大象传媒

How we became Evacuees

I know I never wanted to get on the bus, but we were pushed and told to hurry along. My brother went to the back of the bus, Georgina my youngest sister sat near Margaret and I. We all had our gas mask with us and a bag of clothes. We were told it was only for a short time, mother said we would not have gone if we had not been bombed out. I do know there was a terrible air raid the night before. We did not have time to go out to the garden shelter, so mother put us under the stairs. It seemed a very long time before we had the all clear, there was lots of shouting and the windows of the house had been blown in.
The air raid warden came checking for gas leeks we were bought out to the garden, looking across the road the house had been struck by a bomb. There was very little of it left we also spotted a cot under the debris, Mother would say Dear God what is happening to us.
The warden said we could not stay in the house we were to go to Shields Road School. We were all fed and we tried to sleep.
Georgina was only five, Margaret was six, my brother Patrick was nine and I was seven and half. Our father was a soldier in the Army. We also had a older sister called Mary she was nineteen she used to stay with friends as her husband was a prisoner of war.

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. Their was a bossy teacher who was very strict , soon enough lots of people came over to the bus.
The people chose 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 Georgina 鈥� Don鈥檛 worry you can visit each other鈥�.
Margaret did not want to go and I did鈥檔t 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 little hill to climb鈥�. She lived on the rocks it was quite steep.
When we got to the gates Mrs Teague 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 to us and told us to sit to the table.
Auntie made for tea for us sandwiches of jam and milky tea, we could鈥檔t refuse by now we were hungry.
鈥淭o use the toilet you need to go down the garden in a little 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 it 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, laying in bed staring at the window in the ceiling a skylight.
When we awoke the next day two faces were peering over us, it was Mrs Teague and the lady next door Mrs Fox.鈥漌ater is in the basin have a wash and come down for breakfast鈥�
After breakfast we went outside and were shown the chickens, apple 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 playing tag. We all shouted 鈥淧addy鈥�
He came over and said 鈥測ou all 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 鈥淗ave you had a letter from mother鈥� 鈥淣o I expect she has got plenty to do鈥�.
Mrs Brooks asked if I would like a piece of cake, I remember saying 鈥渘o thank you 鈥� my Auntie has told me not to eat in other peoples house, what she ment was a lot of people have only enough food for themselves while the war was going on.

As the days passed by we spent lots of time playing in the garden. One day Auntie called to say the catholic priest would be calling in to see how we were getting on. 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 has some leave from the army.
The priest always stayed out 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 old 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 thinking 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 were 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 then 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 鈥淗ow fine you look鈥� He shook auntie鈥檚 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 that 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 of work.
Mother was going to look at a house that week, after that visit time seemed to pass by very quickly weeks turned into months. We were always doing something new at school, I learnt to skip in the playground.
I did hate the milk sometimes 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, but 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 a dolls cot and doll, I remember Margaret being so pleased. Auntie would light the oil lamp and we would have a cup of cocoa before we went to bed.
The candle could only be lit till we got into bed, sometimes the full 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 the 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 doctors, I also had a sore on the back of my leg. We had never seen a doctor before and were both scared. We walked into Coleford, Margaret was very upset being pulled about the doctor gave her a sweet. I had my leg bandaged up.
Margaret 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 go out to play.
We used 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 went as Wee Willy Winky in our nightdresses. We were both 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 ment being very quiet.

We were now in our second year Auntie said there was a letter from our mother and would we like to go 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�.
But once I got home in our new house, with 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 fond of him she wanted to adopt him. But Paddy was mothers 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 return for holidays, but time goes by and like everyone we have to get on with our own life鈥檚.

Mary my brother Paddy and I were all 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 must of seemed forever being a Mother.


The End

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