Bird, Milton

Posted by Elizabeth (Betty) Bird with additions by Andrea Delamotte (nee Bird)

Born Milton Gregory Bird on 14 December 1956 at Pallavaram, South India, to parents Rex and Elizabeth Bird.

Milton was born in Pallavaram, when Rex, Betty and children, Ken and Andrea, were staying in their Uncle Ned Bowell’s house, No. 13 Veteran Lines, Pallavaram.

Betty is not sure of the time Milton was born but she thinks it was about 7.45 am., or 8.15 a.m.

Milton was very welcome and his servant (Mary Ayah) adored him, and made him her special charge, and, of course, he was thoroughly spoiled.

Rex and Betty were always thinking of toys, etc. for him. Peter Bartley was always taking photographs of him, He was an engaging child, but would not eat properly or sleep properly.

For the first 18 months of his life, Rex and Betty were up all hours of the night, giving him drinks of milk, which he wanted. Mary Ayah and Betty used to take it in turns, as Betty was already back at work, to get extra money to come to Australia, and to buy the things they thought would be necessary to bring to Australia.

Milton started at Mrs. Chatelier’s school, which was Montessori based, when he just over four years old, but he thoroughly enjoyed it, and had a number of kids from the block there with him.

Milton was very bright, and soon showed this when he started school in Australia. They just did not believe that he knew all his tables when just six years old, and could read and write quite well.

He was only six years old when Rex, Betty and the family finally left for Australia on 11 December 1962.

They travelled on the SS Orcades from Bombay India. At this time was the 14^th wedding anniversary of Rex and Betty, and only Harry Mansfield remembered and wished them for this before they left.

The family had many days on the “Orcades”, and they think Milton enjoyed himself quite well. There were two periods in the day when he joined in other children activities, and Betty was given a reprieve from looking after him, otherwise he had to be watched all the time, he was so full of mischief.

The first day at life boat drill Milton attempted to climb the ship’s railings and got a shout from one of the ship’s officers. Betty used to accompany him for the children meal times, but as usual he hardly ate anything. Betty used to get advised by all the English matrons, who were also headed for a new life in Australia!!

Milton loved Aunty Beryl, he used to amuse her so much, and she was very fond of him. He and Andrea started at the Subiaco Primary School, and Betty used to take their lunch everyday, and chat with them during the lunch break, because they felt so out of it to start off with.

Then Betty had to get a job, as Rex was put off from casual work, and they became self-sufficient. When they shifted to Wembley, Andrea and Milton went to the Wembley Primary School, and he did well there. Andrea was supposed to walk him to school, which was a fair distance, but she used to pretend she did not know who he was, he used to embarrass her!!