Harold J. Milne

Captain Harold J. Milne, OBE, MC, DL, JP (10 March 1889 – 15 April 1963) was a figure in local government in the north east of Scotland.

Born in Fraserburgh he was the son of a prominent local solicitor, James Milne, and Mary Tarras. He originally planned to follow in his father’s footsteps taking up his training at the University of Aberdeen, but was forced to cease his studies in 1915 when he volunteered for the Army.

During the First World War he rose through the ranks to become a Captain in the Gordon Highlanders, being awarded the Military Cross in 1918.

When the war ended he returned to his town of Fraserburgh, being active in the Ex-Servicemen’s Association, as well as other community based organisations. He was an Elder at Fraserburgh Old Parish Church. He was a keen supporter of the Boys’ Brigade, serving as the second Company Captain of the 1st Fraserburgh Boys’ Brigade from 1924 until the outbreak of war in 1939. He returned to his war duties, attaining the rank of Honorary Major.

He was for many years elected to the Fraserburgh Town Council, serving as a Baillie for the majority of his time there. He was, though, elected as Provost of Fraserburgh in 1950, a role he held until 1956. In 1954 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, also being awarded an OBE in 1954 for services to local government.

He was the first person to be awarded the Freedom of the Town of Fraserburgh.