Mrs Helen Elizabeth Hamilton

On 18 October 2015 The Odiham Society commemorated the five civilians who lost their lives as a result of the bombs which fell at the junction of High Street and Church Street 75 years ago, with a blue plaque and an exhibition in the Cross Barn. 

Helen was born on 27 June 1886 at Bushey Park, Middlesex[i].  She was baptised Ellen Elizabeth Jane Dillow, but throughout her life she preferred to be known as Helen.  In 1901 Helen, aged 14, was staying with her grandparents, George, a farm bailiff, and Ann Dillow at Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire[ii]

In 1910 Helen married Albert Edward Hamilton, in Fulham[iii].  A year later at the time of the 1911 census the couple were living at 82, St Johns Avenue, Willesden.  Albert was recorded as a watchmaker[iv].  Later that year, their first child, Ida, was born[v].  The family then moved to 865 Harrow Road, Hammersmith[vi], where Albert Edward was born in 1917 and later Muriel in 1922[vii]. 

The move to Odiham came some time after 1926 and before 1929, when Albert and Helen were living in the High Street and included on the Odiham electoral roll[i].  Here in Odiham High Street Albert ran his watchmaking shop on one side of the double fronted house and Helen ran a sweet and tobacco shop on the other.  The house was also the family home, although in 1940 only the youngest child, Muriel, lived at home, Ida was married and lived in North Warnborough and Albert was serving in the Army. 

The full story of the 18 October 1940 bombing and Helen’s death appears in the article by Muriel Crowder. Here we commemorate her life and sad death.