The Moose Jaw branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has joined other branches across the country in observing the 102nd anniversary of Vimy Ridge Day.
The legion, along with other federal, provincial and municipal institutions, lowered the Canadian flag to half-mast on April 9 to recognize one of the most important First World War battles in which Canadians fought.
On April 9, 1917, 100,000 soldiers from all four divisions of the Canadian Corps stormed the ridge in France during four days of brutal battle against the Germans. The capture of Vimy was a defining moment for Canada, but came at a great cost. Almost 3,600 Canadian soldiers died and more than 7,000 were wounded.
The Canadians had secured their reputation as capable, effective fighting men — a force to be reckoned with.
William Johnstone Milne, a soldier from Saskatchewan, was among those men.
Born in Scotland, Milne came to Canada in 1910 and began working on Kirkland farm, southeast of Mortlach and near Caron. In 1915, he walked the 40 kilometres (25 miles) into Moose Jaw and enlisted with the 46th Battalion. Milne trained with the battalion, before being sent overseas. He was transferred to the 16th Battalion in summer 1916. Pte. Milne saw action in several battles over subsequent months, but his ultimate heroics were yet to come.
On April 9, Milne’s battalion took part in the attack. Early on, Milne’s company encountered enemy machine gun fire. Milne’s Victoria Cross citation describes what happened next:
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On approaching the first objective, Pte. Milne observed an enemy machine gun firing on our advancing troops. Crawling on hands and knees, he succeeded in reaching the gun, killing the crew with bombs, and capturing the gun.
On the line re-forming, he again located a machine gun in the support line, and stalking the second gun as he had done the first, he succeeded in putting the crew out of action and capturing the gun.
His wonderful bravery and resource on these two occasions undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades.
Pte. Milne was killed shortly after capturing the second gun.
Milne was killed in action and awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. His body was never recovered from the battlefield. His name is inscribed on the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France.
In 2017, the Youth Advisory Committee installed a monument commemorating Milne outside the old fire hall on 136 Fairford St. West. The property, which is operated by the Moose Jaw Housing Authority, is now known as William Milne Place.
The legion has asked all branches to fly the Canadian and legion flags at half-mast from sunrise until sunset.
