Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne

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A Real Photo Post card of Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne (1855-1938)

Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne (1855-1938) was Chelmsford's ADC until the end of the war and was present at the final battle at Ulundi where
he was slightly wounded.

Known affectionately as 'Arky-Barky' by Queen Alexandra, Milne had no naval wartime experience prior to the
outbreak of war in August 1914, having spent ten years in royal yachts (two as commander). Having once said
"they don't pay me to think, they pay me to be an Admiral", Milne was appointed to command of naval forces in the
Mediterranean in November 1912, having risen from Rear-Admiral in 1904 to full Admiral in 1911.

Contemporary opinion of Milne was, on the whole, unfavourable. Admiral John Fisher, the formidable former (and
soon to return) First Sea Lord, regarded Milne with contempt, attributing (correctly) his successful naval career to
be based upon royal favouritism.

In the days immediately prior to the start of war in August 1914 Milne was instructed to monitor the whereabouts of
two German warships in the region commanded by Admiral Wilhelm Souchon, the cruisers SMS Goeben and SMS
Breslau.

Milne reported seeing the cruisers on 4 August, a mere matter of hours prior to the expiration of the British
ultimatum to Germany at midnight. Instead of taking action on his own account (which would have flown in the face
of Admiralty orders) he permitted the two cruisers to escape to the Dardanelles - with significant consequences for
Turkey's subsequent decision to enter the war against the Allied powers.

Milne's failure to stop the Goeben and Breslau caused a furore in the British press and Milne was vilified.
Although exonerated of any blame by the Admiralty in London (well aware of their own failure in the matter), Milne
was never again given an active command.

Formally retiring after the armistice Milne published a defence of his actions in 1921.



Real Photo Post Card
Russell & Sons - Photographer
London, England
c. 1918

Source: http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com

hi all, i think it was MILNE that was told by CHELMSFORD to climb the hill at mangeni falls, and to note the going on"s at ISANDLWANA. cheers 90th.

Yes he the fellow, who thought he saw oxon. He was wrong it was Zulus in the camp. (Easy mistake to make)

Subject : Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne
A. B. Milne was a 24 year old Royal Navy Lieutenant serving on H.M.S. Active at the time of the Zulu War. Born in 1855 Milne joined the navy in 1869, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were both Admirals. Milne had been dispatched ashore by Commodore Sullivan to serve as the Naval A.D.C. to Lord Chelmsford prior to the “Active’s” naval brigade going ashore to be part of Colonel Pearson’s Number 1 column. As A.D.C., Milne accompanied Lord Chelmsford, and was with the Number 3 column when it entered Zululand. On January 22nd Milne again accompanied Chelmsford and was out of the camp at Isandlwana when it was overrun. His servant, Signalman Aynsley , who was left behind, was among the casualties.

Milne was with part of the Eshowe Relief column and was present at the Battle of Gingindlovu. Commodore Richards, who had relived Sullivan, referred to wrote of Milne as “an officer of high intelligence and great promise.”

When Chelmsford relieved Colonel Pearson’s forces at Eshowe, Lt. Milne was again with him. At Eshowe Milne was greeted by his old shipmates of the Active who had been trapped at Eshowe since January. Surgeon Norbury (H.M.S. Active) wrote of Milne “and very glad we all were to shake hands with our gallant young messmate again.”

After the Relief of Eshowe Milne accompanied Chelmsford back to Durban where he remained for sometime having become very ill since his return. When they arrived at Durban they were greeted by a large crowd including the Prince Imperial who had recently arrived from England.
Milne rejoined Chelmsford’s staff and travelled with him back into Zululand as part of the second invasion. On July 4th Milne was present at the Battle of Ulundi where he was slightly wounded. On the 18th July he went with Chelmsford to Port Durnford and again visited with his shipmates of the “Active” before leaving them permanently. Milne went on with Chelmsford to Cape Town, and returned with him to England on the “Russia”, departing August 5th.

Lord Chelmsford, at the end of the war, wrote a report on the officers of the Naval Brigade to the Admiralty. In the report he states “Lt. A. B. Milne acted as my Naval A.D.C. during the time that the Naval Brigade was on shore. He proved himself a most intelligent and trustworthy officer, and was of great assistance to me on numerous occasions.”

Commodore Sullivan, upon his being relieved of command by Commodore Richards, wrote to the Admiralty. In his report he includes an extract from a letter he had received from Lord Chelmsford in March 1879. Chelmsford wrote “I am also indebted to you for having placed the services of Lieutenant Milne at my Disposal as Naval A.D.C. Lieut. Milne has already been of the greatest possible assistance to me both in the field and in quarters, and I look upon him as one of the most promising young officers I have ever had under my observation. Sullivan concurred with Chelmsford’s praise and adds his opinion of Lieut. Milne “whose merits as an officer are in every respect most conspicuous.”

For his service in the Zulu War Lieutenant Milne was “Mentioned in Dispatches” on several occasions, and was awarded the South African Medal with clasp “1878 – 79.”

There is a photograph of the young Lt. Milne in Morris’s “The Washing of The Spears” after page 320. The photo is of “Lord Chelmsford and his staff, January 1879.” Milne is standing behind Chelmsford’s left shoulder.

Milne became friends with the Prince of Wales, (Queen Victoria’ son, and later King Edward VII). I t is often reported that Milne’s rise in the Naval Service was due to favoritism instead of his own abilities. During this time Milne became Captain of the Royal Yacht Osborne and became friends with Edward’s wife Alexandra. On one occasion, The Prince of Wales used his influence to force W. W. Astor to publish any apology in his newspaper, The Pall Mall Gazette. Astor had written an unflattering story about Milne earlier.

The two links below are New York Times articles from July and August, 1900 showing the Prince of Wales and Milne’s relationship.

W. W. ASTOR APOLOGIZES
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C02E6DE173FE433A25753C2A9619C946197D6CF

DUKE OF COBURG’S FUNERAL
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B07E4DA143DE433A25750C0A96E9C946197D6CF

It appears that Milne was a very likeable young man who knew how to impress his superiors. However, professional opinion of him changed from his days as a young Lieutenant in the Zulu War to his days as an Admiral at the beginning of World War I.

Petty Officer Tom

Hi 24th

When Milne looked into the camp with his telscope he saw the oxen had been
pulled into the camp, or so i think.


It was not the Zulus as it was around 10am

Regards

Sorry about the poor quality of the scan but the age obscures much

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The Scotsman - Wednesday 06 July 1938

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Illustrated London News - Saturday 08 June 1912

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The Sketch - Wednesday 13 November 1912

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Illustrated London News - Saturday 16 November 1912

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Illustrated War News - Wednesday 12 August 1914