World War 2 Memories - Jill Butler
Milson Watkins: D O B 16/03/1921 Gladys Watkins nee Hunt DOB 28/04/1921
My parents Milson Watkins and Gladys Hunt were born in Bethnal Green in 1921. He met my mother Gladys, at the age of nine years old; she lived in the same street.
Milson left school at the age of 14 years and worked as a courier for Lloyds of London. He travelled all around the city of London streets, on a pair of roller skates. Gladys worked at home with her mother and sister as a machinist Milson Watkins joined the Territorial Army when he was 17 years old and was therefore one of the first to join the forces at the age of 18 yrs. He was a member of the 12th Light anti aircraft regiment and in charge of a Bofors gun. He quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the youngest Sergeants in the army. He travelled to many countries as part of the Eighth army. He was one of the first on the beach with his gun, in the infamous Sicilian landings and fought northwards to central Italy to capture Florence. He was mentioned in dispatches by King George V1 for gallantry.
My mother Gladys also joined the forces. She was in the RAF based mostly at Chicksands RAF base, as a teleprinter operator, where she was responsible for passing on codes to Bletchley Park. On being demobbed in 1945, she lived with her family, who had moved from the East end of London because of the bombing and settled at 3, Claremont Crescent Croxley Green.
Milson did not see his childhood sweetheart Gladys for 4 years. He returned home in 1945 having been awarded many medals and married my mother within a few months in September 1945.
My parents Milson Watkins and Gladys Hunt were born in Bethnal Green in 1921. He met my mother Gladys, at the age of nine years old; she lived in the same street.
Milson left school at the age of 14 years and worked as a courier for Lloyds of London. He travelled all around the city of London streets, on a pair of roller skates. Gladys worked at home with her mother and sister as a machinist Milson Watkins joined the Territorial Army when he was 17 years old and was therefore one of the first to join the forces at the age of 18 yrs. He was a member of the 12th Light anti aircraft regiment and in charge of a Bofors gun. He quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the youngest Sergeants in the army. He travelled to many countries as part of the Eighth army. He was one of the first on the beach with his gun, in the infamous Sicilian landings and fought northwards to central Italy to capture Florence. He was mentioned in dispatches by King George V1 for gallantry.
My mother Gladys also joined the forces. She was in the RAF based mostly at Chicksands RAF base, as a teleprinter operator, where she was responsible for passing on codes to Bletchley Park. On being demobbed in 1945, she lived with her family, who had moved from the East end of London because of the bombing and settled at 3, Claremont Crescent Croxley Green.
Milson did not see his childhood sweetheart Gladys for 4 years. He returned home in 1945 having been awarded many medals and married my mother within a few months in September 1945.
(© Loaned Jill Butler) 1945 Gladys and Milson
Milson remembers being on leave on VE Day. He went from Croxley to Trafalgar Square in full uniform, with family members to celebrate. They were singing, dancing and watching the fireworks when a rocket hit his sister in law in the face, very close to her eye. Milson carried her to Charing Cross hospital and spent most of the day waiting for her to be treated. She carried that scar on her face till the day she died.
After marrying, Gladys, they rented a flat above the hairdressers on the corner of New Road owned by Joyce and David Samuels (now the library). My father returned to the City of London to find work as a marine insurance agent. My mother worked in the Co-op in New Road.
In 1949 they were expecting their first child and were lucky enough to acquire one of the newly built prefabs at the top of Baldwins Lane.
After marrying, Gladys, they rented a flat above the hairdressers on the corner of New Road owned by Joyce and David Samuels (now the library). My father returned to the City of London to find work as a marine insurance agent. My mother worked in the Co-op in New Road.
In 1949 they were expecting their first child and were lucky enough to acquire one of the newly built prefabs at the top of Baldwins Lane.
