大象传媒

On the 1st September 1939 I was evacuated from Dorothy Barley School Dagenham to Somerset.

I was 9 and three quarters old, the youngest of five two boys鈥� three girls. And 10 on the following Boxing Day.

We were told (can't remember by whom) that we going to the seaside for the day. We came out of school in a crocodile form. All the parents were lined up and we were not allowed to speak to them, but told to get straight on the bus that was waiting. The trip to the seaside was a real novelty as we couldn't afford so sort of things.

Anyway I remember seeing my Mother looking very worried I and I couldn't understand why she was so. The bus took us to Paddington Station where we were assembled into groups with a teacher in charge.

Eventually we were put on the train and given something to eat, including an Orange...This was really something as we never got oranges, and they were a luxury then.

The journey seemed to go on for ever I we were wondering if we would ever get to the seaside but eventually we arrived at either Yeovil or Taunton, and then put on another bus which took us to Stembridge. By this time we were all very tired.

Again we were fed, this time we also got a piece of cake...another luxury. Then we were sitting there waiting and these people kept coming in and picking out children I was one on my own, but I was with two friends who were sisters, Eileen and Marjorie Beaumont, who were taken just before me and finally I was the only one left.

Only the organisers were left there and one of these decided to take me home with her.

My two friends were taken to the next village Kingsbury Episcopi, whilst I stayed in Stembridge
I stayed with this woman for two nights before I moved down the road to No6 Council House, Stembridge, to a Mr. and Mrs. Townsend. They had two sons, Walter 17, and David, 10.

Mrs. Townsend said to me I was to call her Aunt Floss, and she would call me her little maid. Which I took exception to as I wasn't going to be anyone鈥檚 maid.

However she explained that it was just a term of affection and not a job description. She was extremely kind to me and oft said that if she had a daughter she would've liked her to be me.

Both the boys treated me much better than my own brothers did. Mr. Townsend, although remote was again very kind and gentle towards me. He probably felt awkward about having a stranger鈥檚 daughter living with him.

That first night I looked out the window of the room Mrs. Townsend put me in and I could see the tops of trees. This was an Orchard; I'd never seen an orchard before. I didn鈥檛 know where I was really, didn't really know where Somerset was in relation to London, but it certainly wasn't at the seaside.

I thought the trees was a jungle and started to scream. "Whatever鈥檚 the matter?鈥� Mrs Townsend asked
"Jungle...lions and tigers.." I whimpered pointing out the window. "Don't be ridiculous, it's an orchard, there's apples on those trees." And with that she got David to drag me into the orchard to show me. I was convinced we were going to be eaten by wild animals. Instead he showed me how to pick an apple off a tree and we ate it there in the orchard.

We evacuees settled in OK and got on very well at the local school in spite of the headmaster, Mr. Thomas always wielding a cane. He never went anywhere without it and would swish it around where ever he walked. And woe betides anyone who stepped out of line. But for all that we were happy.

It was very strange to walk through an orchard and seeing apples on trees. As far as I was concerned in Dagenham, apples came from a greengrocer.

The farmers never minded us picking an apple. To have a whole apple to myself was a real luxury as in London if we had an apple or orange it was divided amongst the family.

Although I settled in with the Townsend very happily I still always wanted my Mum.

Just before Christmas 1940 I came home from school and there was my mother and my sisters, Joyce and Dorothy, and my brother Ted. They had come down for a respite from the bombing in London.

They stayed with us for the Christmas and then Dorothy and Joyce being 17 and 19 had to go into war work. They went to digs in Martock and worked at Westland鈥檚 there.

My Mother also went into digs in Martock and Ted was billeted elsewhere, I forget exactly where. I was really happy about this as I could go and see my Mum or sisters.

I came home from school one day and asked Mrs. Townsend (Aunt Floss) if I could go and see my Mum. And she agreed provided I was back before it was dark. When I got to Mums digs in Martock, the lady there told me "Your mum's gone back to London." I was very upset as Mum hadn't told me she was going. I cried all the way home.

I dropped my bike on the path outside the house and went in bawling my eyes out. Aunt floss asked "What鈥檚 wrong?" and I told her "Mums gone."
She tried to pacify me.

A few days later I saw my sisters and they said Mum hadn't told me she was going back because she knew I'd bawl my eyes out...she was right.

Oct 1941.

Joyce came to see me and said "I've got some news for you." I thought the worst, but Joyce said "I got married". I was so annoyed with her because I wanted to be her bridesmaid. I thumped and kicked her, then asked her whom she married...thinking it was the boyfriend she had before the war, but no, it was the nephew of Mrs. Townsend. Who when I arrived there was already married with two young boys, his wife had died a few days before Christmas 1939. I told her I thought she was mad.

My older Brother Charlie had got married in September 1941 whilst he was in the Army, and Joyce thought'd she get married too.

I stayed there until Christmas 1942 when I then went back to London, Ilford. My youngest brother Ted was there and he had just started work. During the Christmas I was asked did I want to go back to Stembridge and I said no. So I was allowed to stay home with my Mum.

We eventually moved to Caister Park Road, West Ham. E15 and we were there until the war finished.

I'll be 74 years old on Boxing Day this year and an invalided resident in a retirement home in Weston super mare. I finally made it to the seaside.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.