9 SCRUM HALF Harold Ashton Milburn – A YOUNG BRAVE SPITFIRE PILOT

Harold Ashton Milburn was born in Sunderland in June 1922 and lost his life as a result of enemy action in May 1942. He was only 19. He played in the backs at the beginning of the war when many older men had already joined the forces. His father was a solicitor but the family, in general, was known for producing successful architects, responsible for building some of the most important theatres in the country. Harold went to Rock Lodge School ( where his headmaster was James Edgar Dobbie) and then to St Peter’s School, York where he captained the school’s 1^st XV at 16. By 1940 he had gained entrance to Oxford University and continued to play for SRFC’s 1^st XV when possible. On the day of his 18^th birthday, he joined the RAF Voluntary Reserve. He became a flight sergeant in 1941  and later in the year, (and still a teenager), he became a pilot officer attached to the famous 249 squadron. By August 1941 he was flying one of the four spitfires named ‘Sunderland’ and bought from funds raised by the people of the town. Flying out of Biggin Hill he was involved in counteracting the German Channel Dash of late 1941/early 1942. In February 1942 the squadron was sent to help relieve the Siege of Malta. On 09 May 1942 he was involved in a dogfight with ME109s.His spitfire was brought down and he was killed. He is buried in  the Naval Cemetery on Malta. The school magazine noted that he was one of the first young Peterites to die in the conflict. He died days short of his 20^th birthday.

E2. HAROLD ASHTON MILBURN, RAYMOND HAROLD CHARLES SLY (1) | A Military Photo Website and Forum