Robert Strahan Milne

1914 - 1944  (30 years)

• Name	Robert Strahan Milne
  Born	24 Sep 1914	Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Military	WW2
  Misfortune	killed in WW2
  Occupation	1940	83 Peppler St., Waterloo, Ontario   [3]
  	cooper
  Residence	1944	83 Peppler St., Waterloo, Ontario   [1]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-143922P
  Died	1 Oct 1944	, France   [1, 2, 4]
  Buried	Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, , Netherlands   [1, 4]
  Person ID	I143922	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	James Downie Milne,   b. 8 Sep 1880, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland ,   d. 6 Oct 1971, Burbank, Los Angeles, California, United States  (Age 91 years)
  Mother	Susan "Susie" Strachan,   b. 21 Aug 1879, Inverallochy, , Aberdeen, Scotland ,   d. 6 Dec 1969, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States  (Age 90 years)
  Family ID	F59240	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Evelyn Irene Stumpf,   b. 11 Jul 1920, Camrose, , Alberta, Canada ,   d. 9 Nov 1983, Burlington, Halton Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 63 years)
  Children	1. Jack Ronald Milne,   b. 24 Mar 1940, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 May 2014, Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 74 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F1624	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Milne,RobertStrahan-0001-WW2.jpg "Spr Robert Strahan Milne, 11Th Fd Coy | Canadian Military Engineers". 2020. Cmea-Agmc.Ca. https://cmea-agmc.ca/fr/node/9188.

  
  

• Notes

  Robert Strahan Milne was born in Fraserborough, Aberdeenshire Scotland, the son of Franklin and Deboris Anne Bell [different parents are listed]. He came to Canada with his family and settled in southern Ontario. His declared his trade as painter when he enlisted in London, Ontario in May 1940. He was married at the time and living in Mooretown, Ontario. Robert completed sapper training in Camp Petawawa but got off to a bad start serving 10-days Confined to Barracks (CB) for being Absent Without Leave (AWOL). He was later given a one-day pass to visit home before shipping to the UK in February 1941, but received another two days CB and forfeited a day's pay for returning late. Robert was initially assigned to the 16th Field Company and trained with them in England. He was promoted to corporal more in 1942 but reverted back to sapper as a result of a medical condition. In May 1944, he was posted to 1st Canadian Army Engineer Platoon and arrived in France in late July. He was later osted to the 11th Field Company as part of 2nd Canadian Division Engineers on 1 August. The 11th Field Company arrived in France in July as part of 2nd Canadian Division Engineers and had participated fully in all operations during the Battle of Normandy and the advance across the Seine, through the Channel Ports and into Belgium, clearing routes and building bridges. In late September, they moved north of Antwerp in preparation for the Battle of the Scheldt. The battle officially began on 2 October 1944 when the 2nd Canadian Division crossed the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal to clear the Beveland approaches, but for the RCE, the Battle of the Scheldt started a few days day earlier. On the night of 30 September, the 11th Field Company struggled under fire to build an 80-foot Class 40 bridge across the canal just west of a weaken bridge built the night before by the 7th Field Company near Lockenberg. The task was costly when a direct hit on the bank seat party killed two and wounded four more, three of whom would die of wounds that day. Continued mortaring slowed the work during the day, but the bridge was open to traffic before the evening. Sapper Robert Strahan Milne was killed instantly by the blast. He is buried in the Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in Holland. Later in 1948, the Belgium Government awarded the Croix de Guerre to Sapper Milne in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the liberation of that country. The medal was presented by the Belgian Embassy 1940 avec Palme to his wife in Ottawa. "Spr Robert Strahan Milne, 11Th Fd Coy | Canadian Military Engineers". 2020. Cmea-Agmc.Ca. https://cmea-agmc.ca/fr/node/9188. ___________________________ MILNE, Mary (nee McDermott) - Of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, passed away, on Monday, September 16, 2002, in her 88th year, at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Collingwood, Ontario. Beloved wife of the late Robert Milne who was killed during the Second World War. Sadly missed by her nieces, nephews and their families. Dear friend of Joan and Bill Courtney of Wasaga Beach and Dorothy Mainprize of Etobicoke. Sister of the late Joseph McDermott, Madeleine Tone and Helen Rooney and aunt of the late Madeline Hicks. Mary joined the merchant marines and was a wireless operator during and after the Second World War. A grave side service will be held at the St. Marys - St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery in Elora on Saturday, September 21, 2002 at 11 a.m. with Fr. Ken Miskewicz officiating at the service. Arrangement entrusted to the Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home and Chapel. Remembrance to the Canadian Cancer Society or charity of ones choice would be appreciated.

  
  

• Sources

  [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration. Robert Strachan Milne, res: 83 Peppler, Waterloo, b. Scotland, b. 24 Sep 1914, Occ: painter, s/o James Milne. buried France, d. 1 oct 1944, cause: killed in action [S2990] Canada, World War II Records and Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947. Name:Robert Strahan Milne Birth Date:24 Sep 1914 Birth Place:Fraserborough, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Residence Place:Ontario, Canada Death Date:1 Oct 1944 Service Number:A19445 Regiment:Royal Canadian Engineers Rank:Sapper Next of Kin:James Milne Relationship:Father [S2258] Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12724646/robert-strahan-milne.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 24 Sep 1914 - Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Occupation - cooper - 1940 - 83 Peppler St., Waterloo, Ontario Residence - 1944 - 83 Peppler St., Waterloo, Ontario Died - 1 Oct 1944 - , France  = Link to Google Earth