Background
Milne was born in 1895 in Kensington, London, the son of John and Isabel Milne.
Milne was born in 1895 in Kensington, London, the son of John and Isabel Milne.
He was educated at Abingdon School (1905 to 1909) and then Radley College (1909 to 1912), both in Oxfordshire.
He was credited (with his gunners) with nine aerial victories (four destroyed and five "out of control"). Joining the army at the outbreak of the First World War, Milne was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 4 September 1914 to serve in the 6th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and was promoted to lieutenant on 30 December 1914. His battalion arrived in France in July 1915.
In 1916 Milne transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 4 April.
After completing his flight training he was appointed a flying officer on 24 June, and then appointed a flight commander, with the temporary rank of captain, on 1 October. Eventually posted to France to serve in Number.
48 Squadron, flying the Bristol Fighter, Milne gained his first aerial victory on 6 July 1917 by driving down out of control an Albatros Doctorate.III, east of Cambrai, he then destroyed an Albatros Doctorate.V south of Vitry the following day. Milne soon returned to his squadron, and shot down two more Doctorate.Vs over Ghistelles on 20 August, and another the following day east of Westkerke.
He shot down another over Westkerke on 25 August, then two more, one over Middelkerke on 9 September, and another over Slype on 28 September.
His citation read:
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Theobald Milne, General List and Royal Flying Corps. "Foreign conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst leading offensive patrols. He has shown great determination and courage in attacking hostile formations, although in superior numbers, at close range.
He has also done long and arduous reconnaissances and secured good photographs under very adverse conditions and heavy fire, displaying throughout an admirable spirit of fearlessness and energy."
Milne is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial for airmen lost on the Western Front with no known grave.