- Contributed by听
- Mark E
- Article ID:听
- A1061623
- Contributed on:听
- 27 May 2003
This month's collaborative article: evacuees
Take part in this month's topics by adding a message in the Forum at the bottom of this page. The latest subjects are rationing, evacuees and The Blitz, and over the next couple of weeks you can tell us your favourite memories or stories of these. The WW2 People's War Team will then collate these into an article co-authored by you.
Evacuees
Tell us your stories of evacuation:
- What was it like to be removed from your family and home at such a young age?
- What was it like to leave the city where you had been growing up?
- How did you adapt to life in the country?
- How easy was it to make new friends?
- What was it like going to a new school in a new town? Were you welcomed?
- Did you want to stay at home with your friends and family or did you see this as a 'new adventure'?
- What was it like as a parent to be separated from your children?
This month's other topics are rationing and The Blitz.
By leaving a short message here, be it a story of your own or one related to you by a friend or a relative, you will be able to contribute to a collaborative article for the WW2 homepage.
Three new topics will be available next month.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
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These messages were added to this story by site members between June 2003 and January 2006. It is no longer possible to leave messages here. Find out more about the site contributors.
Message 1 - Evacuees
Posted on: 05 June 2003 by Mark E
Simply reply to this message or start a new discussion to add your stories of evacuation to be included in this month's collaborative article.
All best, Mark
听
Message 2 - Evacuees
My Father was born in 1939, so his memories of war are understandably vague ...
"At what age I was evacuated I cannot remember. However I do know that at least your Grandmother (Martha) and I went to a farm at Hermitage, Berkshire. The farm was/is a bus ride (two days a week) outside Newbury, which at the time was a cattle market town. I believe that the farm did not have electric power, gas or water mains as we know them today. Whether either my sister (Frances) or my twin brother (Cyril Lewis) who died just prior to his third birthday was with us I cannot recall. How long we were there I do not recall.
Your grandfather (Dick) stayed at home as he was a coalman. This was a reserved occupation, there were other reserved occupations, that needed men as bags of coal weighed 1cwt. (approx 50kgs). Filling the sacks and loading the lorries wasn't easy, then carried up steps onto the lorry. When the lorry arrived at the house to deliver the coal it was not easy to carry the full sack on ones back to the bunker or shed or cupboard. These were in the back garden or maybe sometimes up stairs. That's why grandpa Dick did not go in the forces and was not evacuated. Several of his brothers were also coalmen. One was arrested by mistake for desertion when going to work."
听
Message 3 - Evacuees
Posted on: 14 June 2003 by Alan Vickers
The area where I lived was not subjected to bombing although we had many air-raids that resulted in us using our shelters. Comsequently no-one was evacuated.
However the place where I now live - Sunderland - was very heavily bombed and many children were evacuated from here. Some evacuations were to Canada and one ship carrying evacuees was sunk on its way there with large loss of life.
Alan vickers
听
Message 4 - Evacuees
Does your father have any feelings about what his time on the farm was like, or can he not remember? I was just wondering, because I'm doing a project for school, and I'm trying to do a daily routine for and evacuee during World War Two as part of the project. If anyone else has any information, I would be very, very grateful.
听
Message 5 - Evacuees
hi..yea im doin a project 2..and im doin it bout nearly everything on the ww2..heeeeeeeeeeeeeelp..itz very interesting..also hard!lol
emma
听
Message 6 - Evacuees
Hi there,
Have a look at the stories written by Tommy Mac, he was evacuated from Edinburgh during the war and has some really great stories!
U216022
If you click on his name you'll go to his Personal Page -- scroll down a bit and you'll see all the stories he's contributed to the site.
If you go to the 'Childhood and Evacuation' category, you'll also see a few more links to stories about evacuation. The page is here: C1162
Good luck with your project,
Deborah
听
Message 7 - Evacuees
Re: Post 4. Sorry, he can't remember a sausage. He was only a baby really.
听
Message 8 - Help?
