2nd Lieut Frank Stevens Milliken

• Age: 28
• From: Anfield, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 4th May 1917
• Commemorated at: Mont Huon Cem, Le Treport
  Panel Ref: IV.B.11

Frank Stevens Milliken was born in Liverpool in the September quarter of 1888, the son of James and Mary Milliken (nee Dalton). James and Mary had married in 1868 at St Mary's Church, Walton, Liverpool.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at an un-numbered address in Anfield Road, Liverpool. Frank is 2 years of age and is living with his parents and eight siblings who were all born in Liverpool. His father is 47 years of age and is a commercial traveller born in Ireland (Co. Antrim) in 1844, whilst his mother was born in Liverpool in 1846. His siblings are listed as: Flora born 1870, Kate born 1871, Sarah born 1874, Joseph born 1878, Mary born 1879, Alexander born 1881, John H. born 1883 and Arthur born 1887. 

By 1901 the family address is shown as 146 Anfield Road, Liverpool. Frank is 12 years of age and a scholar, he was enrolled at Liverpool Institute in 1900. He lives with both parents and four siblings; Sarah, Mary John and Arthur. 

Frank attended Liverpool University upon completion of his studies at Liverpool Institute. He is also found on passenger lists travelling between Montreal, Canada and Liverpool.

As such he is not shown on the 1911 Census. His family are still living at 146 Anfield Road at the time of the Census, his parents now living with just two children in the home; Mary and Arthur. His parents declare they have been married for 42 years and have had twelve children, three of whom have sadly died.

Below is an extract taken from the Liverpool Scroll of Fame book whiich gives an overview of his life and service in the Army. Frank was 28 when he died though his age is shown as 29 on his CWGC headstone.

Second Lieut. Frank Stevens Milliken died in France from wounds received in action. He was one of five English lads who "chummed" together at Montreal prior to the war, three of whom fell in battle, while the other two were wounded, though they have since recovered. He was a scholar and a gentleman, in addition to being as gallant a soldier as ever wore the King's uniform.

During his seven years at the Liverpool Institute, from 1900 to 1907, he held his own with the brightest of his comtemporaries. He matriculated in 1904, and in his last year carried off four prizes--The Lord Derby Prize for Modern Languages, and the three William Durning Holt Prizes for Science, English Literature and Mathematics, Subsequently, he proceeded to the University of Liverpool on a scholarship, and entered the Engineering Faculty. In July, 1910, he was admitted Bachelor of Engineering (with honours).

He will be remembered at the University, not only for his love of learning, but also for his keen interest in the social and athletic life of the students. He was elected a member of the Guild of Undergraduates in 1909, and for three years was a member of the First Eleven of the Association Football Club, and assisted them in winning the Christie Cup.

In August, 1914, he was at Montreal holding a position with the Dominion Bridge Company, In September, 1914, he enrolled in the 20th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment), being shortly transferred to the 19th Battalion. He served as a private until 1915, but the following year was gazetted to the same Battalion. 

He fell badly wounded at the Battle of Arras on the 9th of April, 1917, whilst leading his men over the top at zero. He was one of a glorious comradeship, for not a single officer of his company was left when the day's work was done. He passed away peacefully on 4th May at Treport Red Cross Hospital, and was buried in Mont Huon Cemetery.

Frank is first mentioned in the 19th Battalion War Diary on 18th November 1916, when the Battalion was in the trenches at Pommier on the Somme. On this date, he began a eight day course at the Vth Corps Sniping School and was then granted United Kingdom leave for Christmas. He rejoined the Battalion on 29th December 1916.

By February 1917, the Battalion was stationed near Arras and on the 13th Second-Lieutenant Milliken and twenty seven other ranks were sent to nearby Gouy, as a fatigue party for the Royal Engineers. They returned to the Battalion a week later, and on 18th March, when the Germans made their secret withdrawal to the newly prepared fortifications of the Hindenburg Line, it was Milliken and a small party of men who were first sent into the trenches to reconnoitre. Thus, it was he who first discovered that the Germans had gone.

