Joseph Milner (firefighter)

Joseph "Joe" Milner CBE, QFSM (born October 1922, Manchester, England, UK - died 13 January 2007, Caston, Norfolk, England, UK) was a senior officer in the British fire service.

Born in Manchester in 1922, on leaving the army in 1946, he began his career with the Fire Brigade's of Middlesbrough, Scarborough, and the North Riding of Yorkshire. He joined the Hong Kong Fire Services in 1951.

He was Director of the Hong Kong Fire Services from 1961-1970 and Chief Fire Officer, of the London Fire Brigade from 1970-1976.

He was the Chief Fire Officer, present during the Moorgate tube crash aftermath, in 1975. He famously quoted 'my thousand selfless heroes', in dedication to the literal 1000 firefighters who spent 5 days rescuing survivors.

Family

1st wife Bella Grice-Flinton, Yorkshire Died 1976 - had 2 children (Patricia and Frederick (dec'd)), 2nd wife Anne Milner - married 1976 until his death in 2007- no children, Joyce Woodhouse - sister, William Milner - brother, Henry Milner, QPM-awarded British policeman, was his brother.

Burma Campaign

Milner fought in the Burma campaign as a Chindit. There is a story that has been passed down through the family of Milner, that when the Japanese surrounded his camp, and his men nervously asked him what they should do, he gave the orders to set up a banquet in order to show the Japanese that they did not fear them. Joseph Milner wrote a fictional, book based on his experiences called "To Blazes With Glory: A Chindit's war", about a soldier called Badger who fights in the campaign.

References

• Hong Kong Government Records Office. Archival copy of: Information Services Department, Publishing Division, Editorial Section. Feature: A "passion" for fire prevention - Hong Kong man to head London Fire Brigade. by Adam Lynford.
• Hong Kong Fire Services (photo)