b. 09/10/1872 Belgravia, London. d. 21/08/1915 Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Sir John Peniston Milbanke (1872-1915) was born on 9th October 1872 at 20, Eccleston Street, London, the son of Peniston Milbanke, 9th Baronet, JP, Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex, and Elizabeth, daughter of the Honourable Richard Denman. He was educated at Castlemount, Dover, and at Harrow, where he became a close friend of Winston Churchill. He enlisted with the 10th Hussars on 26th November 1892. He succeeded his father as the 10th Baronet in 1899.
Sir John P Milbanke VC
He served with the 10th Hussars throughout the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, as Aide-de-Camp to General French, being mentioned in despatches and receiving the Queen’s South Africa Medal with six clasps, and was promoted to Captain. He would also be recommended for, and be awarded the Victoria Cross (gazetted 6th July 1900).
On the 5th January, 1900, during a reconnaissance near Colesberg, Sir John Miibanke, when retiring under fire with a small patrol of the 10th Hussars, notwithstanding the fact that he had just been severely wounded in the thigh, rode back to the assistance of one of the men whose pony was exhausted, and who was under fire from some Boers who had dismounted. Sir John Miibanke took the man up on his own horse under a most galling fire and brought him safely back to camp.
He was presented with his Victoria Cross on 15th December 1900 by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. On 6th December 1901, he married Leila, only daughter of Colonel the Honourable Charles Crichton. They went on to have two sons, John Charles Peniston Milbanke (born 1902) and Ralph Mark Milbanke (born 1907). In 1910, he decided to retire from the Army. In August 1914, on the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War, he decided to re-enlist. In October 1914, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Foresters), and went to Egypt in command of the regiment in April 1915.
Milbanke was killed in action on 21st August 1915 at Suvla Bay, in command of Hill 70. His body was not recovered, and he is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. His medals are held by the King’s Royal Hussars Museum, Winchester, Hampshire.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL HUSSARS MUSEUM, WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE
BURIAL PLACE: NO KNOWN GRAVE – ON HELLAS MEMORIAL, GALLIPOLI. PANEL 16.
Acknowledgement:
Terry Hissey – Harrow School Chapel Memorial to Milbanke VC.