Hi Amanda,
My grandmother passed away in May this year (she was an extremely secretive person) and we have been trying the piece the puzzles together since her passing.
She was born Hilda Nellie Ottaway, sister to Eileen Merle Ottaway (parents names are exactly the same)
She married my grandfather Bryan Frederick Miles (who passed away in 1999), and adopted the name Helen Hilda Miles.
They had one child together (my mother) born Janet Helen Miles (married and now called Janet Helen Prince)
She was born 13th march 1957 and remembers meeting her Aunty Merle and Uncle Stuart but she never met her cousin Yvonne Lorraine Baker (who she believes used to be referred to as Bonnie)
Yvonne would be my Aunty, but I never met her. Ironically I was also born 12th January.
As I mentioned above she would NEVER talk about her past. We didn’t even know she was in the airforce until she passed away.
I found some letters between my nanna and Eileen Merle with some pictures of my nanna and Yvonne (Bonnie). Yvonne was referred to as Bonnie in the letters.
The letters are at my mums house in Perth (I live in Exmouth WA) but if you like I can try get a copy next time I fly down to visit my mum.
My nanna was repeatedly saying she has to say something to my mother before she passed away, she said it was extremely important she knows, but my nanna was just too ashamed or embarrassed to tell us what she needed to get off her chest. She said she would tell a minister but we couldn’t get one to come in time…..hence why I have been curious to try and find a bit more of her past.
If you would like any more information or to contact my mother her email address is janprince100@hotmail.com
Kind regards,
Mesha Jane Mounsey