| Milne | George Francis | | Major | MILNE, GEORGE FRANCIS, Major, was born 5 November 1866, son of George Milne, of Westwood, Aberdeen. He entered the Royal Artillery, as Lieutenant, 16 September 1885; became Captain, 4 July 1895. He served in the Nile Expedition of 1898, and was present at the Battle of Khartoum receiving the Medal and the Egyptian Medal with clasp. Captain Milne served in the South African War, 1899-1902; was promoted to Major 1 November 1890; served as DAAG 18 February 1900 to 22 August 1902, taking part in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900. including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River: in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including; actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 June): in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900, including actions at Colesberg (18 January to 8 February); again in the Transvaal, 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902 (Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April 1901]; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel; Queen's Medal with four clasps, and King's Medal with two clasps). He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "George Francis Milne, Major, Royal Artillery. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 24 October 1902. He was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 22 August 1902, and was DAQMG, Intelligence, Headquarters of Army, 26 January 1903 to 25 January 1907. He was GSO2, Territorial Force, North Midland Division, Northern Command, 1 April 1908 to 31 October 1909; became Colonel 1 November 1909; was GSO1, 6th Division, Irish Command, from 1 November 1909 to 3O September 1913; created a CB (Military) 1912; Temporary Brigadier-General, commanding Royal Artillery, 4th Division, Eastern Command, 1 October 1913 to 4 August 1914, and went out to the European War as such in August 1914 (Despatches). He was promoted Major General for services on the Field 18 February 1915; promoted Temporary Lieutenant General 14 December 1915; commanded 16th Army Corps, 1915; went to Salonica in January 1916, as Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces, and was later Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Black Sea. He was promoted Lieutenant General 1 January 1917, and Temporary General 25 June 1918; created a KCB in 1918; a KCMG in 1919, and a GCMG in 1919. Sir George Milne received the 2nd Class Order of the Dannebrog of Denmark (1905); the 3rd Class Star of Romania (1906); the Grand Cross of the White Eagle of Serbia with Crossed Swords (1917); was made Grand Officer, Legion of Honour, France, 1917, and received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, 1919. In 1917 he became Grand Officer of St Maurice and St Lazarus, Italy; in 1917 he was given the Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer, Greece; in 1919 the Grand Cross, Crown of Roumania; in 1918 the Croix de Guerre with Palm Leaves, and he also has the Greek Military Cross with Laurels. He married, in 1905, Claire Marjoribanks, daughter of Sir John Nisbet Maitland, 5th Baronet, and they had one son and one daughter.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Artillery |
