Mansell on left

Mansell Herbert Milner born, October 18th 1893, was the illegitimate son of Sarah Ellen Milner born at Castleside, County Durham, in 1874, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Ellen (nee Brown) Milner. Sarah Ellen never married and remained with her son in her parents’ home where they also took in the illegitimate child of their daughter Louise, Robinson Ridley Milner, after his mother remarried, as well as one of his half siblings. Thomas was a farmer at Shield Farm, Muggleswick, County Durham assisted by Mansell Herbert and his cousin Robinson.

Mansell Herbert left his home at Shield Farm and employment as a wood cutter/turner for Whitfield Brothers of Knitsley, Consett, and enlisted at Consett, December 9th 1915. Assigned as Private 2413 he was posted to the Army Reserve until mobilised January 18th 1916 and sent to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Boldon. The battalion was part of the Tyne Defences but also trained troops for the draft supplying men to the 1st and 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers of the Regular Army. Although posted to the 2nd Battalion, March 2nd 1916, which at the time was serving in Salonika, he remained in England until departing with the British Expeditionary Force to France, March 19th 1917, via Southampton arriving at Le Havre the following day. Private Milner arrived at the 31st Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, August 28th 1917, suffering from an unspecified ailment. Examined by the medical board, September 4th, the decision was taken that he be held at the base depot where he was compulsorily transferred to the 1/4th Territorial Force as Private 211118, and posted to the 9th Battalion, September 22nd 1917 as Private 235596, joining his regiment in the field, September 24th on the Ypres salient in Belgium participating during the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Having spent a cold and wet winter in the mud filled trenches the battalion returned to the Somme in March 1918 when the Germans attacked again on that front where they fought at the Battle of the Lys, April 7th-29th 1918, during the spring offensive. In the midst of the battle Private Mlner was wounded, a gunshot wound to his left thigh, April 12th 1918, taken by Field Ambulance to the 21st General Hospital at Dammes Camiers he was repatriated April 15th aboard H.S. Scotia. Once recovered he was posted to the 1/4th Territorials Northumberland Fusiliers, at Hornsea, however, found to be unfit for active service he was compulsorily transferred to the 415th Agricultural Company part of the Labour Corps at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, September 14th 1918, with a change of service number as Private 647040. His fitness was reviewed from time to time until he was transferred to Class Z, March 5th 1919, free to return to his employment but under the obligation of returning to the colours should hostilities with Germany resume. Class Z was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919 which official brought WW1 to a close. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His cousin, with whom he grew up on his grandparent’s farm, Private Robinson Ridley Milner 9th Northumberland Fusiliers, died of wounds, August 17th 1918 and interred at Aire Communal Cemetery, France.

It should be noted that Thomas and Mary Ellen Milner were Mansell Herbert’s grandparents not his parents. This is confirmed by their declaration made in the 1901 and 1911 census stating Mansell Herbert was their grandson. In particular, in 1911 census they declare to have had 7 children of whom one had died. Their children were Lizzie Jane 1873, Sarah Ellen 1874, John Thomas 1876, Louisa Ann 1877, Mary Frances 1880-1898, Joanna Lilian 1884 and Richard Ernest 1891. Naming themselves as his parents they were protecting the fact he was illegitimate and did the same for their grandson Robinson Ridley Milner, the illegitimate child of their daughter Louis Annie Milner, when he too enlisted during WW1.

Mansell Herbert Milner returned to his grandparents' home at Shield Farm until he married in the district of Lanchester in 1922 to Eva Thompson born December 31st 1895. In 1939 Mansell is listed as a dairy farmer, they were living at Priory Farm, district of Lanchester. He died aged 71 years in 1965 his widow Eva Milner nee Thompson, still of Priory Farm, Muggleswick, County Durham, died, March 5th 1984 aged 88 years.

Mary Ellen Milner nee Brown died December 30th 1924 aged 72 years, her husband Thomas aged 75 years, February 1st 1927. They are at rest within St. John’s churchyard, Castleside.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Mansell Herbert Milner is remembered at Muggleswick on M48.02