Mabel Lee Milne was the eldest daughter of the late James Mitchell Milne, District Traffic Agent, Caledonian and West Coast Railway, Perth, and his wife Mary (Lee) Milne, Auchanfairn, Craigie, Perth. She was born in Dundee, Forfarshire on 8th January 1886 and was educated at Perth Academy. In 1901 the Milne family were living at Craigie Road, Perth: Father, James (Railway Agent) (47); Mother, Mary (49); Son, George (Clerk) (22); Daughter, Mabel (15); and Daughter, Maggie (11).

Sister Mabel Milne was working at Craigleith Hospital in Edinburgh (now the Western General) when she volunteered for service overseas and she served with the Expeditionary Force in France as a Staff Nurse from 29th May 1917. 

Mabel was serving at the 58th (Scottish) General Hospital, near St. Omer, when the hospital was attacked by German aircraft on the night of 30th September/1st October 1917. In the attack three nurses were killed, and three wounded (Mabel Milne seriously so) together with 16 other ranks killed, and a further 60 wounded. Mabel Milne died of her injuries on 2nd October 1917.

She was mentioned in dispatches (London Gazette 21st December 1917) by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, “For gallant and distinguished service in the field”. At the time of her death Mabel Milne was 31 years old and unmarried. The local newspaper reported “PERTH “Sister Mabel L. Milne, daughter of Mrs Milne, "Auchanfairn", Craigie, has died from enemy aircraft wounds in France. She is the first Perth lady to make the supreme sacrifice in the War.” (Blairgowrie Advertiser, 13th October 1917). Mabel Milne is also commemorated on the Wilson United Free Church War Memorial, Perth; and the Women of the Empire Memorial, York Minster.