2nd Lt
Alexander James Bolton Milne
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 27/07/1887 |
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Place of birth: Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Religion: Baptist |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Enlistment place: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Gordon Highlanders, 4rd Bn. attd. 9th Bn. (Attached) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 22/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Square Farm, Zonnebek, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 30 |
Cemetery
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White House Cemetery Plot: IV Row: A Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alexander James Bolton Milne was born on 27 July 1887 in Lerwick, Shetland. At a young age, the Milne family moved to Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the son of Baptist minister Alexander Allan Milne and Janet Bolton. Alexander was following the steps of his father, studying at both Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities. After graduation in 1915, he enlisted with the 4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders, and after training, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December that same year. In the summer of 1917, Second Lieutenant Milne was attached to the 9th Battalion (Pioneer) Gordon Highlanders, part of the 44th Brigade, of the 15th (Scottish) Division. He commanded “H” Company.
On 22 August 1917, the 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders took part in a minor attack called “The Action of 22 August 1917”, part of the Third Battle of Ypres. Six platoons of the battalion were tasked with capturing the high ground of Hill 35, a strategic feature. Thirty minutes after zero hour (4:45 a.m.) the pioneers started their attack, but the men failed to capture the crest of the Hill. They dug in on its west side, between Somme in the north and Pommern Redoubt in the south. This attack caused heavy casualties among the British ranks. Once new trenches had been dug, the casualty rate decreased. Although both sides tried to attack and counter-attack the following days, the situation remained more or less unchanged until the unit was withdrawn on the 27th of August 1917.
Alexander James Bolton Milne, aged 30, was killed in the attack of 22 August 1917. In the summer 1919 a grave with a cross was found near Square Farm. The inscription read: “In Memory of Unknown British Officer 4th Gordon Hrs.” These remains were identified as Second Lieutenant Milne. On 31 July 1919 he was reburied at White House Cemetery, plot IV, row A, grave 1.
On 22 August 1917, the 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders took part in a minor attack called “The Action of 22 August 1917”, part of the Third Battle of Ypres. Six platoons of the battalion were tasked with capturing the high ground of Hill 35, a strategic feature. Thirty minutes after zero hour (4:45 a.m.) the pioneers started their attack, but the men failed to capture the crest of the Hill. They dug in on its west side, between Somme in the north and Pommern Redoubt in the south. This attack caused heavy casualties among the British ranks. Once new trenches had been dug, the casualty rate decreased. Although both sides tried to attack and counter-attack the following days, the situation remained more or less unchanged until the unit was withdrawn on the 27th of August 1917.
Alexander James Bolton Milne, aged 30, was killed in the attack of 22 August 1917. In the summer 1919 a grave with a cross was found near Square Farm. The inscription read: “In Memory of Unknown British Officer 4th Gordon Hrs.” These remains were identified as Second Lieutenant Milne. On 31 July 1919 he was reburied at White House Cemetery, plot IV, row A, grave 1.
Sources 4
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2/Lieutenant Alexander James Bolton MILNE. The Gordon Highlanders. (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 374/47947). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C718075 Sources used |
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Divisional Troops: 9 Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Pioneers) (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/1929/3). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Geddes, Jonathan. Cambuslang man who died in the First World War to be honoured at last (Daily Record, 27.06.2018) https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/cambuslang-man-who-died-first-12797319 Sources used |
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Lieutenant A J B Milne (Cumnock History Group) https://cumnocksoldiers.blogspot.com/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/454805 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=94a182c3-6d86-4b5e-b3eb-947289150a8e |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1304899 |