Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert Hilditch Milliken was born on 31 March 1873 at Ballygarry, County Antrim, Ireland, the son of Catherine Milliken. His father is reputed to have been Captain Robert Montgomery. In 1878 in County Antrim, Robert’s mother Catherine Milliken married John Orr by whom she had two sons and a daughter. When John died in 1894, she married Robert Gray. Robert died in 1898, and Catherine married Arthur Millen. Catherine Millen (née Milliken) died on 21 August 1914 at the Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. By the funeral director’s record, Robert had come to New Zealand in about 1895. Two maternal uncles of Robert had already settled in North Canterbury – John Milliken who came to New Zealand in 1880 with his wife and one son, made his home at Springfield and had five more sons and six daughters; William Hugh Milliken who came to New Zealand in 1881, married in 1890 and had a family of six sons and one daughter; in 1893 he opened a store at Culverden, where it appears that Robert Hilditch Milliken may have been a clerk (Robert Milliken) from 1899 to 1908. Late in 1902, the Land Board forfeited the lease at Hanmer Springs township of R. H. Milliken. By 1907 Robert H. Milliken was a storekeeper at Hanmer Springs. He had married Hellen Ann McDonald on 30 April 1902 at the Presbyterian Church at Hanmer Springs, New Zealand. Both Robert and Hellen were of Hanmer, Hellen’s father being the manager of the Sanatorium. They had the following children - Elizabeth Mary Hellen Milliken born on 1 December 1902 at Hanmer Springs, Duncan Hilditch Milliken born on 26 February 1904 at Hanmer Springs, Margaret Ann Milliken born on 23 March 1905 at Hanmer Springs, Mary Janet Milliken born on 18 March 1907 at Hanmer Springs, Donald McDonald Milliken born on 13 April 1910 at Timaru, and John McFarlane Milliken born on 6 August 1912 at Timaru. Robert Hilditch Milliken is listed on the Dunedin West supplementary electoral roll in 1908 – storekeeper in George Street. Hellen Ann does not appear as Milliken on an electoral roll until 1911. She was listed as Helen Ann McDonald at Hanmer Springs from 1900, when her parents were residing there, through to 1908. In May 1911, the Canterbury Land Board approved the transfer of land at Hanmer Plains from Robert H. Milliken. By 191o Robert and Hellen were resident in Arthur Street, Timaru, he a grocer and billiard saloon keeper. The children were educated at Timaru Main School, with the eldest Elizabeth having first attended Hanmer School then Waikouaiti School from June 1908 until October 1908 in the care of James Summers (the husband of her maternal aunt Elizabeth McDonald). Mary too, spent time at Waikouaiti School from March until December 1913 in the care of James Summers. At least two of the children (Margaret and John) went on to High School. It was at Timaru in June 1911 that Robert Milliken subscribed 10 shillings to the Home Rule Fund.

So it was that Robert Hilditch Milliken enlisted on 13 February 1915 at Trentham - a self-employed storekeeper living at Arthur Street, Timaru, 43 years of age, married with six children, and Presbyterian. He named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Hellen Ann Milliken, 26 Arthur Street, Timaru. He had been medically examined at Timaru on 11 February 1915. He stood at 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 140 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 32½ -35 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes and hair brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. He had false upper and lower teeth. He was free from diseases and slight defects, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. He was inoculated for typhoid at Trentham in March 1915. Robert Milliken had served for five years with the Hanmer Rifle Club at Amuri.

The Fourth and Fifth Reinforcements trained at Trentham Camp during March 1915. By late May they had reached the advanced stages of their training. Private R. H. Milliken embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 5th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt on 13 June 1915. Hellen Ann Milliken, Arthur Street, Timaru, applied on 28 July 1915 for the one shilling per day Separation Allowance granted to the wives of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, enclosing her marriage certificate. Private Robert Hilditch Milliken, 6/2201, joined his Battalion (Canterbury) at the Dardanelles on 8 July 1915. Wounded in the foot on 7 August 1915, he was admitted to No. 16 Stationary Hospital at Mudros with a septic foot. Discharged to duty on 27 August he rejoined his Unit at the Dardanelles the next day. On 19 September 1915 he was admitted to the Field Ambulance at Mudros, suffering from debility. He was transferred to the Convalescent Depot on 21 October, then discharged to Base on 3 November. Having embarked for England on 4 November per Hospital Ship, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Tooting on 11 November 1915.

