| Milner | George Francis | | Captain | MILNER, GEORGE FRANCIS, Captain, was born 10 July 1862, at the Deanery, Westminster, London, son of Henry B W Milner, second son of Sir W Milner, 4th Baronet, and Charlotte, daughter of the Right Reverend Marcus Beresford, Archbishop of Armagh. He was educated at Eton, and joined the 17th Lancers, as Lieutenant, from the Militia, 27 January 1883; was promoted Captain into the 1st Life Guards 11 January 1893. He served in the South African War from December 1899, until June 1902; as Captain in a Composite Regiment of Household Cavalry; as Brigade Major to General Broadwood, 3rd Cavalry Brigade, and in command of the 12th Imperial Yeomanry, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was present at the Relief of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899 to 1900; operations in the Transvaal, July 1901, and operations in Orange River Colony, April 1901 to 31 May 1902. He received the Queen's Medal with five clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 29 July 1902], and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "George Francis Milner, Captain, 1st Life Guards. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 18 December 1902. He became Major 6 December 1902; was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 6 December 1906; Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Lancers, 16 January 1909. He became Colonel, 19 July 1911; was Brigade Commander, Lowland Mounted Brigade, Scottish Command, 31 January 1913 to 26 June 1914; was Colonel-in-Charge, Cavalry Records, York, 27 June to 9 September 1914. He became Temporary Brigadier General and Inspector of Cavalry (graded AAG—temporary) 10 September 1914; became Brigade Commander 19 April 1915; commanded the 1st Reserve Cavalry Brigade until 3 May 1918; became again Colonel-in-Charge of Cavalry Records at York 4 May 1918. Brigadier General G F Milner was mentioned in Despatches 20 February 1917, for services in connection with the Great War, and again on 13 February 1918, and was created a CMG in 1918. He was awarded the Order of the Crown of Prussia, 2nd Class. Brigadier General G F Milner married, on 21 April 1910, Phyllis Mary Lycett Green, daughter of Edward Lycett Green (eldest son of Sir Edward Green, Baronet), and Ethel Mary, second daughter of A Wilson, of Tranby Croft, and they had two sons: George Edward Mordaunt, born 7 February 1911, and Henry George, born 27 October 1912.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Life Guards |