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by L Jackson
Hello Emma
How's the project going? You seem to be having problems. Is there anything I can do to help?
Good luck, Lindsay Jackson
听
Message 9 - Evacuees
I lived in Woodbridge Suffolk and remember "East End" children being sent to our town, which was strange seeing as I had been sent to Wales to live with a grandmother as it was feared the Invasion when it came would be on our coastline. But I returned home after 2 months away. I remember the evacuees being poorly clothed, and very scared, we took two in poor as we were!. Mum had to scrub them clean, and wash their hair in our tin bath. We soon became good friends. But after about 2/3 months thier Mum came down from London and took them home.
听
Message 10 - Evacuees
I was sent from London(Finsbury Park)
in 1941 to Rugby and collected from there by bus to Lutterworth. We were then distributed amongst people that had room.I was separated from my sister.I ended up at Swinford a small village near Lutterworth in Leicestershire. I was not treated very well at the second billet I had, with my sister. My next billet was the local pub in Swinford which was very nice- I am still in contact with the family.I stayed there for the whole of the war.I went back to London- I was 14 ,my Father sent me to a farm first then to Maynards sweet factory. I didn't like that and ended up at Swinford against my Father's wishes (after he went to work on a Saturday morning I ran away!)
听
Message 11 - Evacuees
My mother at Barnard Castle remembers evacuees billeted at her house. She was young, only 4 or 5 years old, but she does remember how poor there were, how the cried because they missed their mother and that she got nits from one of them. My grandmother, always the snob, asked for officer鈥檚 families to stay with her, and the kids were re-billeted. I wonder if anybody's nightmare sty as an evacuee is with my family....
听
Message 12 - Evacuees
I was evacuated to Winnipeg in Canada from 1940 to 1945. I regarded it as a great adventute and had a marvellous time. I shall always be grateful to my foster parents and to all those Canadians who made me so welcome.
I beieve those five years changed my life and gave me a completely different outlook to that I would have had if I had remained in the UK. I think my parents were extremely brave to send me; as an only child it must have been a very difficult decision for them. Things looked very black wnen I left England and my departure meant that my parents had safeguarded my future and freed themselves to contribute to the war effort.
In Canada I enjoyed the life of the average Canadian youngster with all the joys and angst that brought. Whilst I have never been back, in recent years I have regained contact with some of my then school friends.
If anyone wants further info, I will try to supply it
听
Message 13 - Evacuees
I was evacuated to Winnipeg in Canada from 1940 to 1945. I regarded it as a great adventute and had a marvellous time. I shall always be grateful to my foster parents and to all those Canadians who made me so welcome.
I beieve those five years changed my life and gave me a completely different outlook to to that I would have had if I had remained in the UK> I believe my parents were extremely brave to send me; as an only child it must have been a very difficult decision for them. Things looked very black wnen I left England and my departure meant that my parents had safeguarded my future and freed themselves to contribute to the war effort.
In Canada I enjoyed the life of the average Canadian youngster with all the joys and angst that brought. Whilst I have never been back, in recent years I have regained contact with some of my then school friends.
If anyone wants further info, I will try to supply it
听
Message 14 - Evacuees
I HAVE A FREIND THAT WAS IN THE WAR AND WAS EVACUATED HE TOLD ME IT WAS A VERY NAST EXPERINCE BEING TAKEN FORM HIS PARENTS HE LIVED IN LONDON AND WAS TAKEN TO BRISTOL HE TOLD ME HE CANT FORGET THAT DAY HIS FATHER DROPPED HIM OFF AT HIS AUNTS HOUSE HE TOLD ME COUDENT SLEEP FOR MONTHS ALL THOUGH HIS AUNT WAS KIND HE MISSED HIS FATHER AND MOTHER BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS HE FOUND OUT HIS DAD WAS KILLED THATS ALL MY FREIND TOLD ME
听
Message 15 - Evacuees
Posted on: 08 August 2003 by Reg Proudfoot
I was an evacuee. Not a happy period I am afraid as I was an only child and was passed 'from pillar to post' as I can only assume none wanted us.
