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John James Milner
1923 – Present
Born on the 10th of October 1923, John was raised in Staffordshire, England. Currently little is known about John’s early life and his upbringing in the UK, however, when war came to Europe in 1940 he enlisted. At the age of only 17, John became a sailor in the Royal Navy.
John Milner's crew in the Royal Navy, c.1940
During the Second World War, he served abroad, seeing extensive service first in the Atlantic, then the Mediterranean before being sent out to the Pacific where his ship operated out of Singapore. Whilst in the Atlantic, off the coast of Ice Land, he saved a fellow ship mates life when he was nearly washed overboard. Another time in Italy while on shore leave, he got on the wrong side of the US MP’s and was beaten for his troubles. When the war came to an end, John’s ship was docked in Brisbane. He celebrated VP Day there and was more then a little hungover the next day. He visited a local café where he was served a scrambled egg sandwich and a coffee by a young lady running the counter. He fell head over heels for her, and soon enough the two were courting. When it was time for the ship to leave port, John requested to be discharged in Brisbane. With the war over, his request was granted, and he remained in the port city where he went on to marry his love.
After a few years in Brisbane as a Civilian. John eventually re-enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy on the 13th of March 1950. He was first posted to HMAS Cerberus, before being assigned to HMAS Bataan in June 1951. In June 1950 Bataan proceeded for Japan for its fifth post-war tour of duty. It arrived in Hong Kong on 21 June and was in Far East waters when the Korean War broke out on 25 June 1950. On 1 July Bataan arrived at Okinawa and only a few days later was transferred to the United States Escort Group, Task Group 96.1, for convoy escort duties in the Korean Straits. By now the Korean War had broken out and the Bataan would see service supporting operations in the theatre. On the 13th of July it joined Task Force 90 for the amphibious landing of United Nations forces at Pohang Dong. Over the coming months and into the new year, Battan would conduct patrols, carrier escort duty and mine sweeping off the coast of Korea.
On 31 August 1952 Bataan left the Korean theatre and began its journey south. Except for a visit to Singapore in November 1953, the remainder of Bataan’s seagoing service was spent on the Australia Station. John left Bataan in August 1953 and proceed to remain in the navy serving on land postings until he discharged in 1956. After the Navy, John and his family returned to Brisbane, where he continues to live to this day.
John Milner on his wedding day, c.1945
Milner (Left) and a crewmate, c.1950
John James Milner, 1950 and 2022
All photos courtesy of Home Front Australia, 2022
Information regarding HMAS Bataans Korean War Service taken from Sea Power Australia
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