Pte 50032 Ronald Milne

• Age: 19
• From: Tottenham
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Hooge Crater Cem, Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: XVI.L.16

Ronald Milne was born in the June quarter of 1898, the son of Colin and Sarah Jane Eleanor Milne (nee Rice) who were married on the 12^th August 1882 at St John, Hampstead. Colin was a 27 year old goldsmith of Camberwell, father George, Sarah was a 24 year old teacher of Hampstead, father William.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 29, Suffolk Road, Tottenham, Edmonton, Middlesex. His father, Colin, was aged 46, born 1855 and employed as a gold pencil case maker who was born in London. His wife Sarah Jane is aged 42, born 1859 in Islington, London. They have nine children, Colin aged 17, born 1884 is a clerk for a stock merchant who was born in London, Alex aged 16, born 1885 is a manufacturers clerk and Leslie aged 14, born 1887 is a clerk for a Hide Brokers and both were born in Hampstead, Florence aged 13, born 1888, Constance aged 9, born 1892, Elsie aged 6, born 1895, Agnes aged 5, born 1896, Ronald aged 2,  and Alma born in 1901, were all born in Tottenham.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 12 Avenue Road South Tottenham, Tottenham, Middlesex.His father, Colin, is now aged 56, is a gold pen maker, his wife Sarah Jane is aged 52, with no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty nine years and have had ten children of which two had died. They have seven children living with them at the time of the Census, Leslie aged 24, is a merchants clerk for a ship broker’s, Florence aged 23, is a blouse machinist, Constance aged 19,is a domestic housemaid, Elsie aged 16, is also employed as a blouse machinist, Agnes aged 15 is a clerk for a provisions company, Ronald aged 12, born 1899 and Alma aged 10 are both at school.

He enlisted in London and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 30783 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

20^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle. 

He now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“THY WILL BE DONE”

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.  

Ronald was reported wounded and missing in the Weekly Casualty List of 25^th September 1917:

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Milne 30032 R. (Tottenham, N)

A request for information about Ronald featured in The People 23^rd Sept 1917

TOMMIES OF WHOM NEWS  WOULD BE WELCOMED

MILNE 50032 Private Ronald, King's Liverpool Regiment. Sister inquires. - Write, Miss Elsie Milne, 12 Avenue Road, St Anne's Road, Tottenham, N.15.

Soldiers Effects to father William, Pension to mother Sarah Jane Eleanor.

His mother died, aged 63, in the December quarter of 1921.

His father died on the 16^th November 1938, aged 83.

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