Memories from school? To my dying day I can never understand why a 7 year old was given knitting (yes with needles and a ball of wool).
Life on the Farm? One of the duties was helping out with the milking of cows (stool and bucket and a firm grasp of the teat). Another was taking a sythe and cutting the wheat, barly or corn. As we started from the outside and worked in a circular way towards the centre of the field, I can remember the farmer shooting the rabbits or hare as they where encircled into a rapidly diminishing area. I also recall going out with the farmer setting traps for rabbits. a practice that has ceased today because of the sometimes slow and painful death of the animal. There were also snare traps.
One of the treats waas going into town on a pony and trap as there were no cars about then.
听
Message 16 - Evacuees
Posted on: 08 August 2003 by Reg Proudfoot
I to had a dreadful time, witnessing much child cruelty in a place for erraant children in North Wales. I question the wisdom of sending children away from their parents during the early years of the war as we all missed our parents.
听
Message 17 - Evacuees
Posted on: 09 August 2003 by Sheila
I had asthma very badly as a child, so could not be evacuated in the usual way. I was sent to a convelescent home on the Isle of Wight, run by nuns. I was 5 years old, and was taken by my mother, who told me I was going on holiday. My little brother stayed at home. I was there for about 2 years until the war ended. We were badly treated, I was very unhappy, and never understood the reasons for all this until I was much older. The experience cast a shadow over the whole of my childhood, and affected my relationships with my family until I grew up. I wonder if anyone else remembers The Hermitage at or near Ventnor?
听
Message 18 - Evacuees
We must have left London on Sep 2 1939. I was with my brother and sister, both older. My 5th birthday was Sept 3, 1939, the day the war started. Our first stop was Rubgy where a lady made me a birthday cake. Then we went to Flore, Northampton. We stayed there 3 1/2 years. The first place my sister and I went to didn't take care of us too well. I was covered with scabies from head to toe (don't remember this to much) the second place was a older couple, Mr & mrs Clark. Lovely couple but I think we were to much for them. My sister and I went to another older couple, but we stayed there until we went home. According to my sister the evacuees were not liked to much in the village. I don't remember that, but I think it did leave some mental
scars.
听
Message 19 - Help?
Does anyone know any good links because I have coursework to be in tomorrow
听
Message 20 - Evacuees
it must of been horible to have been evacuated you must of hated it so much
听
Message 21 - Evacuees
we have been doing about evacuees at school and i wouldn't of liked to be one becase i might get split up from my brother
Message 1 - father's return from war
What was it like when your father returned from World War Two?
Was he different to how you remembered him?
How did family life change when he came back?
Was this the first time you met him - was he a complete stranger to you?
Or did your father not return at all?
I am doing a project titled 'When Daddy Came Marching Home' and would very much like to hear about your experiences of this time.
Message 1 - evacuation
At the age of 7.5 years I was dressed very similar to the boys on your home page. cap,overcoat, gas mask and a big bar of York chocolate. The date 2nd Nov 1939 at cross lane station Salford, Lancs. Our destination Lowick near Ulverston and a farm run by a family called Postlethwaite. My companion, Billy Vanstone and I had never seen animals close up but were soon put to work "mucking out", rounding up the cattle to the milking shed. Outside toilet, no gas, electricity or inside running water. We walked to school after early morning chores and were greeted by the local kids as "refugees". It was a great experience as I remember, but most of all I remember the great food put on by the farmer's wife. From what I understand later, we were returned to Salford as the threat of the blitz had diminished. After experiencing the raids of Xmas 1940/41 we were evacuated once more to Silverdale,via Carnforth, Lancs and whilst there my mother and father were bombed out of our council flat and I lost some of my favourite toys. I must say I have some great memories of the places I was evacuated to and in 1973 took my Australian family to visit both places.
Message 1 - Evacuees and neglect
Whilst the majority of stories focussing on the evacuation of children during WW2 discuss only the welcome that these children were given, this is by no means the full truth.
