"Preserving our Past for the Future since 1973"
The Association & Museum of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) Inc.
  • Association
    • Membership
    • Executive
    • Regiment
    • Sabretache
    • Planned Giving Program
    • Bursary
    • Funeral Support
    • Special Events
    • Association Donations
    • Gallery
    • Contact Us
  • Museum
    • History
    • Our Collection >
      • Museum Artifacts
      • Museum Archives
      • Trench Exhibit
      • Camp Sussex Virtual Exhibit
    • Meet Our Team >
      • Volunteer Hours
    • Student Employment
    • Museum Newsletter
    • Museum Donations
    • Gallery
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs
  • Remembrance
    • Book of Remembrance
    • Lest we Forget Program
    • Faces to Graves
  • Media
    • Mini Museum Tour
    • Veteran Interviews
    • Videos
  • Gift Shop
    • 175th Anniversary Items

Milne

4/23/2017

2 Comments

 
427586 Pte W.J. Milne

Picture
William Johnstone Milne was born in Cambusnethan, Scotland in December 1892. This town, located just off the road between Glasgow and Edinburgh must not have had much to offer a lad as, in 1910 at the age of 17, he left for Canada.

William Milne took up the profession that so many Europeans who came to Canada in those days took; Farming. Handy sized 160 acre lots of prairie were available by a wise Canadian government who knew that the opening-up of the West to immigrant settlers and their subsequent development of these lands benefitted the Dominion as well. All that was required was hard back breaking work to tame it.

As the First World War took hold of the British Empire, many rushed to the colours and many did so at a more relaxed pace. Many of those British-born had begun to benefit from their efforts and were not drawn immediately to enlistment and some were anxious to return to the British Isles. While patriotism must have played a large part, some must have found it a convenient excuse to “go home” after failing to find their fortunes or finding the toil too much. Statistically, those from the British Isles did less well in the rural Canadian settlement and British-born made up almost 70% the CEF enlistments early in the war. William Milne’s fortunes as a Farmer are not specifically recorded but it was not until a full year into the War that he enlisted in the 46th Battalion of the CEF in Moose Jaw SK, in September 1915. He was 23 years old.

Arriving in the UK with his Battalion in November 1915, Pte Milne’s Service File is rather bare until April 1916 when he spent alternating stints in Hospital in Aldershot and Bramshott for Influenza and Venereal Disease. Considered almost a self-inflicted wound, he was appropriately docked sixty cents a day in pay for his VD. He transferred to the Continent in June 1916 and joined the 16th Battalion in the Field. Here Canadians would serve on the great Somme battlefields until November. Although his actions at his Divisions battles at Flers-Courcelette and Ancre Heights are not recorded in his file, Pte Milne remained on strength with his Battalion despite repeated visits to Field Ambulance Units for Influenza complaints throughout the winter of 1916/17.

On the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the 9th of April 1917, Pte Milne and 16th Battalion as part of 3rd Brigade 1st Canadian Division were on the right of the Canadian Corps and have the furthest to advance to gain the day’s objectives. Almost as soon as his Battalion rose out of their jumping off trenches, Pte William Johnstone Milne noticed an enemy machine gun holding up the advance to their first objective at Black Line. Skillfully creeping by crawling on his hands and knees with a bag of grenades over his shoulder, through mud and shell holes, he approached the enemy position unseen and threw a grenade. The blast destroyed some of the crew and demoralized the rest into surrendering., the MG was captured and the advance continued. Later, in front of the Red Line, 16th Battalion was again held up by enemy fire. Milne again crept forward hole to hole and again made use of a grenade to blast an MG in a camouflaged concrete pillbox. He completed its submission with a bayonet attack that demoralized the MG crew to the point of surrender. Again, the advance continued but at some point, shortly thereafter and in some unknown manner, Pte Milne met his end on the Vimy battlefield. Although seen to fall, his remains were never recovered but he is enshrined on the Vimy Memorial and his Victoria Cross and two war medals are displayed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.


2 Comments
assignmentman essay service link
6/3/2017 01:35:20

William Johnston Milne is the greatest army major and always ready to defeat the enemy. They belong to the Scotland and also take the training in the different cities. This is the good personality person and always active during the training session.

Reply
Assignment Help Usa link
12/13/2021 06:32:48

William Johnston Milne is the finest army general in history, and he is always ready to crush the enemy. They are from Scotland and receive their training in various cities. This is a person with a positive personality who is constantly active during the training session.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Welcome to the 8th Hussars Museum
     The 8th Hussars Museum is located in the historic Train Station in Sussex, NB. The building has been restored to its original grandeur and is situated in the hub of the Town of Sussex. The Victorian-era structure houses many of the important artifacts of the museum and is accessible to the general public. Since the later part of the 19th century, countless Hussars arrived by rail to train at Camp Sussex and later to serve in the South African War, WWI and WWII.
    The collection includes many items representing the life of the Regiment with original uniforms dating back to 1881, original Routine Orders dating back to 1893, memorabilia from members who represented the Regiment at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, WWI, WWII, UN/NATO peacekeeping tours as well as the Afghanistan engagement. Of particular interest are the flags from each of these eras. The Museum also proudly holds the original accouterments of HRH The Princess Royal who is Colonel Commandant of the Regiment.

    Archives

    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

Location

Museum Google Reviews

"A lot of love, care, and respect went into the creation of this space. Thank you for a great tour and a fabulous tribute to so many."

"Friendly and informative- an important keeper of Canadian history"

Contact Us

​We're also on Instagram! @8thHussarsMuseum

Proudly powered by Weebly