of the disturbance nevertheless. Miller knew this time he was in big trouble. Sure enough, he was put on eight charges and ordered to ‘get off the base’. Arriving at his new posting, RAF Cranfield on 30^th October, 1944, the pair faced their new Commanding Officer who would decide their fate. By some kind of miracle the CO (Later Air Commodore P. H. Hamley) was also recently from RAF Ouston.. Hamley had not had any trouble directly from the pair when they were all at Ouston. And Miller pleaded their cause along the lines of “Bur sir, we’ve had all this training now – would be a shame not to get a chance to fight the enemy”. They were let off provided they pay a fine to cover the damage back at Ouston.