My grandfather was evacuated to Devon during WW2 and he would often re-count stories of neglect, hard-work and brutal beatings at the hands of those who were in a position to provide assistance.
The belief that all those who took in evacuees were kind-hearted is a too long perpetuated myth with child abuse and neglect being often rife. Of course, in those days the issue 'didn't exist' and there were no institutions to check for it though still it is high time that the myth of the kindness and selflessness of those who took in evacuees was exploded.
听
Message 2 - Evacuees and neglect
Posted on: 30 September 2003 by Helen
Hi there
I've just joined the team and am working through the editorial desk submissions. I wondered if you'd considered adding your entry to the Research Desk - General Home Front Desk? I think you would spark an interesting debate. Evacuation was definitely a varied experience - and many of the stories on this site suggest that the memories are painful as well as happy.
You may also be interested in reading an article about evacuation, which is on the 大象传媒 History website:
About links
I think this article goes some way in exploding the nostalgic myth, as you rightly put it.
Very best wishes
Helen, WW2 People's War Team, 大象传媒 History
Message 1 - All around the South
My name was Daphne Weston and I was sent with my elementary school, Hampden Gurney, Marble Arch to Princes Risborough on 1 Septemeber 1939. We went by train and I was billetted with a chemist and his family and sent to school in High Wycombe. As the school to which I should have been going had already gone to Brighton (Greycoat) I later went to join them at Varndean College which they were sharing. This was in October 1939. The Varndean girls had mornings in the schools one week while we did sport and had lessons in the afternoon. The following week we would swap over. Things I remember about Brighton included the Pavillion - what a maginificent building but I never went inside. I remember my father coming to see me in that awful frozen winter in 1939 and everything was covered in ice, the trees were frozen, the roads were covered in ice. My father had to crawl up Ditchling Road on his hands and knees because he couldn't walk upright without falling over.
I lived with two ladies, Mrs Crowhurst and her daughter. Peggy Ede and I were billeted together with them. I don't think they were very pleased to have us there but there was a lady in the flat upstairs who used to let us come up and listen to Arthur Askey on the radio. She had a haberdashers shop in Ditchling Road. The highlight of any month was a visit from our parents. All I really wanted to do was to go home to London and although were strictly forbidden to go back there, my mother wrote a letter saying I was going to Winchester and I secretly went back to London for Christmas.
In 1940 it was decided that Brighton was not a good place for children to be any more so the whole school went to Farnham in Surrey in June. There I was billeted with a local school teacher, her husband and daughter and two grandmas who looked after me very well. I was three for three years. Betty Jones, the daughter and I became friends (though we used to fight about having to share a double bed and pile books down the middle to mark out our territory). I was her bridesmaid after the war. The Jones's gave me a birthday party when I was twelve. One of the Grandmas was a very good cook, and although rations were tight and we used to fight over our 2 oz of butter, Grandma Jones made a lovely suet pudding with bacon. I stayed there until 1943 and then I went back to London, then thought to be safe from boombing, right into a new wave of 'buzz bombs' sent over by the Germans. Back at Greycoat we did our exams in the basement cloakrooms to shelter from the bombs.
Message 1 - evacuation
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by margaret hine
I was evacuated at the age of six from Gosport Hants to Denmead. I lived in the Ashling House in the village , mostly with the maids who were very good to me.I well remember crying the first night sleeping in the nursery on a lilo.I stayed there until December and moved to another place for a short time. My mother then decided I should go back home, which I did. Once I got back the bombing started , I well remember the first raid. my sister who was eleven went to Eastleigh and did'nt return til after the war. We never lived as a family again.
听
Message 2 - evacuation
I remember my dad telling me had to go to war. I was 5 and he was prining roses at the time. Later when I was with mum I remember seeing the first V1 go overhead and cut its engine - it landed in Purley. Mum decided we were going to evacuate so we went up to Formby in Lancashire away from all my friends. But I had to get used to new "schools" held in houses. It was strange not having dad around and left a lot of memories.
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