大象传媒

I was born 15th February 1935. When Britain declared war on Germany in 1939 I had not long started school at Easter 1939 in Eastbank Academy, Shettleston Rd. First memory at school was lining up to be vaccinated against smallpox and diptheria (deep joy!) but worse was to come. Suddenly for no apparent reason I found my whole family except my father, to be housed in a remote farmhouse in Perthshire. Mother, older sister, and two older brothers Bobby and Ronnie. It was not long till we returned back to Shettleston, as my mother could not abide us all cramped in two rooms sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and sharing the kitchen facilities and outside toilets, remote from local shops and school. She found it difficult to get in touch with our friends and neighbours who were evacuated to the same area in Perthshire as ourselves, so back we went 鈥� hoorah.
But more was to follow. Back at Eastbank school with my pals again, one morning without prior knowledge to myself, or so it seemed at the time, all the classes in the Primary were lined up and given a packet of sandwiches, a can of condensed milk and a bar of plain chocolate with the instructions that nothing was to be eaten till we were on a moving train. (Strange.) Still wondering what was going on, we saw some mothers going up and down the line bidding a last farewell to their children, then on to the non-corridor train we were herded, and lo and behold when the teacher gave permission to eat our sandwiches none of us had any left! When we finally reached our destination, the country town of Kinross in Perthshire, we all gathered in the local school and were divided into small groups consisting of brothers and sisters where possible. We then set off in the charge of two adults to be paraded round the town, the adults chapping on the locals front doors and asking if anyone wanted to take in evacuees from Glasgow, trying not to separate brothers and sisters. This went on all afternoon and just as dusk was falling my brother and I were the last two in our small group. I mentioned to my brother Ronnie that if we were not accepted we would be sent back to Shettleston 鈥� fat chance! One of the adults knocked on the door of a cottage and an elderly woman appeared. 鈥� would she like to take these two small brothers as we were the last of the bunch.鈥� The woman replied 鈥淥h I suppose so,鈥� and that was that.
The woman whose name was Mrs Riddoch, a widow with an adult son in the navy, and an adult daughter living and working in Edinburgh, proved to be a second mother to us both. She looked after us very well considering we were total strangers, two boys five and six years old. I鈥檓 not sure how long we were evacuated for, at least two years as far as I remember, and great times we had meeting up with our pals again at Kinross school and where they were billetted. We all spent many happy days together as evacuees and were privileged to be in Kinross situated in the country next to one of Scotland鈥檚 beauty spots Loch Leven, and its historic castle. It seemed like no time at all till we were all home again in Shettleston after the air raids and threat of them were past. It was back to the usual school days and holidays fun and games.
Then one day at the afternoon playtime one of the older pupils was running about shouting 鈥淭he war is over, the war is over!!鈥�
We thought he was having a bad day and had lost the place. However once we were back in the classroom the teacher told us to sit up and pay attention as she had an announcement to make, that we were getting off early from school this day as it had been announced on the radio and confirmed by the head teacher that the war with Germany was over 鈥� VE Day. We were all overjoyed and could not wait to get home. Needless to say it was all celebrations, parties and bonfires for the next week or so.
Then back to the daily grind, ho-hum, but one night in autumn I believe it was around midnight, I awoke with a strange feeling. I got up and went through to see my Mum. She was not there, neither was my Dad or big brother or sister 鈥� scary. I went back to bed and woke up my brother Ronnie. He got up and opened the curtains of the bedroom and when we looked out, all the folks and neighbours were in a big ring dancing in the main Shettleston Road in their pyjamas. My brother and I rushed down to find out what was going on. We got as far as the first landing when we met our mum and dad coming up and they told us that the war with Japan was over. 鈥� VJ Day. Great joy, and once again it was all celebrations, parties and bonfires.
It was years later before the rationing of food etc came to an end. No doubt we still remember, for one person per week 录 lb meat, 录 lb butter, 录 lb sweets, no fruit, clothing coupons and utility clothing, utility furniture, and of course subject to availability. At Christmas times we were lucky to get an apple or orange and a silver half crown in our socks from Santa. Lets hope there are no more wars.

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