Harold J. Milne
Encyclopedia
Major Harold James Milne, OBE
, MC
, DL, JP (10 March 1889 – 15 April 1963) was a figure in local government in the north east of Scotland
, and a recipient of the Military Cross
.
Born in Fraserburgh
he was the son of a prominent local solicitor, James Milne, and Mary Tarras. He followed in his father’s footsteps taking up his training at the University of Aberdeen
in 1912, but his studies were cut short in 1914 when he volunteered for the Army.
During the First World War he rose through the ranks to become a Acting Captain in the Gordon Highlanders. During the Battle of Arras in April 1917 he received a gunshot wound to the face, almost losing his left eye. In October 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for conducting "the advance of his company to a position in front with great gallantry and skill...showing complete indifference to danger while taking up dispositions in a heavily shelled wood".
When the war ended he returned to his hometown of Fraserburgh, being active in the Ex-Servicemens' Association, as well as other community based organisations. He was an Elder at Fraserburgh Old Parish Church
. He was a keen supporter of the Boys’ Brigade, serving as the second Company Captain of the 1st Fraserburgh Boys’ Brigade from 1924 until the outbreak of war in 1939. He returned to his war duties, attaining the rank of Honorary Major.
He was for many years elected to the Fraserburgh Town Council, serving as a Baillie
for the majority of his time there. He was, though, elected as Provost of Fraserburgh in 1950, a role he held until 1956. In 1954 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, also being awarded an OBE in 1954 for services to local government.
He was the first person to be awarded the Freedom of the Town of Fraserburgh.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DL, JP (10 March 1889 – 15 April 1963) was a figure in local government in the north east of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and a recipient of the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
Born in Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
he was the son of a prominent local solicitor, James Milne, and Mary Tarras. He followed in his father’s footsteps taking up his training at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in 1912, but his studies were cut short in 1914 when he volunteered for the Army.
During the First World War he rose through the ranks to become a Acting Captain in the Gordon Highlanders. During the Battle of Arras in April 1917 he received a gunshot wound to the face, almost losing his left eye. In October 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for conducting "the advance of his company to a position in front with great gallantry and skill...showing complete indifference to danger while taking up dispositions in a heavily shelled wood".
When the war ended he returned to his hometown of Fraserburgh, being active in the Ex-Servicemens' Association, as well as other community based organisations. He was an Elder at Fraserburgh Old Parish Church
Fraserburgh Old Parish Church
Fraserburgh Old Parish Church was founded in 1571 in the village of Faithlie which was soon to be built up into the town of Fraserburgh. The church itself was the first new structure of Sir Alexander Fraser's new town after the Castle of Kinnaird's Head. It did not take long for the church to...
. He was a keen supporter of the Boys’ Brigade, serving as the second Company Captain of the 1st Fraserburgh Boys’ Brigade from 1924 until the outbreak of war in 1939. He returned to his war duties, attaining the rank of Honorary Major.
He was for many years elected to the Fraserburgh Town Council, serving as a Baillie
Baillie
A baillie or bailie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where baillies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate...
for the majority of his time there. He was, though, elected as Provost of Fraserburgh in 1950, a role he held until 1956. In 1954 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, also being awarded an OBE in 1954 for services to local government.
He was the first person to be awarded the Freedom of the Town of Fraserburgh.