On 13 March 1916 he was attached to the Strength of the New Zealand Base Depot at Grey Towers. Private Milliken left England to join his Unit on 12 May 1916. Just a few days later he was deprived of 4 days’ pay for being in a café during prohibited hours. On 20 May 1916 he was admitted to the Venereal Hospital [at Rouen], France, and the next day to No. 9 Stationary Hospital at Le Havre. The advice on 27 May 1916 was that he had returned to Active Service. He was discharged to No. 10 Camp at Le Havre. On 30 June 1916, however, he was admitted to No. 18 General Hospital at Camiers (V.D. Section). Discharged from hospital on 7 July 1916, he was attached to Strength at the New Zealand Base Depot at Etaples, rejoining his Battalion in the Field on 28 July 1916.

Milliken was admitted to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 16 November 1916, with venereal warts. The next day he was transferred from No.1 Convalescent Depot to No. 51 General Hospital at Etaples, France. Discharged to Base Details, he was transferred to the Base Depot at Etaples, France where he was attached to the Strength of the New Zealand Infantry on 14 December 1916.

Having rejoined his Battalion in the Field on 11 January 1917, he was admitted to No. 2 New Zealand Field Ambulance on 23 January, sick. He was personally inspected by the Assistant Director of Medical Services in the Field on 10 February 1917 and pronounced unfit for further service at the front. As he was to report to the Reinforcement Camp on 13 February 1917, he was transferred there from No. 2 New Zealand Field Ambulance (Divisional Rest Station). He was attached to the Strength of the New Zealand Infantry and General Base Depot at Etaples on 17 February 1917. Detached to England from there [NZI & GBD] on 10 April 1917, he was taken on Strength from France and attached to the Strength of the Command Depot at Codford on 11 April.

The Medical Board held at the NZ Command Depot at Codford on 28 June 1917 noted deformity of his right heel and recommended return to New Zealand. The Statement of Case read – “Noticed after an accident four years ago leg and foot was swollen. Laid up for three weeks. Noticed a lump on back of heel. Was in Gallipoli five weeks, was sent from Gallipoli with debility. Arrived in France May 11th, was sent into Hospital (venereal) for seven weeks. Arrived in England Nov 11th, 1915. Was in Tooting hospital with debility and jaundice. Arrived in Codford in April. Has been doing light duty here.” Milliken stated that he had never done any training on account of his foot, and had only been used as Storekeeper. His disability had been caused by accident during civilian life and aggravated by active service. He complained that his foot gave him trouble on route marching. There was a hard lump on the back of the right heel which felt like callus formation. The X-ray report showed bony swelling. Classified permanently unfit by the Medical Board on 11 July 1917, he went from Sling to the New Zealand Discharge Depot at Torquay on 17 July 1917. He was confined to barracks for three days for being absent without leave on 7 August 1917 at Torquay.

Milliken embarked at Plymouth on 12 August 1917 for the return to New Zealand per the “Rimutaka”. A Medical Board which was assembled on board the Troopship “Rimutaka” at the Port of Auckland on 21 October 1917 recommended boarding at Timaru for 7 days. Private R. H. Milliken was duly granted sick-leave from 22 October 1917 to 28 October. A Medical Board was then assembled at the Timaru Drill Hall on 29 October 1917, which noted the deformity of his right heel which had been caused by an accident and resulted in an inability to route march. He was permanently unfit for Active Service and Territorial Service. Discharge was recommended. Robert Hilditch Milliken was discharged on 19 November 1917, having served overseas for more than two years at Gallipoli, Lemnos and Mudros and in Egypt and Europe, but in a limited fashion. He was no longer physically fit for War Service on account of a pre-enlistment disability which had been aggravated by Active Service. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

