大象传媒

Evacuation 1940

I was 10yrs 7months old when we were evacuated from Guernsey with the children of St Andrews School during June 1940, there were over 100 children, accompanied by 8 or9 Teachers and Helpers, (Mothers), which were all under the charge of Head Teacher Mr Lester Robilliard. We had a long journey across the channel by boat, which I cannot remember much of, we then had a train journey, which took us up to Eccles, Manchester, where we all
Stayed for about a fortnight, then by train again to Irby Village in the Wirral. When we arrived at Irby Village Hall There were lots of Ladies making hot drinks, they offered us cups of coffee, thinking that we were French children, But hardly any of us drank coffee at that time, We were then selected and chosen by different Ladies to go and live with them, I was picked by Mrs Muriel Boumpbrey to go to, and live with her family. They had a little boy of nearly two years old, so as I was an only child, I was pleased to have a little brother, to look after and to play with. We were to be schooled in the Irby Village Hall, but about half of the St Andrews School were sent to Barnston, A village quite close to us. I can remember lots of heavy Air Raids, over Liverpool, We used to spend the nights in Our small shelter in the garden, if it was a very Bad Raid, we were allowed to go to School at 10 oclock, the next Morning. In 1941, we were able to write letters to our families back in Guernsey, We had speciaJ forms from the Red Cross,on which we were allowed and able to write 25 words only, in about 6 months time we would have a reply from our family, which was written on the back of the same form, it was lovely to know your family were well.
During the war some English children and teachers, were evacuated from Wallasey, to be with our school, so we were then moved to the Methodist Church Hall.
When I left school I went to work at the bakery of J and E Smith, as a pastry cook, etc, and to help in the bakehouse. There were two other Guernsey Evacuees there, Betty De La Mare, who served in the Baker's Shop, and her brother John, who worked on the delivery van. On my first day at work, I was told, You won't be working here long, as The "Invasion" had started, that was June 6. 1944, "D.Day", but it was another 13 months before I finally came "Home". I had a Happy time with my Foster Family, and kept in touch with "Auntie Muriel", till this year.

Marion Enevoldsen. Now Mrs Petit.

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