Sergeant Frank Milburn DCM

Sergeant Frank Milburn was the son of Harold Milburn (a Private in the East Yorkshire Regiment, who also died in action in France, on 30 September 1915), and of Florence Amelia Milburn, of Greenside, Co. Durham.

He served with 12th (Yorks) Parachute Battalion, and took part in the Normandy operations on D-Day, during Op Overlord and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions in September 1944. Which is unusual as only a VC or MID is normally awarded posthumously. Therefore the award could have been sanctioned before confirmation of his death was received, or possibly cited by an officers who witnessed the event and broke King's regulations because he felt he was so deserving. The commander of The 12th Bn on D Day was Alexander Percival 'Johnny' Johnson, who was killed 12 June. It is reported that, on that day, the Bn lost all it's officers and warrant officers who were either killed or wounded. The citation reads :

"Sgt Milburn was in charge of a forward position in front of his Coy. When the attacked by 2 Platoons of German infantry supported by 3 self propelled guns, he held his fire and controlled his section until he was able to engage the enemy at point blank range. Afterwards he lead an assault on 1 of the self propelled guns under heavy fire from the other 2. This NCO's courage and leadership were of the highest order and contributed to the success of the airborne operation"

Milburn's citation does not report him being a casualty during this action and, had his death been witnessed, he would not have been eligible for a DCM award. 

Sergeant Milburn died on 6 June 1944, aged 29 years old. He is now buried at Ranville Churchyard, Normandy. He was 1 of the 46 military casualties buried there, all having the date of death of 6 or 7 June 1944.

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