The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DerekR · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject: Fred Milburn - RSF

Here's one that is slightly unusual.
From the "Hawick News" May 1917:

"Fred Milburn, an accomplished ventriloquist, who has on several occassions appeared at Scott's Hawick Pavilion is reported to have been killed in action in France. He was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and is survived by his widow and son".

The red herring here may be that "Fred milburn" was a stage name as I can't find a decent match on either the CWWGC or SDGW.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

It appears no-one of that name served overseas with the RSF. He, would have been called up / should have enlisted, under his full name.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject:

By putting Fred Milburn Ventriloquist into Google it shows an advert from the Scotsman from 28th July 1915 which shows him still working as a ventriloquist

The Scotsman Archive - Item from 28th July 1915 1 Fred Milburn, Ventriloquist, USUAL POPULAR PRICES. rriHE PALACE, PRINCES . STREE' X (OPPOSITE WAVERLEY STEPS,) TO-DAY, CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE. 1 to 10.30. ...

Now you can narrow him down to RSF men who enlisted after 28th July 1915 and died before 1917. Can't be many more than several thousand names to check...

Cheers

Adam

DerekR · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject:

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:36 pm Post subject:

Now this needle in a haystack seems to good to just let lie.

On the Great War Forum was this update

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/139455-fred-milburn-rsf-ventriloquist/

Derek,

The report of his death may have been mistaken. It did happen occasionally.

I added another vent to my database today, but I am having as much difficulty pinning him down as you are with Fred Milburn. He is Pte H (also known as Carl) Haigh, no 138 of 2/7th Royal Scots, who was admitted to the 1st Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge with rheumatism in mid-1916.

I don't suppose it is the same man, but there cannot be that many Scottish vents

DerekR · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 1:20 pm Post subject:

I'm still no further forward with this chap.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 1:43 pm Post subject:

I've narrowed it down to 490 Royal Scots Fusiliers who died in France in April/ May 1917!

What date was it in the newspaper?

Thanks

Adam

DerekR · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 8:36 am Post subject:

May 1917
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:01 am Post subject:

I'm still checking but in August 1916 he was on the bill at Hawick and in September 1916 at Bellshill where he appeared again in January 1917
(Bellshill Speaker 26/1/1917 p.2)
"Mr Fred Milburn who is becoming famous as a Scottish comedian.........."
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Ken