Mother: Jane Milne. nee:.

MILNE, JOHN ALEXANDER (1872-1918), farmer, agent and soldier, was born on 23 March 1872 at Woodside, Cromar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, son of Alexander Milne, labourer, and Jane McCombie, and was educated at Torphins School. He arrived in Brisbane as a free immigrant on the Dorunda in August 1890. Initially a farm-labourer in the Wide Bay district, he was a miner in 1897 and then engine-driver on the Gympie goldfield, and in 1903-06 a farmer at Kilkivan Junction. He became a commercial traveller for hardware firms, based at Maryborough and from 1908 at Bundaberg, where he established a commission agency in 1913 and was a dealer for the International Harvester Co. of Australia Pty Ltd.

An excellent rifle-shot, Milne was from 1908 an officer in the Wide Bay Regiment's 1st Battalion (later the 4th Infantry Battalion). He enlisted in the 9th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, as a captain on 20 August 1914 and sailed on the first troopship to leave Queensland. On 25 April 1915 Milne took 'E' Company ashore at Gallipoli; although wounded five times he continued encouraging his men until he collapsed and was dragged down to the beach where it was realized he was still alive. After treatment in hospital he returned to Gallipoli but on 11 November, two days after his promotion to major, he was evacuated because of fever and in January 1916 was invalided to Australia.

After enthusiastic civic welcomes in Maryborough and Bundaberg, Milne told in recruiting speeches , 'cheered to the echo', of his pleasure in leading such men as the Australians, unveiled the honour board of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bundaberg, and enjoyed a short fishing holiday at Urangan. On 1 May 1916 he resumed duty with the A.I.F. and was appointed second-in-command of the 41st Battalion. Reaching France in November, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and given command of the 36th Battalion on 24 February 1917. Gassed at Messines, and injured by a shell at Passchendaele, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in August for 'great capacity and initiative' and was mentioned in dispatches in December.

In March 1918 Milne successfully organized and executed two important raids on German defences near Warneton, and at Villers-Bretonneux on 4 April led a spectacular bayonet charge. Generals Birdwood, Goddard, Monash and Rosenthal appreciated Milne's achievements but before receiving official recognition he was killed on 12 April 1918 by a shell and was buried in Heath cemetery, Harbonnières.

Strong, broad-shouldered, seemingly fearless, with a powerful voice and marked Scots accent, the sandy-haired Milne was well liked and respected by his troops. A rugged individualist, with little respect for formality though a rigid disciplinarian, he was an eminently practical and competent soldier with a strong sense of duty.

On 6 October 1898 at Kilkivan Junction, Queensland, in a Primitive Methodist ceremony performed by Rev. John Adamson, Milne had married Mary Elise May Bull who, with their three sons, survived him.

Select Bibliography; C. E. W. Bean, The A.I.F. in France, 1918 (Syd, 1937); N. K. Harvey, From Anzac to the Hindenburg Line (Brisb, 1941); London Gazette, 24 Aug, 28 Dec 1917; Maryborough Chronicle, 16, 22 Feb 1916; Brisbane Courier, 27 Apr 1918; Sydney Mail, 22 May 1918;

Author: Betty Crouchley; Print Publication Details: Betty Crouchley, 'Milne, John Alexander (1872 - 1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986, pp 521-522.

John Alexander Milne enlisted with the rank of Captain and served with 9th Battalion AIF at Gallipoli prior to being promoted Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 36th Battalion AIF in France. John was Killed in Action on the 12 of April 1918. John is commemerated in perpetuity by the Commonweath War Graves Commission at the Heath Cemetery, Harbonniers, France.

November 1914.

Father Neptune and his party in costume during a Crossing of the Line Ceremony on board HMAT A5 "Omrah" to mark the crossing of the Equuator in November 1914. Left to Right: Captain Dougall, Lieutenant Kerr, Captain John Alexander Milne of the 9th Battalion, Captain Fisher and Lieutenant Patterson.

(www.awm.gov.au)

12th of October 1917. Passchendaele II

The first shell killed three signallers. Lieutenant Albert Leslie Watson. a signal officer of the 34th Battalion, a brave and enterprising leader who also was at the head of the column was severely wounded and all his staff hit. After establising a forward command post Lieutenant Thomas Fraser Bruce 36th Battalion was also killed. Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander Milne, 36th Battalion supervising the assembly was knocked down by a shell but continued to command. Chaplain C Murphy was also wounded.

(BEAN; History Of World War 1 Vol IV p911)

Military Records

(Australian National Archives)

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