Charles James Milne

information courtesy of paley downs

Charles James Milne was born in Christchurch on 9 April 1883, and reported missing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.  The following biography was published in the Otago Daily Times on 21 June 1915:

“PRIVATE MILNE.  Private Charles James Milne, Canterbury Infantrv Battalion is the third son of Mrs George Milne, of Christchurch. He was a member of the old Native Rifles, and was a very keen player in the Drapers' Senior hockey team, and an officer of the same club. For three years he played hockey in the New Zealand Kia Ora team in London. He was also a member of the Canterbury Hockey Association, and an ex member of the Avon Rowing Club. Prior to enlisting he was on the staff of Messrs Beath and Co., of Christchurch. He is 33 years of age.”

He enlisted in the 1st Company of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion on 12 August 1914.  The Battalion left New Zealand on 15 October 1914, and embarked at Alexandria for the Dardanelles on 12 April 1915, and he was posted missing on 15 May 1915.  He was declared killed on 10 January 1916 by a Board of Enquiry held in Ismailia.

His medals and pension were given to his widow, Mary Milne.

He was a member of Lodge Avon 185, which he joined on 5 December 1912, from East Surrey Lodge 2769 – it seems that he was in England for a few years around 1909, and became a Freemason at this time.  There is a reference to him playing for the Kia Ora Club in London in a newspaper in 1909, as well as the reference to this in his biography mentioned above.