Helen Thelma May Diana (Marshall) Wilton (bef. 1918 - aft. 1981)

Wife of John Gordon Noel Wilton KBE CB DSO — married 9 Jul 1938 in Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Helen Thelma May Diana Marshall was born before 1918. She was a daughter of unknown parents.

Helen became a nurse.

She married John Wilton, an Australian-born British Army Captain in India, on 9th July 1938 in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Summer Hill, New South Wales.^[1] John would later be General Sir John Wilton, Australia's first full general since Sir Thomas Blamey 27 years before. Helen and John had met on a double date in Sydney while he was in his last year at Duntroon. Helen returned to India with John, where he was still stationed. They returned to Australia in 1939, when he transferred to the Australian Army. The couple had a daughter and two sons.

Following the Second World War (1939-45) John experienced a rapid climb to the most senior army and defence force appointments. When her husband received a knighthood in 1964, Helen became entitled as Lady Wilton. John retired from the army in 1970 and was later (1973-75) appointed Australia's Consul-General in New York. By all reports, Helen was a marvellous hostess, supporting her husband in his career, whether in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra or overseas. Lady Wilton was widowed in 1981.

Lady Wilton appears to have been a very private person. Are you able to add to this stub of a biography?

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #14380/1938

• unsubstantiated family records
• Wikipedia: John Wilton; accessed 1 Dec 2018.