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« on: Tuesday 11 September 12 20:05 BST (UK) »
This has got me really confused and frustrated.
I was told that James Alexander Milne (my Great-Grandmother's brother, b. 1883, Edinburgh and died 1922, Edinburgh) was a Master Mariner, also he was Master-At-Arms as well as being aboard HMS Britannic when she was torpedoed! He also wore a naval uniform as the family have a badge off his uniform which could be that of the White Star line.
Now here is the confusing part! I can find no trace of him in the National Archives under Merchant Navy Seamen (1835-1941), infact under Ancestry - there is again no record of him.
I did find him on the HMS Icarus in 1901 in Hawaii aged 19 years - a Qualified Signalman - born in Edinburgh. This is the ONLY record I have found for him - but I have no service number. In 1911 in Aberdeen (which was where he was living with his wife and children) he is noted as being a Fisherman/Trawler - no naval occupation at all!
I was told that he was Man-At-Arms on HMS Britannic - but again I can find no record of him amoungst any 'crew' lists I have found.
I have his occupation in 1907 (the year of his marriage) as a Trawler/Fisherman - it is only after 1911 that his occupation changes to 'Master Mariner'. He is not listed under the online index of Lloyds Captains Registers either so he cant be a Master Mariner.
Now this leaves me with nothing concrete. He MUST have been a sailor in the first world war as he wore a uniform those badges resembled the White Star Line.
Things we know/ hold for James Alexander Milne:
• Button off a Merchant Navy uniform (Burgee with a Star in the centre) – could be connected with the house flag of the White Star Line (later Cunard Steamship Company) or the house flag of the Aberdeen & Commonwealth Steamship Co Ltd (owners of the ill-fated ‘Jervis Bay’ which sacrificed itself and all her crew to save a convoy under attack by the German battleship ‘Schamhorst’ in the early days of the second world war).
• Photograph of James Alexander Milne (looking much older than his 40 years)
• Information from the family to suggest he was a Freemason and held a high rank.
• Confirmations of occupation on marriage/birth certificates of his children and James Alexander Milne’s death certificate in 1922 and later his wife’s death certificate
• Young photo of him taken with his family in Sea Cadet uniform
• Conflicting information from family members who say he was a Master Mariner/Master-at-Arms or with the Royal Navy or Seaman (Master)
• Information from late Mr Ian G Hughes who did research on the ‘Britannic’ but hit a dead end with his service record
• He was unemployed from the sinking of the ‘Britannic’
• Presented with the Aegean Star WW1 Medal (1914-1915) – found on Ancestry.co.uk
1901 Census he is listed under the crew of HMS ICARUS stationed in Honolulu Hawaii Islands. He is aged 19 years, single and a qualified signalman, born Edinburgh, Scotland.
Timeline:-
1883 Birth – Edinburgh
1891 Census – 11 Upper Grove Place, Edinburgh
James Milne aged 8 years old
1901 Census - Royal Navy on board HMS Icarus
Occupation noted as ‘Qualified Signalman’
Location: Honolulu Hawaii Islands
Age: 19 years Born in Edinburgh, Scotland
1907 Marriage to Mary Duffus Graham
Occupation noted as Trawl-Fisherman
1908 Birth of Alexander Graham Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate: Fisherman
1911 Census of 18 Links Street, St Clements District, Aberdeen
James A Milne 28 M Head Fisherman/Trawler b. England
Mary Milne 25 M Wife b. Aberdeen
Alexander Milne 3 - Son b. Aberdeen
Elizabeth Graham 65 W Mother-in-law b. Banffshire, Portsoy
Occupation as stated on the Census return: Fisherman (Trawler)
(His place of birth is incorrect – probably a transcription error should be Edinburgh)
1911 Birth of Elizabeth Graham Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate: Fisherman (present at birth)
1912 Birth of Mary Duffus Graham Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate:
1914-1915 Received the Aegean Star (WW1 Medal) which was awarded for services rendered in the theatres of war between 5th Aug 1914 and 31st Dec 1915.
1915 Birth of Nellie Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate:
1917 Birth of John Alexander Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate:
1920 Birth of Jeannette Clark Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate:
1922 Birth of Margaret Lumsden Grant Milne, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate:
Death of James Alexander Milne, Aug 1922, Edinburgh
Occupation stated on certificate: Master Mariner
1947 Death of Mary Duffus Milne or Graham, Aberdeen
Occupation stated on certificate: Master Mariner
I'm looking for ANY clues as to where I go next as I've tried all the obvious places.
Lorna1320
Edinburgh