Hugh Evelyn Watkins (1881-1942). Early aviator
1881 Born in Kensington
1910 Aviators Certificates No. 25
1911 Resigned from the Army
1911 October. Injured in plane crash in Adelaide
Later crashed a plane at Brooklands
1939 Proprietor of the Oatsheaf Hotel, Fleet. With Joan E. Watkins (b.1885) and Helen Watkins (b.1885).[1]
1942 Died. 'Major Hugh Evelyn Watkins, licensee of the Oatsheaf Hotel, Fleet, who died on Saturday at the age of 61, was a pioneer of flying, and was the twenty-fifth man in Great Britain to hold a pilot’s certificate, As a young Army officer he took up, about 1910, flying with enthusiasm, built his own aeroplane, and taught himself to fly. Later he was invited by Sir Douglas Mawson to join his exploration expedition to the South Polar regions as the aviator of the party, but a crash during an exhibition flight in Australia prevented him from joining the ship. He was associated with F. Wild, one of Shackleton’s companions, in flying in Australia, but his flying career was cut short by a crash at Brooklands aerodrome before the last war, which permanently lamed him. Major Watkins, who was a son of Captain James Watkins, 18th Hussars, was commissioned in the Essex Regiment, and served in the South African War and the last war. He was in France and was wounded, and after demobilization he joined the Black and Tans and went to Ireland during the 1920 disorders. He became licensee of the ‘“Oatsheaf” in 1924, and became a member of the Royal Aero Club, South African Wars Veterans Association, the British Legion, R.A.O.B., and Legion of Frontiersmen, and was a Freemason, and was one of the first to join the Local Defence Volunteers when its formation was announced early in the war. As a Home Guard he did a great deal to promote the efficiency of the local force, and his rifle range was always available for its use. He leaves a widow and one daughter. His remains were cremated on Wednesday. [2]