Hylda Elizabeth (Miles) Davis (1915 - 2012)

Born 5 Jun 1915 in Cove, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Robert George Davis — married 17 Aug 1938 in Yateley, Hampshire, England

Descendants

Died 8 Jan 2012 at age 96 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alan Davis [send private message]

Biography

Early Life

Hylda Elizabeth Davis was born on 5 Jun 1915. ^[1] She was baptised on 8th Aug that year^[2]. She had four siblings:

• Eileen Mary (Miles) Winny (1912 - 2010)
• Ronald George Miles (1913 - 2007)
• Francis E (Miles) Clarke (1919 - )
• Kathleen May (Miles) Gower (1923 - 1998)

She recounted her early life to her son Alan in Feb 2011 (when she was 96):

Her father was a hard disciplinarian and by age 12 she resolved to leave home at the first opportunity.

In 1929 when she was 14 she secured a position as Dormitory Maid at Crossways School, Farnborough. This was a live in position involving cleaning the classrooms and looking after the boarding students who ranged from 6 to 10 years. She got a half day off on Sundays but her father made her stay at home to ensure she didn't get led astray by soldiers who were barracked nearby.

In 1931 (16 yo) she took a position as Parlour Maid at Oxendon Hall, Leicester, the house of Sir Percy Bates, Chairman of the White Star/Cunard Line. Here she worked directly under the Head Butler, responsible for laying the table, cleaning the silver and crystal. She said it was a wonderful position and the owners and staff were very nice. She shared a room with the Scullery Maid.

Harley St doctors checked all the staff on joining and periodically. Mrs Bates thought she looked pallid and needed building up so she was put on cod liver oil and malt.

It was the first time her father couldn't control her life. However, the Head Butler kept a fatherly eye on all the young staff and guided their welfare when necessary.

In 1934 (19 yo) a position became available at Yateley Place and so she took that up as it allowed her to move back close to home. She worked there until she was 23.

Marriage, Family and WW2

Betty met her future husband, Bob Davis at dances held in the Yateley drill hall. She said that he was the pick of the bunch in the village and she had to beat a bit of competition to land him. Bob clearly thought Betty was special too because they courted until married four years later on 17 Aug 1938 in Yateley Church^[3].

While they were engaged Bob and Betty resolved to save for their own house and by the time they married had purchased a home which they called “St Michael's”. Their first child, Colin was born there.

They had four children:

• Colin Robert Davis (1939 - 2004)
• Carol Elizabeth (Davis) Watson (1941 -)
• Alan Ronald Davis (1945 -)
• Adrian Michael Davis (1947 - )

The outbreak of the second world war in 1939 signalled the end of normal life for the young married couple. Bob was called up in 1941and to make ends meet Betty rented St Michael's and moved in with Bob's parents at Thatched Cottage, Cricket Hill, Yateley. Bob's brother Fred and sister Ros also moved in so the cottage became very crowded, especially when respective husbands got army leave.

Betty subsequently took a live in position with Colonel and Mrs Gordon of Yateley Place, cleaning for them in exchange for accommodation. Yateley Place was a large house and Betty had her hands full doing the housework and looking after two children. When her third child Alan was born in 1945 the extra pressure was too much so she moved to the Lodge, a small workers cottage on Cricket Hill owned by Colonel Charles. It was a single bedroom place and had a hay loft which was a great attraction for the children.

Mum did some housework for Lord and Lady de L'Isle who lived in Cricket Hill Lane further up the hill from Thatched Cottage. In 1961 Lord de L'Isle was appointed Governor General of Australia and visited mum who by then had emigrated to Australia.

Bob was demobbed in 1946 but the family was unable to move back into St Michael's as the Rent Act required that they find equivalent accommodation for their tenants which in the housing shortage they couldn't do. So the Lodge was the family home through to 1949 when they were allocated a house in the newly constructed council estate; 5 Priors Close, Hawley Lane Estate.

Emigration to Australia

In 1952 Bob, Betty and the family emigrated to Australia under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme introduced by the Australian Government, and were henceforth known as Ten pound Poms.

The family sailed on the SS Cameronia an old ship converted as a troop carrier in WW2 and scrapped after this voyage to Australia. They departed Bristol on 11 June 1952 arrived in Fremantle on 11 June 1952.^[4]

She passed away in 2012.

Sources

1. ↑ * Birth Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915"
   England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office; Volume: 2c; Page: 350
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8912 #22433848 (accessed 24 October 2022)
   Hylda E Miles birth registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1915 in Hartley Wintney.
2. ↑ Baptism: "Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1917"
   Surrey History Centre; Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4772 #9842060 (accessed 24 October 2022)
   Hilda Elizabeth Miles baptism on 8 Aug 1915, child of George Ernest Miles & Minnie Miles, in Cove, St John, Surrey, England.
3. ↑ * Marriage Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005"
   General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 2c; Page: 732
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8753 #55670690 (accessed 24 October 2022)
   Hylda E Miles marriage to Robert G Davis registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1938 in Aldershot.
4. ↑ National Archives of Australia, Item details for: A1877, 11/06/1952 CAMERONIA DAVIS R G NAA