Herman Edwin Briese Milne was born in Fitzroy, either in 1897, as listed on his official record of birth, or November 1895, as he wrote on his application to join the army. He was one of nine children born to Alfred Frank Milne and his wife Elizabeth Augusta Briese. All the children had Briese as their second or third name: Cecil Steward Briese and his twin Alfred Briese were born in 1887; Amelia Cora Briese was born 1891; Florence Alvinia Briese was born 1893, then Vera Hilda Briese in 1900; Claude Vivian Briese, 1902; Edina Retta Briese Milne, 1905 and Inez Grace Freda Milne in 1908.
Herman Edwin enlisted on 17 March, 1916. If his birth certificate is correct, this makes him 19 and unable to enlist without parental permission; if 1895, then he was an adult. He gave his occupation as Grocer, and his next of kin as his father, Frank Milne, living at 23 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. He was 5' 7" in height, with grey eyes and brown hair, and gave his religion as Wesleyan.He claimed previous miltary training: 2 years with the Senior Cadets; 2 years and 6 months in the Citizens Military Force.
He was sent to train with the 15th Depot Battalion at Castlemaine and then transferred to the 57th Battalion Reinforcements. By 1916, the Gallipoli Campaign was over and the focus had shifted to the Western Front in France. The 57th Battalion was part of the new battalions raised in Egypt on 18 February, 1916, as part of the 'doubling' of the AIF post-Gallipoli. The reinforcements were mainly raised from Melbourne suburbs and Herman Milne fits in to this profile. In late June, 1916, the 25th battalion arrived in France. Its first battle, with little preparation was Fromelles, a bloodbath for the Australian regiments. The 57th, however, was in a support role and had light casualties and continued to support the Fromelles sector throughout August, 1917. Later in1 917, they were in the advance on the Hindenburg Line and were also engaged in a defensive role at the 2nd Batt;e of Bullecourt.
Herman Milne was sent first to England, arriving on 31 August 1916 , then marched in to join the 15th Training Battalion at Larkhill. In November, he became ill and was admitted to hospital in Bulford with V.D., remaining there for 18 days. On 11 January, 1917, he was released from hospital and appointed E.D.P. Corporal with the 15th Training Battalion, now in London. On 10 April, 1917, the new recruits left for France, sailing from Folkestone. Milne had reverted to Private, but by 17 August, 1917, was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was in action on 26 September, 1917, and wounded, suffering a gunshot to his right shoulder, which kept him out of action for nearly three months. He was finally able to rejoin his Battalion on 11 December, 1917.
He went A.W.L. for a day 8-9 May, 1918, and was demoted to Private, forfeited two days pay, and was attached to the 60th Battalion. He had another bout of illness ten days later and was asdmiteed to hospital in France. On 5 October, 1918, with the war in its last days, he was discharged from service as medically unfit.
Herman Milne left England on 24 August 1919, on board the City of Exeter and returned to his civilian life. In 1922, the Electoral Rolls show him as living at 97 Canterbury Rd., Middle Park, with his parents Alfred Frank Milne, described as a collector, and Elizabeth Augusta Briese Milne, home duties,and one of his siblings, Frank Stewart, an electrician, probably the Cecil Stewart Briese Milne born in 1887.
In 1923, he married Helen Florence Harvey. They had no children. From 1924-1949, they lived at 102 Clarke St., Northcote. From 1954-1968, they were at 16 Wardrop Grove, Northcote, but moved in to Community Housing in Rushall Cresecent, North Fitzroy, from 1968 to his death on 13 September, 1971. Helen milne died in 1983.