Victoria, British Columbia
As Canadian Forces Attaché in Tokyo, Mr. Milne first visited Onagawa Bay in 1986. Responding to a request from the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Mr. Milne set out to recover the aircraft of Lt. Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSC, of the Onagawa Defence Squadron, who was killed in action during an air attack against Japanese naval shipping on the final days of war. Mr. Milne, together with the help of Mr. Stu Soward in Canada and with the approval of Veterans' associations, submitted a plan to erect a memorial that would honour Canada's most decorated Naval hero of the Second World War. Capt. Milne was able to persuade the Veterans and Japanese officials that by placing Lt. Gray's memorial in the vicinity of the Japanese Shrine, it would commemorate the sleeping warriors of both sides and bring closure to any sense of bitterness between them. Mr. Milne engaged the support of the Canadian Ambassador in Japan to organize a fundraiser to design and construct the memorial site. A total of $33,000 was raised from both Canadian and Japanese supporters, and Mr. Milne arranged to have the Onagawa Lions International Chapter maintain the site in perpetuity. The dedication of the monument took place on August 16, 1989, attracting public interest on the international stage and generating media coverage which reached 36 million in Japan and many millions more world-wide. Mr. Milne's personal efforts, dedication and organizational skills ensured the success of this endeavour, instilling a deep sense of pride and respect for Canadian sailors around the world.