A Boer War and later Great War Armentieres November 1914 casualty group to Boy later Private and Bandsman J. Milne, 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) who saw service in South Africa during the Boer War as a Boy Soldier in operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, before later serving on the Western Front from 5th November 1914 as a Private and Bandsman in the 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) being wounded at Armentieres in the fighting of 29th November 1914 and dying on 1st February 1915 having returned to the UK. He was buried in Shooters Hill Cemetery.
Group of 4: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (6174 BOY J. MILNE. SCOTTISH RIFLES. ) 1914 Star; (6174 PTE. J. MILNE. 2/SCO:RIF.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (6174 PTE. J. MILNE. SCO. RIF.) Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: mounted loose for wear, Good Very Fine
John Robert Milne was born in Dublin around 1883. His father was Colour Sergeant Thomas Milne, who became a drill instructor at Rugby School.
After attending St. Matthews School, Jack joined the Scottish Rifles in August 1898 as a Band Boy and saw service throughout the Boer War taking part in the operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. At 6ft 2in, he was a keen sportsman and was in the Battalion football and cricket teams.
At the outbreak of WW1 he was with his regiment in Malta and after a short stay in England he arrived a the front on 5th November 1914.
On November 29th he would be wounded at Armentieres. Some comrades who had been sent out to get water got too close to the German lines and two of them were shot. Jack, a stretcher bearer was the first to reach the casualties and started to dress one of the wounded men. He was shot by a sniper 200 yards away. The bullet entered close to the spine and came out under the left breast. He remained conscious and was taken to the Field Hospital.
He would die of his wounds on 1st February 1915 whilst serving with 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) being noted as a Bandsman with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, details of his death being published in the Rugby Advertiser on 13th February 1915.
‘He kept very bright and cheerful all the time until his death. He remained at the base hospital until the New Year, and then was brought to England and taken to the Royal Herbert Hospital (Woolwich), where he lay for another 32 days, although paralysed from the waist downward, to all appearances improving, but on the 1st February he seemed to get a change, and gradually faded away without having had any pain.’
The funeral took place on 5th February 1915 and he was buried with full military honours at Shooters Hill Cemetery. The Band of the Royal Field Artillery preceded the gun carriage. His two brothers, Will and Thomas, lowered him into the grave.