joseph ellis milne

Youngest son of Capt. James Milne and Jessie Mitchell Milne, of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. M.A., M.D. Volunteered for active service, giving up a large practice in Aberdeen to do so. Killed in Action 22/02/1917, age 48.

Captain Joseph Ellis Milne M.A. M.D. (R.A.M.C.)
Dr. Milne was the Medical Officer of the 1st/8th (Irish) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment), when he died on 22nd February 1917 at the age of 48. He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) and had been Mentioned in Despatches (MID).

Son of James Milne;
Born Fraserburgh, 30 September 1868 ;
Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School ;
Graduated M.A., 1888;
M.B. (Hon. Dist.), 1891 ; M.I). (Com.), i 894.

When war broke out Ellis Milne was in a large practice in Aberdeen and providing AFC with medical support as Club Doctor. Commissioned Lieutenant, 25 April 1915, he left next day for France with the Highland Casualty Clearing Station. On 1 November 1915 he became Medical Officer to the 1/8th Battalion (Irish) of the King's Liverpool Regiment. In October 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his work in the Battle of the Somme "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. He has repeatedly tended the wounded under heavy shell fire, and has shown himself utterly regardless of personal safety." In Sir Douglas Haig's New Year's Dispatch 1917 he was mentioned for work done after receiving the D.S.O. He was killed in action near Ypres on 22 February 1917.

Joseph Ellis Milne had a dynamic personality. An iron will endowed him with great powers of physical and mental endurance. A high conception of duty was united to a complete indifference to personal danger, a heart in sympathy with each Irish lad brought him the love of all in the Battalion. He met his death by rifle bullet in the trenches. Such a dauntless spirit, no matter his tale of years, could not have worked happily outside the Great War.