(© Loaned Jill Butler) Milson outside his Prefab
My father used to cycle to and fro to the station everyday to travel into London. My mother gave up work to look after me. These were happy times as there was a great camaraderie between the prefab residents. My brother was born in 1952 and my parents had saved up enough money to apply for a mortgage to buy one of the houses off a plan that were going to be built in Winton Drive. I remember visiting the house being built, going in and looking up and seeing the sky as there were only rafters at the time. As a 3 year old I was fascinated that there was no roof and have never forgotten it. We moved into our new house in 1952. My father lived there until 2012. Milson (known as Millie) was now able to walk easily to the station to get to work. In 1954 I joined Malvern Way Infant School. Miss Hemmings was the headteacher and Miss James her deputy. I walked home every day for lunch, which was a full dinner of meat and 2 veg, followed by a suet pudding and custard. We had tea in the afternoon. I remember my mother cooked another meal for my father in the evenings, until over 10 years later, she discovered that he was having a large meal everyday in the city pubs with his colleagues. In 1956 I went to Little Green School until the age of 11. I remember being taught by Mr Plumridge. We had wooden desks with ink wells and if we were lucky, these were covered with newspaper in the afternoon and we were allowed to paint.
Millie did not talk about his war experiences but it affected him greatly. Often we were woken at night when he threw himself out of bed onto the floor and shouted ’Get under cover’ Now I recognise that he had post traumatic stress for many years, not known at that time. He always wanted to help other ex service men and women and their families’ .In 1953 he became the British Legion Poppy Appeal Organiser. He played a large part in The Croxley Green British Legion helping to raise money and being part of the planning for the headquarters being built in Watford Road. I remember him going out on cold winter evenings to deliver food parcels and presents from The Legion to needy families all over Croxley. He was always the first to welcome new families onto the street and I was encouraged to walk with new children to school on their first day. He served on Croxley Green British Legion committees for 59 years often as chairman. My mother was also a member of the Women’s section.
When I was about 10 years old my parents decided to run a club for teenagers in The Legion hall as they felt young people were not being catered for. When some of them had attended the Legion dances they were not allowed to dance their sort of music (rock and roll) so my parents started the teenage club on Friday nights, which was well attended and all profit went to the Legion club.
In 1960 I joined Rickmansworth Grammar School. Mr Drew the French teacher was my form tutor for 5 years. All staff wore gowns and often mortar boards. I cycled to school, but had to walk to Harvey Road School to have a cooked lunch because the Grammar school did not have enough capacity. My mother took a job as a machinist with VW Penney in the shop in New Road, working on upholstery. She also made the cloaks for the Revels May Queen, the Maids of Honour and the page boy outfit, in her spare time. Gladys was a member of The Towns Women Guild that met in Dickinson’s Hall. She appeared in plays for the public at the Guild Hall. My brother did not pass the 11 plus and joined Durrants School. My father did not agree with the educational philosophy at the time seeing first hand, the differences in the two Croxley Green secondary schools. He joined Durrants Parents Association, and was elected as chairman to try to establish an all ability school. He was also instrumental in raising money through school fetes and other events to improve the school.
Milson was a county councillor on The Three Rivers District for a short while but became frustrated at the time it took to get anything done for the community. He thought there were too many meetings and bureaucracy. Both my parents were very forward thinking for the time. While most of my friends were being encouraged to leave school, marry or get a job because they were girls and the money was needed in the household. My parents supported me to go onto higher education eventually becoming a teacher.
The war had given my father a love of travelling. In 1961 he bought an old Morris Oxford. Loaded a tent and camping gear on the roof rack and informed us that we were driving to Italy for three weeks. We drove as far as Stanmore when he braked sharply going downhill and the whole roof rack with contents landed on the windscreen. Gladys was ready to return home. Undeterred we drove onto Dover for the ferry. This was the start of annual holidays to Europe; we were often the only British car to be seen. We visited many families in Italy, who remembered my father and thanked him for his part in their liberation. My parents also met many German ex servicemen on their travels, many of whom he discovered, he had fought against. He found their stories fascinating.
