MILNE, Alexander (1897-1989)
MILNE, Alexander (1897-1989)
Alexander Milne was born on 22 July 1897, the son of David Anderson Milne and Mary nee Wheeler. He was enrolled at Geelong College in 1908 departing in 1914. His address at the time of his enrolment was 'Strachan, Murray and Shannon', Geelong. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIII of 1914. His mother died of tuberculosis on 26 December 1907 shortly before he commenced at College.
He served in the 41st Infantry Battalion (Militia) before enlisting (36644) on 12 February 1917, and embarked from Sydney with Artillery Reinforcements on HMAT A15 Port Sydney on 5 November 1917, travelling by way of Port Suez, Alexandria, Taranto (Italy), and seven days on a train to Cherbourg (France), eventually arriving at Southampton on 24 January 1918. He served as a Gunner with the 3rd (Army) Field Artillery Brigade, 29 Reinforcements, in France, arriving there on 8 April 1918, and spent time in September 1918 in 2nd General Hospital, Le Havre, suffering from influenza. He had leave to England in March 1919, and returned to Australia on HT Konig Frederich August, embarking on 20 June 1919.
According to his daughter, while recuperating from his influenza he was looked after by a French-speaking Belgian family, who he subsequently revisited many years later when he travelled back to Northern France.
Alexander Milne was born on 22 July 1897, the son of David Anderson Milne and Mary nee Wheeler. He was enrolled at Geelong College in 1908 departing in 1914. His address at the time of his enrolment was 'Strachan, Murray and Shannon', Geelong. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIII of 1914. His mother died of tuberculosis on 26 December 1907 shortly before he commenced at College.
He served in the 41st Infantry Battalion (Militia) before enlisting (36644) on 12 February 1917, and embarked from Sydney with Artillery Reinforcements on HMAT A15 Port Sydney on 5 November 1917, travelling by way of Port Suez, Alexandria, Taranto (Italy), and seven days on a train to Cherbourg (France), eventually arriving at Southampton on 24 January 1918. He served as a Gunner with the 3rd (Army) Field Artillery Brigade, 29 Reinforcements, in France, arriving there on 8 April 1918, and spent time in September 1918 in 2nd General Hospital, Le Havre, suffering from influenza. He had leave to England in March 1919, and returned to Australia on HT Konig Frederich August, embarking on 20 June 1919.
According to his daughter, while recuperating from his influenza he was looked after by a French-speaking Belgian family, who he subsequently revisited many years later when he travelled back to Northern France.
Source
Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p262 (citing National Archives).