大象传媒

I was 6 years old when war was declared and 7 years old when I was evacuated to Toddenham, near Morton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. It was quite a shock after living in London with all mod cons.

The toilet was in a shed about 50 yards away at the bottom of a long garden. It was a wooden seat with 2 holes in it, a large one and a small one. I was frightened that someone else would come in and sit at the side of me. It was about 2 days before I could pluck up the courage to go! I couldn't find the tap to turn the water on to have a wash either. I later found out that all the water came from a well.

My first memories of the War are listening every night when the news came on the radio (which was run by an accumulator) and looking at a red glow in the sky. It was Coventry burning.

The family I was sent to were called Gilson. They had one son about 2 years younger than me. I stayed with the Gilson's for about 2 or 3 years and I only saw my parents once during that time. Some of the evacuees didn't see their parents at all.

One of the highlights of my evacuation was when the Americans, who were stationed near us, used to pass by in their trucks and throw candy and chocolate to us children. They also used to give some lovely children's parties at Christmas.

I still have a wooden tractor that was made for me during this time by an Italian prisoner of War, and I also remember some lovely Land Army girls who were billeted on the farm in the village.

I eventually went back to London and was settling back to life there, when the Doodle-bug raids started. This time I was sent to Cornwall!

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