As captain of the Great Britain miniature (small-bore) rifle team at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, William Milne led by example and collected two silver medals, one in the 50 metres individual and the other in the 25 metres disappearing target team competition. Prior to that, Milne’s finest moment was in winning the prestigious Mayor of Wandsworth’s Cup, after a shoot-off, at the 1904 Mini Bisley Rifle Meeting.
Milne enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders in 1870 and, in his 27 years with them, saw service in India, Afghanistan, and South Africa. He later became a musket instructor of the London Scottish Regiment. In 1902 Milne became a colour sergeant in the Yeoman of the Guard, was one of the King’s personal bodyguards, and performed many official ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace. He was a Yeoman for 21 years and was still in service at the time of his death in 1923. He was also, at the same time, steward at the London Scottish Golf Club in Wimbledon, a post he had held for the 26 years prior to his death.
Great Britain