Medal Index Card

John Milner was born July 1889, [baptised 1st August 1889], at 87 Park Place, Darlington the youngest of four children of Thomas Luke Milner, born 1846 Barnard Castle, and his wife Jane Ann [nee Bradwell], born December 1850, baptised on the 22nd December 1850 at St Helen's, Bishop Auckland, daughter of John and Jane [nee Lindsley] Bradwell. They had married in 1879. They had four children but one died. Sarah Jane F., born 1883, who was born blind, Phyllis, born 1885, and Thomas born 1880, at 9 Lambton Street, Darlington.

The father was a Joiner in the Wagon Depot of the North Eastern Railway Company, Thomas in 1901 was a Grocer Warehouseman, and Phyllis was a Dressmaker apprentice but later became a Printing Press operator for the Northern Echo.

. The family all moved from 9 Lambton Street to 87 Park Place, Darlington about 1882.

John was educated at the Beaumont Street School where he won a scholarship to become a pupil at Darlington Grammar School. Whilst at the Darlington Grammar School he won further scholarships. After leaving the Grammar School, he taught for about a year at the Gurney Pease School, then onto Armstrong College in 1908 where he obtained his B.Sc., in June 1911.

He was an assistant chemistry master at Darlington Grammar school for three years, before being a science master at Purley Grammar School, being employed by the Education Committee of Surrey County Council.

John was in the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was in the O.T.C., He went to France on the 5th December 1915. On the 21st March 1916, he is gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal Flying Corps as a Flying Officer (Observer). On the 29th June 1916, he was promoted to a Lieutenant from the 23rd March 1916.

John was in the 1st Wing 10th Squadron.

He was killed by anti-aircraft fire on the 26th April 1916 whilst acting as an observer for artillery spotting near Fromelles. According to his Commanding Officer Major Gould he was killed instantly by shrapnel in his head.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 29/04/1916 reports:

"Death of a Darlington airman.
Information has been received in Darlington of the death of Second-Lieut. John Milner, of the Royal Flying Corps, youngest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. T. Milner, of Darlington. Death was the result of wounds received in action. Deceased, who was only 26 years of age, was formerly assistant chemistry master at Darlington Grammar School. As a lad he won a scholarship at the Beaumont Street School, becoming a pupil at the Grammar School, where he won further scholarships. He afterwards taught for a year at the Gurney Pease School, and then went to Armstrong College, where he obtained his B.Sc. degree. He was assistant master at Darlington Grammar School three years, and then secured the position of science master at Purley Grammar School, where he was at the outbreak of war."

John Milner is remembered at Darlington on D40.021 D40.034 and D40.067, in Newcastle on NUT063 and NUT263, in Gosforth on G9.31 and in Durham on D47.151

RAF Casualty Cards
Universities at War
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Milner