2nd LIEUTENANT HERBERT ALBERT EDWIN MILNES, 3RD BATTALION AUCKLAND REGIMENT, NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS.


2nd LIEUTENANT HERBERT ALBERT EDWIN MILNES, 3RD BATTALION AUCKLAND REGIMENT, NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS. KILLED IN ACTION 4th OCTOBER 1917 AGED 43


At 5.25 am on the morning of the 4th October 1917, 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Milnes led his company out into No-Man’s Land near to Polygon Wood in the Ypres Sector during the Battle of Passchendaele. Part of a major attack by Australian and New Zealand troops the objective was the elimination of several German strong points. Initially the attack went according to plan but at a position known as Otto Farm enemy resistance stiffened and ss Albert encouraged his men forward a mortar shell landed at his feet and its explosion killed him instantly.



Herbert Milnes was born in the Beeston area of south Leeds on the 6th March 1875, the son of farmer Christopher and his wife Mary. Christopher’s early death meant that the family had to forgo the farm and move into a small terraced house in nearby Beeston Hill. Despite their straightened circumstances Mary encouraged her children to better themselves and all four of them would enter the teaching profession. More athletic than academic Herbert persevered with his studies despite numerous setbacks and was eventually rewarded with an external B.Sc from the University of London. Moving south he began teacher training at the famous British and Foreign Schools Societies College at Borough Road in London. He had always had a passion for teaching and now became both a lecturer and house tutor.


Meanwhile other members on the Milnes family moved to Ilkley where they appear to have taken up residence on East Parade and it was that probably during a visit to his family that Herbert met Louisa Heath Haler, herself a teacher, and the daughter of a Schools Inspector who lived on St James Road. Herbert and Louisa where married at St Margaret's Church in December 1905. The following year together with his new wife he left Britain took up a position as the head of a new teacher training college in Auckland, New Zealand.

Herbert had tired of the regimented life of British educational institutions and longed and sought the opportunity to develop a new approach to teaching. In truth he also sought a more ameliorative climate for his wife whose health was known to be frail.

Herbert took up the position of principal at the teacher training college attached to Auckland University College in 1906. Immediately he set about creating an academic institution where all round skills would take precedence over bookishness. He believed in a doctrine of muscular Christianity where athleticism and physical health would permeate all areas of life and generate a strong sense of civic duty. He encouraged his charges to play sport and led by example on the rugby field. A tireless advocate of the value of cold showers and light bedclothes, Herbert also recognised the importance of social diversions and founded many clubs and local societies. Well known across the city of Auckland his contemporaries described him as charismatic, dynamic and a natural leader.

His wife Louisa’s failing health eventually brought about her death in 1913, although, Herbert remained at the college despite his loss. By 1916 after ten years in charge he sought a new challenge and volunteered for the army. At the age of 41 no one would have expected him to enlist and there was certainly no pressure on him to leave his post. But he was physically very fit and no doubt believed that it was his civic duty to fight for his mother country. Unusually given his social status he joined as a private, although, it is a mark of his character that wanted to start at the bottom.

Herbert joined the 3rd Battalion of the Auckland Regiment (New Zealand Army Corps) to begin his training. However, his obvious flair for administration, delight in organising sports and editorship of the battalion magazine soon saw him promoted through the ranks. Almost indispensable there was little option but make him an officer and by the time the battalion arrived in Plymouth in 1917 he was a lieutenant.


As an officer he was popular with the men who appreciated his warm, gentle and encouraging personality. Perhaps predictably given his age he was called ‘Dad’ by the men, but when asked why they called him this they always replied “because he looks after us like a father”. They also loved his oft said personal motto “keep smiling to the last”.

It was 3.50pm on Friday 10th October 1917 that news of Herbert Milnes death reached his college in Auckland. The students and teachers assembled in the hall and in silence heard the dreadful news that their beloved principal had been killed. He is still remembered at the college and for many years after his death a special service was held in his memory on the anniversary of his death.

Today Lieutenant Herbert Albert Edwin Milnes lies in the British Military at Tyne Cot and is remembered at Brunel University and the New Zealand National Memorial.









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