Alexander Clubb Pirie Milne

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Peter Milne, first cousin of Alexander Milne

Alexander Milne, known as Sandy, was my great uncle's son, born in Peterhead. He joined the Royal Navy and was serving in 591 LCT Flotilla on D-Day.

Squadron photo. Alexander stands in the back row, 7th from the left. He is the only one with a cap on the back of his head

 

He was a crew member on board LCT 1108 but it was swamped as it was leaving the beach and, being unable to swim well, he drowned. His parents received a letter from AB Hubbard, who was the coxswain on LCT 1108, explaining what had happened.

Dear Mr & Mrs Milne,                                                                                               Sat Aug. 12th
I hope you will forgive me, for taking this liberty in writing to you about your late son. I know you have written to McKnn[..] and Paddy, wishing to know more details, so I thought that as I was coxswain of the craft, I could give you the best account.

You may also like to know, that I have known Sandy for the best part of these last three years, having worked with him in several places abroad, and since we have been home. He was well liked by all of us, and we do miss him very much.

As you have probably read, the weather on D.Day was anything but calm, an it put a great strain on our small craft.

The trip over was uneventful, it was on the way back when we met our trouble. We ran into some extra heavy seas, which flooded the boat. Although we kept pumping the water out, it got the better of us and completely flooded the boat, and washed us all overboard.

Knowing Sandy was not a very strong swimmer I tried to make my way to him, with an extra lifebelt, but the sea was too much for me, and I had the unpleasant experience of seeing him drown, just as another ship was coming to our aid.

He did not suffer at all, in his last moments, as it all happened very quickly. The ship that picked the rest of us up, stood by for some time, but nothing more was seen of him.

I hope this letter will not bring extra grief upon you. It may console you to know that the officers and ratings, thought very highly of him and his work, and I myself was very pleased to have him as a member of my crew.

As a mark of respect, a memorial service was held for him, and six other ratings who lost their lives on the same day. This was attended by the whole of the flotilla at the local church.

I hope this has given you some idea of what happened and my deepest sympathy goes to you both in such a sad loss.
Yours faithfully
R.T. Hubbard

There is no known place of burial for him so he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing, Kent. I wish Alexander and I could have met. I have been to Chatham and hope for Normandy.