Captain John Theobald Milne (20 August 1895 – 24 October 1917) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

fighter pilot A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and ...

and

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

of the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He was credited (with his gunners) with nine aerial victories (four destroyed and five 'out of control').

Biography

Milne was born in 1895 in Kensington, London, the son of John and Isabel Milne. He was educated at

Abingdon School Abingdon School is a day and boarding independent school for boys in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. The twentieth oldest independent British school, it celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. The school was described as "highly ...

(1905 to 1909) and then

Radley College Radley College, formally St Peter's College, Radley, is a public school (independent boarding school for boys) near Radley, Oxfordshire, England, which was founded in 1847. The school covers including playing fields, a golf course, a lake, and ...

(1909 to 1912), both in Oxfordshire. Joining the army at the outbreak of the First World War, Milne was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 4 September 1914 to serve in the 6th Battalion,

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was a light infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1881 until 1958, serving in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. The regiment was formed as a consequence of th ...

and was promoted to lieutenant on 30 December 1914. His battalion arrived in France in July 1915. In 1916 Milne transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 4 April. After completing his flight training he was appointed a flying officer on 24 June, and then appointed a flight commander, with the temporary rank of captain, on 1 October. Eventually posted to France to serve in No. 48 Squadron, flying the Bristol Fighter, Milne gained his first aerial victory on 6 July 1917 by driving down out of control an

Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service (''Luftstreitkräfte'') during World War I. A modified licence model was built by Oeffag for the Austro-Hungarian Air Service ( ''Luftfahrtruppen''). T ...

, east of

Cambrai Cambrai (, ; pcd, Kimbré; nl, Kamerijk), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department and in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, regio ...

, he then destroyed an

Albatros D.V The Albatros D.V is a fighter aircraft built by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke and used by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family and the last Albatro ...

south of Vitry the following day. Milne shot down another D.V over

Gistel Gistel () is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. Following local government boundary reforms in 1971 and 1977, the municipality has comprised not only Gistel, but also the towns of Moere, Snaaskerke and Ze ...

on 12 July, then returned to England on leave, where on 24 July, in the

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

Sutton Courtenay Sutton Courtenay is a village and civil parish on the River Thames south of Abingdon-on-Thames and northwest of Didcot. Historically part of Berkshire, it has been administered as part of Oxfordshire since the 1974 boundary changes. The 201 ...

, he married Joan Florence Hanmer (1894–1975), younger daughter of Mr. Thomas Hanmer. Milne soon returned to his squadron, and shot down two more D.Vs over Gistel on 20 August, and another the following day east of Westkerke. He shot down another over Westkerke on 25 August, then two more, one over

Middelkerke Middelkerke () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Ostend. The municipality comprises the villages of Leffinge, Lombardsijde, Mannekensvere, Middelkerke proper, Schore, Sint-Pieters-Kapell ...

on 9 September, and another over

Slype The term slype is a variant of slip in the sense of a narrow passage; in architecture, the name for the covered passage usually found in monasteries or cathedrals between the transept and the chapter house, as at St Andrews, Winchester, Glouces ...

on 28 September. Milne was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

, which was

gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

on 14 September 1917. His citation read: :Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Theobald Milne, General List and Royal Flying Corps. ::"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst leading offensive patrols. He has shown great determination and courage in attacking hostile formations, although in superior numbers, at close range. He has also done long and arduous reconnaissances and secured good photographs under very adverse conditions and heavy fire, displaying throughout an admirable spirit of fearlessness and energy." Around the same time he received his award Milne was listed as having been wounded in action, but soon returned to flying as he and his observer were shot down near

Merkem Merkem is a town in the Belgian province West Flanders. It is a part ( deelgemeente) of the municipality of Houthulst. Notable people * François Mabilla (1898-1918) died during the Battle of Merkem during the First World War World War ...

on 24 October 1917 by Fritz Kieckhäfer of '' Jasta 29''. Milne is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial for airmen lost on the Western Front with no known grave.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milne, John Theobald 1895 births 1917 deaths People from Kensington People educated at Abingdon School People educated at Radley College British Army personnel of World War I English aviators Royal Flying Corps officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross British military personnel killed in World War I Aviators killed by being shot down Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry officers

Biography

See also

References