大象传媒

So this was how we came to be sitting on the bus, to the Forest of Dean. It was a long way on the bus soon enough children at the front were told to get off. Margaret thought if we stayed on we would be taken back to Mother, but this was not the case. There was a bossy teacher who was very strict, soon enough lots of people came over to the bus. The people chose the the children they wanted, when it came to our family Paddy went first, Georgina was taken by a lady with a kind face, she said to her鈥� Don鈥檛 worry you can visit each other鈥�.

Margaret did not want to go and I didn鈥檛 either, no one really wanted two children together. The bus started again but it did not go far before it stopped again. A lady was stood by the bus 鈥淵es I will have the two girls there.鈥� Her name was Mrs Teague as we walked along she said 鈥渨e have a hill to climb鈥�. She lived on the rocks it was quite steep. When we got to the gates Mrs Teague as we walked along said for us to call her Auntie, she asked if we were hungry we both shook our heads, we had no thought of food.

We came into a room with a big range fire, there was a man sat in a rocking chair he had a pipe in his mouth. 鈥淭his is Mr Teague call him Uncle鈥�. And he nodded and told us too sit at the table. Auntie made tea for us sandwiches of jam and milky tea, we couldn鈥檛 refuse by now we were hungry. 鈥淭o use the toilet you need to go down the garden shed鈥�. Margaret went first and saw newspaper hanging on the side. We had a very long day, we went to our bedroom it seemed a nice room with a jug and basin. Auntie said she would put water in to wash our face and hands. We also had a pot under the bed but only to be used if desperate.

We got changed for bed, lying in bed starring at the window in the ceiling skylight. When we woke the next day two faces were peering at us, it was Mrs Teague and the lady next-door Mrs. Fox. Water is in the basin have a wash and come down for breakfast. After breakfast we went outside and were shown the chickens, apples and plum trees and lots of vegetables. Auntie got all her water from a pump, which she shared, with Mrs. Fox. It was not long before we had to go to school we wanted to go to see our brother and sister.

We did not see Georgina until playtime, she looked happy with a little doll in her arms. Margaret held her hand tight and we ran off to look for Paddy, we saw him running around the playing tag. We all shouted 鈥淧addy鈥�. He came over and said, 鈥測ou alright got to go playing a game鈥� of he went.

Once Auntie let me go and visit him, his Auntie was called Mrs Brooks. She was quite young and very fond of Paddy. I said to Paddy,鈥� Have you had a letter from mother鈥�. 鈥淣o I expect she has plenty to do鈥�. Mrs Brooks asked if I would like a piece of cake, I remember saying 鈥淣o thank-you.鈥� my Auntie had told me not to eat in other peoples houses. What she meant was a lot of people have only enough food for themselves while the war was going on.

As the days passed by we went spent lots of time playing in the garden. One day Auntie called to say the catholic priest would be calling to see us. He was a nice priest, we knew mother had sent him he had an Irish accent just like mothers. He told us our parents would visit us soon as father had some leave from the army. The priest always stayed in the garden talking to us we said some prayers and made the sign of the cross. Once he gave us some statues and Margaret and I dressed them like dolls.

Auntie had a bag of clothes, which she kept for cutting up to, make rag mats, we would always help her. She always said we were well-behaved children. At times I thought Auntie was old but looking back then she was probably about fifty.

We would help feed the chickens and collect the eggs. Mother wrote to us to say her and father was coming to visit us, we were so excited. Auntie made sure we were spotless by two o鈥檆lock, but we had to wait longer as Georgina and Paddy were visited first. I feel sure mother and father were shattered walking up the hill. Margaret shouted, 鈥淗ere they are鈥� It was wonderful to see them. Father kept saying how fine we looked. He shook Aunties hand thanking her for looking after us so well. Mother tried to move away from Margaret and myself but we just followed her everywhere. She passed Auntie a big tin of sweets look after these for the girls. We were allowed to go for a walk with them. We went over the hills and sat down, father kept saying how lovely it was here and we were in the best place. 鈥淣ext time we visit you will come home with us鈥� father said. Mary our sister still hoped to visit us but it was hard for her to get time off work. Mother was going to look at a house that week, after that visit time seemed to pass very quickly, weeks turned into months. We were always something new at school. I learned to skip in the playground. I did hate the milk sometimes but Margaret would drink it, but mostly I would run to the toilet and empty it.

When winter came Auntie took us to Coleford to buy new winter shoes, the shop lady talked Auntie into buying us boots with buttons all the way up. 鈥淭hey will keep you warm, you will need a button hook in case it is difficult to do up. 鈥� she said. It was certainly needed. Sitting in with Auntie in the winter months she tried to teach us to sew. Her daughter came to visit and brought us a dolls cot and doll, I remember Margaret being so pleased. Auntie would light the oil lamp and we would have a cup a cup of cocoa before we went to bed. The candle could only be lit till we got into bed. Sometimes the moon shone into the skylight window. Branches of the tree made strange shapes, we would also look at the stars.

Spring came and Uncle was busy in his garden sowing his potatoes and plants. He always had his pipe in his mouth, I think now he never had any tobacco in it as he never ever coughed. When Margaret caught a cold Auntie said she would take her to the Doctor鈥檚, I also had a sore on the back of my leg. We had never been to the Doctor鈥檚 before and we were both scared. We walked into Coleford, Margaret was very upset being pulled by about by the Doctor he gave her a sweet. I had my leg bandaged up. Margaret and went to bed early and Auntie rubbed her chest with camphorated oil. A few days later she was well again and we were allowed to play. We use to run through the fields where the foxes ran also strawberries grew wild. Auntie said we were all invited to a fancy dress party at the castle, we were so excited as Georgina and Paddy would be there.

Time passed by I used to help Auntie with little chores, one was to take laundry over the hill to a lady I had to pass goats which meant being very quiet.

We were now in our second year. Auntie said there was a letter from our mother and we would be going home for a holiday. Margaret looked at me. This was what we had dreamt of. 鈥淚t鈥檚 only for a holiday鈥�. Margaret said. In my heart I knew I would not come back! I was very fond of Auntie she was very kind to us keeping us safe no bombs, no sirens. But the feeling to be with my mother was so strong. I never really thanked her properly and I remember her saying 鈥淗ave a nice time and come back safe.鈥�

Once I got home in our new house, with my mother I knew my place was with her and I could not go back. Margaret wanted to go back as she had left her doll and pram behind.

Paddy came home after us he did not really want to come home; Auntie Brooks had grown so found of him she wanted to adopt him. But Paddy was mother鈥檚 only son and mother could never part from him again. He always went back to visit them and to this day he is still in contact with the family.

Georgina was a long time coming home she was so sad to leave her Auntie Preddy, who had been there for her while she had her appendix out and when her eyes needed attention she was always there for her. Georgina said she would always return for holidays, but times go by and like everyone we have to get on with our own lives.

Mary, my brother Paddy and I were born in the West of Ireland, Westport. Margaret and Georgina were born in Catterick, Yorkshire.

I often wonder how my mother got through those horrid years, which seemed so long for us as children it must of seemed forever being a mother.

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