The Cambusnethan VC

William Johnstone Milne was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Vimy Ridge, 9 April 1917.

William Johnstone Milne was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Vimy Ridge, 9 April 1917.

W.J. Milne 16th Battalion CEF (Canadian Scottish)

William Milne came to Canada in 1910 from his native Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland settling near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where he worked as a farmer. On 11 September 1915 Milne joined the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion but transferred on 16 June 1916 to the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Canadian Scottish) of the First Canadian Division.

Aerial photo of Vimy and Bois de Bonval. Image courtesy of the Canadian Scottish Museum and Archives)

Aerial photo of Vimy and Bois de Bonval. (Image courtesy of the Canadian Scottish Museum and Archives)

On 9 April 1917 Milne’s battalion was in position on the left sub-sector of of the 3rd Infantry Brigade front. To their left was the 18th Battalion CEF of the 2nd Canadian Division and on their right flank was the 14th Battalion CEF (Royal Montreal Regiment) also of the 1st Canadian Division. The 16th’s objective was to capture the German held positions of Zwolfe Graben and Zwischen Stellung.

Detail of Vimy Ridge map. Nicholson,  CEF, Army Historical Section, Ottawa, 1962.

Detail of Vimy Ridge map. Nicholson, CEF, Army Historical Section, Ottawa, 1962.

Upon going over the top, two minutes after commencement of the artillery barrage, the weather changed and the battalion in addition to the many hazards of the battlefield were subjected to a snow and sleet storm that last several hours.

Bombardment of Vimy Ridge

Bombardment of Vimy Ridge, April 1917. (Image courtesy of the Canadian Scottish Museum and Archives)

As the 16th approached Zwolfe Graben they faced enemy machine gun fire and it was Milne who located the machine gun. Crawling upon his hands and knees, Milne, equipped with a bag of bombs, was fired upon but managed to get within position and destroy the machine gun post and its occupants. Turning towards their second objective, Zwischen Stellung, Milne’s battalion was again subjected to fire from a concealed, concrete machine gun post hidden within a haystack near Terry Trench. Once again Milne took on the position and again succeeded in knocking out the post which led to the surrender of the German garrison. For these actions Milne was to become the recipient of the Victoria Cross, though he would never learn of his award as he was killed shortly afterwards.

Gerrman line of trenches behind Vimy

German line of trenches behind Vimy Ridge. (Image courtesy of the Canadian Scottish Museum and Archives)

Citation for the Award of the Victoria Cross
William Johnstone Milne VC

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On approaching the first objective, Pte. Milne observed an enemy machine gun firing on our advancing troops. Crawling on hands and knees, he succeeded in reaching the gun, killing the crew with bombs, and capturing the gun. On the line re-forming, he again located a machine gun in the support line, and stalking this second gun as he had done the first, he succeeded in putting the crew out of action and capturing the gun. His wonderful bravery and resource on these two occasions undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. Pte. Milne was killed shortly after capturing the second gun. (London Gazette, 8 June 1917)

W.J. Milne VC

The Victoria Cross, British War Medal and Victory Medal belonging to William Johnstone Milne.
(Canadian War Museum Collection)

Milne was killed in action in the attack southwest of Thelus. His gravesite was originally registered and reported as located approximately “1/2 mile South East of Neuville St. Vaast, 3 3/4 miles North of Arras, France” (Canada, War Graves Registers, Circumstances of Casualty) . Grave Number “C.A.40 Loc. A.10.9.7.36c.A.10.9.7″ (Canada CEF Commonwealth War Graves Register). However, through the course of the Great War Milne’s grave was lost and he is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, France.

Milne name on Vimy Memorial.

The chiseled name of W.J. Milne V.C. on the Vimy War Memorial.
(P. Ferguson image, September 2010)

William Johnstone Milne’s mother, Agnes, received his Victoria Cross, campaign medals, memorial plaque and scroll. Agnes Milne was also presented with the Canadian Memorial Cross. Milne is also commemorated in his home town on the Cambusnethan Landward War Memorial, Newmains District, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Milne was 24 years of age at the time of his death. His father David Milne may have died about 1915-1916.

Cambusnethan Landward War Memorial,

W.J. Milne is also recorded on the Cambusnethan Landward War Memorial, Newmains District, Lanarkshire, Scotland. (www.scottishmining.co.uk)


About The Author

pferguson
Paul has worked with the Paradigm Motion Picture Company since 2009 as producer, historian and research specialist. Paul first met Casey and Ian WIlliams of Paradigm in April 2007 at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium when ceremonies were being held for the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial, France. Paul's sensitivity to film was developed at an early age seeing his first films at RCAF Zweibrucken, Germany and in Sardinia. Paul returned to Canada in 1967 and was further amazed by David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Film captivated Paul and with time he became increasingly interested in storytelling, content development, character, direction, cinematography and soundtracks. At the University of Victoria, Paul studied and compared Japanese and Australian film and became interested in Australian film maker Peter Weir and his film "Gallipoli" (1981). Paul was entranced when he learned Weir had visited the beaches, ridges and ravines of the peninsula. The film "Gallipoli" alone led Paul on many journeys to sites of conflict in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Malta, Hawaii, Gallipoli and Salonika. It was, however, when Paul watched documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, "The Civil War", that Paul understood how his own experience and insight could be effective and perhaps influential in film-making. Combining his knowledge of Museums and Archives, exhibitions and idea strategies with his film interests would be a natural progression. Paul thinks like a film-maker. His passion for history and storytelling brings to Paradigm an eye (and ear) to the keen and sensitive interests of; content development, the understanding of successful and relational use of collections, imagery and voice. Like Paul's favorite actor, Peter O'Toole, he believes in the adage “To deepen not broaden.” While on this path Paul always remembers his grandmother whose father did not return from the Great War and how his loss shaped her life and how her experience continues to guide him.

Comments

One Response to “The Cambusnethan VC”

  1. pferguson pferguson says:

    Thank you so much for taking the time and for providing your thoughts about your ancestor W.J. Milne VC. The Western Front is an astonishing place to visit and am so pleased that your son had a chance to visit at the Canadian War Museum. All the best.
    Paul

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