In 2005 Gladys died suddenly at the age of 84 years old, just before their Diamond wedding anniversary. She was happy to know that she had four grandchildren. Milson continued playing an active part in the community. He was working on British Legion committees until 2013. He then played music for the weekly tea dances and bi monthly dances until 2017. In 2012 he moved from Winton Drive to Hanover Court as he decided the house in Winton Drive would be more suitable for a family. Milson is now 99 years old and still going strong, having a well deserved rest on the south coast, but always thinks of Croxley Green as home.
Millie did not talk about his war experiences but it affected him greatly. Often we were woken at night when he threw himself out of bed onto the floor and shouted ’Get under cover’ Now I recognise that he had post traumatic stress for many years, not known at that time. He always wanted to help other ex service men and women and their families’ .In 1953 he became the British Legion Poppy Appeal Organiser. He played a large part in The Croxley Green British Legion helping to raise money and being part of the planning for the headquarters being built in Watford Road. I remember him going out on cold winter evenings to deliver food parcels and presents from The Legion to needy families all over Croxley. He was always the first to welcome new families onto the street and I was encouraged to walk with new children to school on their first day. He served on Croxley Green British Legion committees for 59 years often as chairman. My mother was also a member of the Women’s section.
When I was about 10 years old my parents decided to run a club for teenagers in The Legion hall as they felt young people were not being catered for. When some of them had attended the Legion dances they were not allowed to dance their sort of music (rock and roll) so my parents started the teenage club on Friday nights, which was well attended and all profit went to the Legion club.
In 1960 I joined Rickmansworth Grammar School. Mr Drew the French teacher was my form tutor for 5 years. All staff wore gowns and often mortar boards. I cycled to school, but had to walk to Harvey Road School to have a cooked lunch because the Grammar school did not have enough capacity. My mother took a job as a machinist with VW Penney in the shop in New Road, working on upholstery. She also made the cloaks for the Revels May Queen, the Maids of Honour and the page boy outfit, in her spare time. Gladys was a member of The Towns Women Guild that met in Dickinson’s Hall. She appeared in plays for the public at the Guild Hall. My brother did not pass the 11 plus and joined Durrants School. My father did not agree with the educational philosophy at the time seeing first hand, the differences in the two Croxley Green secondary schools. He joined Durrants Parents Association, and was elected as chairman to try to establish an all ability school. He was also instrumental in raising money through school fetes and other events to improve the school.
Milson was a county councillor on The Three Rivers District for a short while but became frustrated at the time it took to get anything done for the community. He thought there were too many meetings and bureaucracy. Both my parents were very forward thinking for the time. While most of my friends were being encouraged to leave school, marry or get a job because they were girls and the money was needed in the household. My parents supported me to go onto higher education eventually becoming a teacher.
The war had given my father a love of travelling. In 1961 he bought an old Morris Oxford. Loaded a tent and camping gear on the roof rack and informed us that we were driving to Italy for three weeks. We drove as far as Stanmore when he braked sharply going downhill and the whole roof rack with contents landed on the windscreen. Gladys was ready to return home. Undeterred we drove onto Dover for the ferry. This was the start of annual holidays to Europe; we were often the only British car to be seen. We visited many families in Italy, who remembered my father and thanked him for his part in their liberation. My parents also met many German ex servicemen on their travels, many of whom he discovered, he had fought against. He found their stories fascinating.
In 2005 Gladys died suddenly at the age of 84 years old, just before their Diamond wedding anniversary. She was happy to know that she had four grandchildren. Milson continued playing an active part in the community. He was working on British Legion committees until 2013. He then played music for the weekly tea dances and bi monthly dances until 2017. In 2012 he moved from Winton Drive to Hanover Court as he decided the house in Winton Drive would be more suitable for a family. Milson is now 99 years old and still going strong, having a well deserved rest on the south coast, but always thinks of Croxley Green as home.
