May Daisy Binks

Being my own grandmother (though sadly never knowing her), I have lots of information about her from my Father, Wilfred Huskisson. Much of this can be read in his autobiography 'Among My Souvenirs'.

Here though are the facts. May, who was affectionately known as 'Maisy', was born on May 4, 1889 at 24m Peabody Buildings, Dufferin Street, Holborn, London.

 

May aged 17 years and 3 months (August 1906)

 

She married James (Jim) Barrow Davies, a soldier, (born Liverpool, bet. July-September 1885) on September 26, 1909 at the Parish Church of St James, Clerkenwell. Jim had been awarded a silver pocket watch for rescuing a drowning man from the River Thames.

 

May with first husband, Jim Davies

 

Jim & May had two children, but both died in infancy:

Christina M Davies (born bet. July - September 1910 and died bet. July - September 1911)
Joseph Cyril Davis (born bet. January - March 1913 and died bet. October - December 1913).*

 

Joseph Cyril Davies (known as 'Cyril')

 

Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Jim was sent to France and killed in the The Battle of the Aisne on September 14, 1914. He was Rifleman 5719 2nd Bn., King's Royal Rifle Corps and is buried at (grave/reference panel no. D. 4.) ST. ERME COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Aisne, France.

*My father's autobiography states that Jim never actually saw his son 'Cyril' because he was sent to France and killed before the birth. But having only recently discovered the approximate birth and death dates of the children, it is now clear that there were almost 18 months between Cyril's birth and Jim's death in France. So, it seems unlikely that this story is entirely true.


 

May then married George Henry Eldridge (a Shop Assistant, born about 1891) on December 25, 1915 at the Parish Church of St Thomas, Barnsbury, London.

 

May with second husband, George Eldridge

 

George was soon 'called up' and as Rifleman S/18074 of the 8th Battalion Rifle Brigade was also sent to France and killed on September 15, 1916 at Delville Wood.


 

May married for a third time on March 29, 1919 to Henry William John Huskisson (My Grandfather) at St Peter's Church, Islington.

 

Henry William John Huskisson

 

May's photos and story continue on the page of 3rd husband, Henry William John Huskisson.

See also Joseph William Ernest Binks