MILNE James Ernest

The following information is courtesy of Mrs Anne Owen, Sergeant James Milne’s daughter and only child:
James Milne was born on 22nd April 1913 in Weybridge, the son of John Rothwell Milne and Mabel Milne nee Dees. He married Joan M. Eldridge in the June Quarter 1937 in the Hampstead Registration District. The couple had one daughter, Anne C. Milne born in Falmouth in 1938.

Sergeant James Milne and fellow pilot Sergeant Albert Bryan Greensides were based at the Elementary Flying Training School-Unit No. 15 at RAF Station Redhill. On 27th September 1939 they were on a training flight in a Magister aircraft I registration number N3843 when the aircraft dived into the ground at Brockhamhurst Road, Brockham, near Betchworth, Surrey.

The Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 7th October 1939 carried the following report on the funeral of James Milne:
THE LATE MR J.E. MILNE
FUNERAL AT HERSHAM
The funeral took place at Hersham on Monday of Mr James E. Milne, of the R.A.F., who died on September 27th after a flying accident in England.
Mr Milne, who was married, was the son of the late Mr J.R. Milne of Wimbledon, and formerly of Weybridge, and Mrs Milne, 42 Cleveland Square, London, W2. He was a grandson of Mrs Milne of Rickstones, The Heath, Weybridge.
The funeral took place in the family vault in Hersham churchyard.

Sources for details of the air accident and the funeral:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=209743

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168087618/james-ernest-milne

http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=11730.0

Links still valid 18th July 2024