From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Milton Family: ‘Edgar Milton and his wife Sarah Milton’: Courtesy of Pam Dray
Herbert Henry Milton and Winifred Milton Nee Allen were the grandparents of Pam Dray.
Herbert Henry Milton (Dosh) 01.10.1889 – 03.09.1975 (My Grandfather) was the second son of Edgar and Sarah. Herbert married Winifred Allen 07.04.1893 – 02.04.1965 and the couple lived at 19 The Bayle, Folkestone.
This picture shows the area of the Bayle Folkestone about 1911, the little house next to the large shop front is 19 The Bayle. My grandfather, being a postman, was close to his work and my gran would say worst thing they did as people would knock at the door and look through the letter box asking if grandfather could do an extra shift, which of course he would. Winifred worked in the laundry as an ironer until my mother Winifred Evangeline came along in 1913.
In about 1912 they moved to 72, Blackbull Road, Folkestone. All to soon granddad went off to war leaving grandma with child and little money so she said to me she had to take in lodgers to make ends meet and hated to have people in her house, and like many other women she did sewing and made all their clothes. With granddad being away for 6 years it made things difficult for her as on his return they both had to get used to each other again and he also had a daughter to get to know. She felt the war was very disruptive to their lives.
Herbert told me some very interesting tales of his service especially one story when he was in the Camel Corp in the desert where Lawerence of Arabia was. One night he slipped in to the camp in Arab dress, when I asked what he was like etc the answer I got was “We had no regard for him”. When he was in India he said the Taj Mahal was beautiful to see, and they didn’t often take prisoners as they wanted to bring their families along with them, as they knew the British would look after them well. Herbert served in the Buffs in Aden and India.
The photos above show Herbert age about 21 in his Post office uniform and a collection of Herbert’s medal ribbons, as well as the post cards he sent his wife Winifred, his Permanent Pass, his Registration certificate, his Discharge Certificate and Retierment Letter and Herbert of course can be seen half laying down, (Photo taken in India circa 1917.)
• Daughter: Winifred Milton 06.01.1913 – 04.12.1980 married Robert Fredrick William Harris 23.03.1911 – 15.09.86 (son of Frederick William Harris and Daisy Louise Milton) 13.09.1939. This is my parents.
• Pamela Winifred Dray Nee Harris
Image and text courtesy of Pam Dray