In March 1919 at Timaru, R. Milliken and three mates were charged with inciting and assisting a prohibited person to get liquor. On 24 February 1920, while at Seacliff Mental Hospital, R. H. Milliken applied for medical treatment on account of acute alcoholic insanity. Detention in the Mental Hospital was recommended. Margaret Ann Milliken, the second daughter of Mr and Mrs R. H. Milliken, of Timaru, was escorted by her father when she married Harry John Tickner, at Chalmers Church in January 1930. Mr R. H. Milliken was one to resign from the committee at a general meeting of members of the Timaru unemployed because sensitive information had been disclosed by someone on the committee. Mr R. H. Milliken was present at a most successful Bridge and 500 evening held in July 1934 in the Y.M.C.A. Club Rooms, when a large number of parents and friends were present. The function was organised by the Ladies’ Auxiliary and Parents’ Committee of the Y.M.C.A. Association, in order to assist the funds of the Boys’ Work Department. In May 1942 he donated to the Patriotic fund when a house-to-house collection was held. The engagement of John McFarlane Milliken, the younger son of Mr and Mrs R. H. Milliken, of Timaru, to Daphne May Donald of Temuka, was announced in February 1946.

Robert Hilditch Milliken died on 24 August 1954 at Talbot Hospital, Timaru, aged 82 years, and was buried in the Timaru Cemetery. His funeral left his Arthur Street residence. Members of the South Canterbury R.S.A paid their respects at the cemetery. He was survived by his wife, and all his children (three daughters and three sons). He bequeathed the whole of his estate to his wife, Helen Ann Milliken, and his daughter, Elizabeth Mary Hellen (unmarried), in equal shares. He had £250 in his Post Office Savings Bank Account and £10 of Accrued War Veteran’s Allowance. Hellen Ann Milliken died at her Arthur Street residence in August 1959 and was buried with Robert. Their youngest son, John McFarlane Milliken, served in World War Two. John Thomas Orr, a half-brother of Robert Hilditch Milliken, settled in New Zealand also, at a later date, and served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One. Several cousins of Robert served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One – Morris James Milliken who died of wounds in 1915 at Gallipoli; Alexander Milliken (Sandy); Edward Hugh Milliken; William Thomas Milliken who was killed in action in 1918 in Palestine. Another cousin, Thomas Milliken, was killed in action in 1941 in the Western Desert. Harold Maurice Milliken, a son of Robert’s cousin James Milliken, served in World War Two; and Robert Eric Milliken, a son of Robert’s cousin Robert Milliken, was killed in action in 1943 in Germany. Donald James McDonald, who served with the Australian Imperial Force and died of disease in 1919 in Belgium, was a nephew of Hellen Ann (McDonald) Milliken. Francis (Frank) Macdonald Stark, another nephew of Hellen, served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in World War Two.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [15 August 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5549 0081168) [16 August 2016]; Timaru Cemetery headstone images (Timaru District Council) [15 August 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [15 August 2016]; Timaru Herald, 25 August 1954 (Timaru District Library) [15 August 2016]; Press, 6 May 1902, 26 December 1903, 24 August 1959, Star, 7 May 1902, Lyttelton Times, 5 May 1911, Timaru Herald, 9 June 1911, 7 March 1919, 18 January 1930, 6 June 1931, 27 July 1934, 20 May 1942, Sun, 6 September 1915, NZ Herald, 6 September 1915, Ashburton Guardian, 6 September 1915, 23 November 1915, Otago Daily Times, 6 September 1915, 2 February 1946, Star, 6 September 1915, 23 November 1915, 22 October 1917, Otago Witness, 8 September 1915 (Papers Past) [15 August 2016; 16 & 17 October 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [18 August 2016]; Ireland birth registration (ancestry.com.au) [18 August 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [18 August 2016; 16 October 2024]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [15 August 2016]; Funeral Directors record (South Canterbury Genealogy Society transcriptions) [16 October 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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