Private Andrew R Milbourne

Andrew ‘Andy’ Milbourne lived in Alnwick and was an apprentice tackle maker when he enlisted on 8 August 1938 into the 2nd Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. He was only 15 years old, but wanted to become a drummer boy.

Fusilier Milbourne volunteered for airborne forces whilst in Ireland. He qualified as a military parachutist on course 64, which ran at RAF Ringway in May 1943, and was posted to 1st Parachute Battalion.

He saw active service in Italy and Arnhem, where he fought with the Machine Gun Platoon, Support Company, 1st Para Bn. Andy Milbourne was injured by a bomb explosion that killed two of his pals during the battle. Severely injured he was captured and held as a Prisoner of War. German doctors had to amputate his hands and he also lost an eye. 

After the war Andy Milbourne, a married father of one child, worked despite his disability in a pit in Ashington and then later for the Ministry of Pensions. 

Andy wrote two books on his experiences, ‘A Lease of Life’ and 'The Hovering Eagles’. He was also the subject of ‘This is Your Life’ in 1958 and appeared as a guest on RSM Lord’s 'This is Your Life' episode a year later. 

Andy Milbourne died on 5 February 2009, aged 88. He was laid to rest in Newcastle, supported by many members of the Tyneside Branch of the Parachute Regimental Association.