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This story was edited and submitted to the site by Brian Cape of Sutton Library Service with the author's permission. The
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I was evacuated to a place called Linkinhorne near Callington, Cornwall. I remember leaving home with a gas mask and a ruck sack, going to a station and getting on a steam train, not knowing where we were going. My Mum and Dad came to see me off and my Mum was crying. Many hours later I was in a field and a Vicar and his wife took me back to a Vicarage and a farm.

I remember going in a cattle truck very early in the morning to see the King and Queen drive by. I also remember going to Church and seeing my Teacher cry. I was taken up into the orchard and saw the bombs dropping over Plymouth. I helped with the harvest, took the sheep to be dipped, and went to Church three times a day on a Sunday. I remember Sunday School parties and parties at the Squire’s big house.

I had a very happy childhood as we had a car and I was taken everywhere. The Vicar used to take his dog collar off and take us to the fair. He was well known to the ladies, used to drink and smoke, was great fun, and lived to be 91 years of age.

Auntie White was a lady, and taught me many things about how to be a lady. I had to bow to the Bishop when he came. I had a separate apron for the morning and one for the afternoon.

There was a ‘black dog of Linkinhorne,’ but I think that they have now found out that it was some sort of big cat! I have many more strange stories of my time in Linkinhorne…..

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