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This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer from CSV on behalf of Dorothy Holdford has been added to the site with her permission. Dorothy fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was three years old when war broke out. I was evacuated when I was four years old along with my elder sister Sylvia. We returned home when we were eight.

Initially, my sister and I were separated and sent to various places around the country, but then we were evacuated together to Purley in Berkshire. We were sent to a large baronial looking home called Kennel Gates and I was happy there. I was too young to know any different. My sister and I went to school in Pangbourne.

I remember in the grounds of the house there was a tree with a swing in it, and we would play for hours. We would swing in the tree and then let go and land in the hay. It was great fun. We would make dolls houses out of cardboard boxes, and use string to pull the curtains. The boys would make the furniture out of bits of wood, and they would make wooden toys at Christmas.

I was about six years old when I was told at Kennel Gates that my parents home in Girdar Road in New Eltham had been bombed. They told me that my mum and dad were o.k. I was too young to understand. The house was so badly damaged though, that it had to be demolished.

I also remember at Kennel Gates, that I played with a girl who had lovely long hair. She used to wear such pretty slides. I was so envious of her hair and her slides. I so wanted to grow my hair long when I returned home to my parents. However, my parents had other ideas and my hair was cut short with a fringe — so practical !

Whilst I was at the home I caught scarlet fever and had to go into hospital. I was about five or six years old. When I was in the hospital my Grandmother gave me a gift — a golliwog, but I wasn’t allowed to take it with me when I left the hospital because of infection. This made me so sad.

I was nearly eight years old when my sister and I returned home to our parents. We were so glad to be home and we were both asked what we would like as a gift.

I asked for a black dolly, and was delighted to receive one.

I was happy when I was away, but I was glad to be home.

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