Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 57815 John Tindall Milne

Age: 26
From: Sunderland
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Wednesday 25th April 1917
Commemorated at: Mont Huon Cem, Le Treport
Panel Ref: III.E.3B

John Tindall Milne was born in the second quarter of 1891 in Sunderland the son of William James Milne and his wife Elizabeth Ann (née Taylor). His father was born in Sunderland, and his mother in Blyth, Northumberland. They married in 1875 in Sunderland, and had twelve children, all born in Sunderland, four of whom died young. John had older siblings William James, born in 1876, Mary Eleanor 1877, Elizabeth Ann 1879, Maria Jane 1881 (died in infancy), Richard Carden 1883, Rose Tindall 1885 (died at age 4), Ethel 1889, Thomas Taylor 1886 (died at age 2), and younger siblings Amy 1893 (died in infancy), Thomas Taylor 1894, and Winifred Byers 1897.

At the time of the 1891 census the family is living at 6 Houghton Street, Sunderland, with six children. His father is 44 years of age, a joiner born in Sunderland, his mother is 36 years old with no occupation shown, she was born in Blyth. John is five months old and has five siblings; William, aged 14, is working as a pupil teacher, Mary E. is 13, Elizabeth A. is 11 and at school, Richard C. is 7 and also at school, Ethel is 2 years old.

His father died in 1899, aged 52.

In 1901 the family is at 14 Roby Street, Sunderland. His widowed mother, 46, has seven children at home; the three eldest are helping to support the family. William, 24, is a school teacher, Elizabeth, 21, is a dressmaker working at home, and Richard, 17, is a horse driver. Ethel is 12, John is 9, Thomas is 6 and Winifred is 3.

The 1911 Census shows the family are living at 12 Gilsland Street South, Sunderland. His widowed mother Elizabeth, aged 56, is the head of the household. Also present along with John, who is 20 years old, and a photographer are his three siblings Ethel aged 22, Thomas Taylor aged 16 is an insurance clerk, and Winifred Byers is 13, at school. There is also a visitor Jane Tindall Milne, evidently John's aunt.

John enlisted in Sunderland joining the Army Cyclist Corps as Private 387, the amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he enlisted in about October 1915. He was subsequently transferred to the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57815.

SDGW shows that John was killed in action on 25th April 1917, aged 26. However, he is buried at Mont Huon Cemetery at Le Treport. This is close to the French coast, situated near to hospitals with a view to sending soldiers to the UK for treatment it is highly improbable that John would have reached here on the day he was wounded. Therefore, it is probable that he died of wounds on 25th April 1917.

The 19th Battalion War Diary shows that the 19th Battalion were stationed at AGNY. (near Arras)

April 24th 1917 - The night of 23rd and early morning of 24th passed away very quietly but with great artillery activity heard round about the Divisional Front Line positions. At 10 a.m. urgent orders were received to move at once to, and occupy, the Hindenburg Line. At 5 15 p.m. orders were received to send one company to report to an Officer of the 201st Field Company R.E. to assist as working party for construction of strong points behind the “Blue Line”. A company where detailed and left at 5 40 p.m.

April 26th - At 1:45 a.m. No.1 and 2 platoons returned, and at 2 45 a.m. No.4 platoon returned. It was not until 5 a.m. that No.3 platoon returned, one casualty had occurred. Work done, four strong points constructed.

During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre and by July 1916, the town contained three general hospitals (the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian), No.3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital. The 7th Canadian, 47th and 16th USA General Hospitals arrived later, but all of the hospitals had closed by March 1919. As the original military cemetery at Le Treport filled, it became necessary to use the new site at Mont Huon. There are now 2,128 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and seven from the Second World War. The cemetery also contains more than 200 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

John's headstone bears the epitaph:

"AT REST"

His death was reported in the Newcastle Journal on Wednesday 23rd May 1917;

DIED OF WOUNDS.

KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT.

J. T. Milne, 57815, (Sunderland);

His death, from wounds, was reported in the Sunderland Daily Echo on 27th April 1917:

“The death has occurred abroad from wounds received in action of Pte. J. Tindall Milne, K.L. Regiment, third son of Mrs. Milne, 12, Gilsland Street.”

The next day his family placed a notice:

“Pte. J. T. Milne, the dearly beloved son of the late William and Elizabeth Milne, Gilsland Street, died of wounds abroad. Deeply mourned.”

His mother received John’s Army effects, Army Pay of £2 14s 1d and a War Gratuity of £6-10s. The amount of pension awarded is not clear from the pension card in the name of his mother, Mrs. E. A. Milne, 12 Gilsland Street South, Sunderland.

All four sons enlisted. His eldest brother William, a schoolmaster, and married with a child, volunteered on 02nd December 1915 in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Richard also volunteered in the R.G.A. a few days later, on 10th December 1915. His younger brother Thomas served in the Royal Field Artillery.

Each of his brothers survived the war.

William served in Jamaica from June 1916 to January 1919, and was discharged at the age of 42. He later suffered bouts of malaria but was not awarded a disability pension.

Richard suffered an injury to his right hand, was transferred to the Labour Corps, and was discharged on 24th May 1919 with a Silver War Badge and a disability pension.

Richard had a son in 1917 he named John Tindall, who sadly died at age 20.

On the 1921 Census at Gilsland Street, widowed mother Elizabeth is aged 66, daughter Winifred is 23.

His mother lived to the age of 80, and died on the 14th October 1935. Her death was reported in the Sunderland Daily Echo on 15th October:

MILNE - At 5 Abingdon Street, on 14th October, aged 80 years, Elizabeth Ann, widow of William James Milne. Interment at Bishop-wearmouth Cemetery on Wednesday at 12 noon. Private service at home 11.45 a.m.

John is commemorated on the following memorials -

Ewesley Road Methodist Church

Holy Trinity, Sunderland, Book of Remembrance 1914-18.

We currently have no further information on John Tindall Milne. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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