He was fatally wounded three weeks later on 9th April 1917, near Heninel, during the first day of the Battle of Arras. The 19th Battalion was not committed to action until the early afternoon of the and its objectives were the German Trench System immediately in front of the village of Heninel itself, and the high ground beyond it. The advancing waves moved forward with on schedule and passed through Henin towards St Martin despite a German barrage put down on both village’s. By the 17.00pm, they were within one hundred yards of the German wire, which was found to be untouched and uncut. Here they were met with fierce Machine Gun Fire, and were unable to proceed further, they had to dig in.

Orders were given to extend the Battalion positions right and left, and a Trench was dug from the St Martin to Heninel Road, to the nearby River Coejeul. By midnight, the troops were withdrawn from the trenches, as the German wire was to be shelled, and the Battalion was to close or its own safety. By that time the Battalion had suffered casualties amounting to six Subalterns and two hundred and seventeen other ranks, including Second Lieutenant Milliken who was wounded.

Frank died of his wounds on 04th May 1917 at No.10 British Red Cross Hospital in France and now rests at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France, in Plot 4, Row B, Grave 11.

During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre and by July 1916, the town contained three general hospitals (the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian), No.3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital. The 7th Canadian, 47th and 16th USA General Hospitals arrived later, but all of the hospitals had closed by March 1919. As the original military cemetery at Le Treport filled, it became necessary to use the new site at Mont Huon. There are now 2,128 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and seven from the Second World War. The cemetery also contains more than 200 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Probate was granted at Liverpool on 11th September 1917 to his father James in the sum of £197 6s and 11d.

Frank's loss was not the only tragic loss that the Milliken family had to endure as he lost his two elder brothers in East Africa in 1916

Lieutenant  Joseph Dalton Milliken, East Africa Unattached List, died Entebbe on 29th June 1916. He has a CWGC entry and now rests at Entebbe Eurpoean Cemetery, Uganda at B.5. It appears that he was a Company Director in East Africa before the war. Entebbe was the site of a base hospital. Gazette - 02/8/16 - Probate & Admin. - J.D. Milliken, Lieut., unattached who died at Kisumu 30/6/16 (sic)

Alexander Sutherland Milliken, who was a Civilian Trader, died of bubonic plague on 25th June 1916 in Kisumu. He was married to Muriel and had one child Jean born in 1914. He arrived in East Africa in 1899 from England and became the manager of Boustead and Clarke Ltd in Kisumu, he was assited by his brother Joseph Dalton Milliken. The firm sold wines, spirits, groceries, soft goods and general merchandise.  Gazette - 16/8/16 - Probate & Admin. - Alexander Sutherland Milliken of Kisumu, who died at Kisumu 25/6/16. Applied for by Muriel Milliken. 

Alexander does not have a CWGC entry nor headstone and it is not known where he was buried.

Both deaths were reported in the press as follows:

The death is reported in our obituary columns this morning of Lieutenant Joseph Dalton Milliken, East African Forces and Alexander Sutherland Milliken, East Africa Forces, aged 39 and 35 respectively. They were the third and fourth sons of Mr James Milliken of 146 Anfield Road, Stanley Park, Liverpool, who formerly resided in Belfast and was employed in the offices of the "Northern Whig" over 40 years ago. Mr Milliken has three other sons in the Army namely Jack and Arthur, who were bank clerks, and Frank, a civil engineer who is Lieutenant in Lord Derby's "Pals" Battalion.

Frank and Dalton are commemorated on the family grave at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool  where the inscriptions states:

AT ENTEBBE UGANDA LIEUT. DALTON MILLIKEN, H. M. S. USOGA JUNE 29TH 1916 AGED 39 YEARS ALSO FRANK STEVENS, LIEUT, 19TH K. L. R. YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE DIED OF WOUNDS AT LE TREPORT 4TH MAY 1917.

Frank is remembered on the following Memorials:

Liverpool University, located under a large window in the entrance hall, Liverpool University Victoria Hall, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool,

Liverpool Institute War Memorial. The building of the former Liverpool Institute School, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Mount Street, Liverpool.

His mother, Mary, died aged 71 in December 1916 after the loss of two of her sons in 1916.

His father, James, died in the September quarter of 1918 aged 74.

We currently have no further information on Frank Stevens Millikin. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.