The Private William Johnstone Milne Plaque was erected by the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, Government of Saskatchewan in 1995.
William Johnstone Milne was born in Cambusnethan, Scotland on 21 December 1892 and came to Canada in 1910, settling in Saskatchewan. During the First World War, he served with the 16th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.
On 9 April 1917, the 16th Infantry Battalion took part in the successful attack by the Canadian Corps on Vimy Ridge, the strongest German defensive position in northwestern France. Early that day, the advance of Private Milne’s company was checked by machine gun fire. Crawling forward, he put the crews of two machine guns out of action and captured their guns. Milne was killed a short time later, and his body was never recovered.
For his conduct in this action, Private Milne was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously.
