Hilda Mary Porteous, born in 1913, was the only child of John and Florence Barley of Codsall Wood. John Barley was born at Catshill, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, one of a family of seven. He first worked at the factory of White and Pike at Longbridge, later moving into Birmingham to work at the electrical firm of Bellis and Morcom.
In 1910 he was offered work at Codsall Wood for Mr F Gaskell, to look after the electrical generator for the Pendrell Hall Estate, and to drive and maintain the Daimler saloon. A house was provided and John married Florence Barker who worked as a bookbinder for a firm making large ledgers. Both parents lived to be 90 years old.
Hilda went to Codsall C.E. School in March 1918, and remained there until 1924. In September of that year she became a pupil at Wolverhampton Girl's High School, with a Staffordshire County Minor D. Scholarship. She left the school in 1931, having gained Matriculation and the Higher School Certificate.
