大象传媒

A Londoner in Somerset 1939 the day befor war broke out.

We had to go to school every day that summer and were told if we heard the church bells ring what ever time of day we had to go straight to school.We carried change of clothes packet sandwhich fruit drink and piece of fruit,along with toothbrush soap and flannel and small towel in knapsack or small case not forgetting gasmask in brown box all marked with your name on.I Ethel being elder sister to two brothers George and Stan had to look out for them, we were to stay together at all costs,I was 10yrs nearly 11yrs,George was 8yrs and Stan was 6yrs.And in those days a real little boy.Well the bells rang 7 oclock in the morning on 2nd september 1939.We all went to school my mother took us,we were all put on buses and taken to Queensway underground station,then at Westbourne Park station we boarded a Steamtrain which stopped at a place called Highbridge in Somerset,here we alighted and was all ushered into the Highbridge Townhall where we were given orange juice and biscuits,we were put into groups of 8 to 10 with a lady in charge whom we shall call the marshall. This lady had to find homes for us all and we being 3 was a bit difficult. I must add at this point our leaving London and mum was very upsetting and we had been travelling all day and a little boy of 6 was very tired.We had no idea where we were going or what was going to happen to us,nobody talked to you in thoughs days,you just did as you were told.

I must tell you at this point that our marshall ladies name was Mrs Mitchell.
Nobody wanted 3 kids so we ended up in her house because it was getting late and Mrs Mitchell had a large family of her own to take care of.We all 3 slept in the same bed but that helped a little because it was so lonely.

The food was good better than home and always nice and warm and comfy indoors. But; we did not stay long about 6 weeks,we were always late for school and this was something our headmistress would not allow.We went to school 9 oclock as usual on the Beach at Burnham-On-Sea but this was for P.E. Painting nature study collecting shells etc.Until 12.00 we then changed over with Burnham children at 1.30.in school for all normal lessons,this is when we were late.Mrs Mitchell would not allow us to go to school without dinner and we all sat down together,we never got to school intil 2.00 there abouts.We always got the blame.

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