Mr Mills was the elder son of the late Mr Daniel Yarnton Mills, J.P., of Sudgrove House, and was born in 1849. He was perhaps best known to the outside world as one of the most distinguished amateur chess players of the day, and amongst chess players, of whom there are so many in Stroud and the district, there was no name more familiar. He was one of the founders of the British Chefs Club, and its first hon. secretary. He played for the club in the memorable Correspondence Match against St. Petersburg in 1887.

He was also instrumental in organising the International Tournament of the British Chess Association at Manchester in 1890, and took part in the amateur tournament, winning the Amateur Championship Cup of the Association. He secured the championship of the Scottish Chess Association eight times in succession. In 1885 and again in 1887, he won the championship without losing a game — an extraordinary record. He will be greatly missed in the annual Anglo-American Cable Matches, as he was always regarded as one of the most trustworthy members of the English team. He had the distinction of being the only English amateur who has never lost a game in these contests, and this result is the more remarkable as he had taken part in all the matches since their inauguration. One of the achievement in which the late Mr Mills took the keenest satisfaction was his defeat of Lasker, the world's champion chess player, when the latter visited Edinburgh a few years ago and played simultaneous games with 14 members of the Edinburgh Chess Club. Mr Mills was the only player who scored a victory or that occasion.

The funeral took on Wednesday at Miserden, the remains being interred in the family vault. The service was taken by the rector, the Rev. R. B. Faree... A considerable number of the inhabitants of the parish attended to show their respect for one who spent his childhood amongst them and who was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. A very large number of wreaths was sent including some of exceptional beauty from Scotland."

Falkirk Herald, Wednesday, January 18th 1899, p.8:

<"Mr Lasker visited Edinburgh in the beginning of last week, and in the Clarendon Hotel, under the auspices of Edinburgh C.C., met 27 players in simultaneous chess, defeating 24 of them, losing to two, and drawing with one. The leading players of the Edinburgh club took part against the champion, and his visit excited general interest. D. Y. Mills and Mr Greeves, a Northampton gentleman, were successful in winning their games, and Mr C. Meikle obtained a draw after a close contest. Mr Mills won a pawn in opening, and thereafter Mr Lasker tried to force an attack, but it was no use, and, latterly with "the exchange up," his opponent scored. All the other games were won by the champion, whose final score was 24 to 2 and 1 draw.>

Tarrasch vs Gunsberg, 1890