John Frederick Milbourn was born on 30th April 1893 at Altcar in West Lancashire and baptised on 2nd July of that year at St Michael and All Angels in Great Altcar. He was the son of John Milbourn (born Liverpool) and his wife Sarah (nee Dyson) who was born in Rugby, Warwickshire. The father was a farmer.
The Census of 1901 recorded the Milbourn family as living at Worrall Farm in Altcar Entire. Seven-year-old John Frederick had a younger brother called Charles Henry who was six years of age. In 1902 another brother was born named Cecil Dyson.
Sadly, in 1905, Sarah Milbourn died at the age of about 37 years. Three years later John Milbourn married again, to Florence Ashton, who was born in Manchester and who was eight years younger than her husband. That year a son was born named Geoffrey Turner who was born at Aston-by-Sutton.
In 1911 the Census showed that the family were all living at Aston Heath. John Frederick was working for his father on the farm.
John Frederick enlisted in November 1914 with the Cheshire Yeomanry. He was a private with the service number 1418. He was later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment and assigned a new service number (31557), still as a private. He was killed in action on 21st October 1916 at the Somme and was buried at Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France. By this time his father and stepmother were living back in Lancashire at Gore House in Lydiate. Their son was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in the Great War.
He was 23 years old when he was killed.