大象传媒

This story was submitted to the 大象传媒 People鈥檚 War site by Wymondham Learning Centre on behalf of Mrs Chapman and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Reminiscence from the late Mrs Chapman whose husband was Billeting Officer in Wymondham.

The Sunday war was declared my husband was at Yarmouth making final arrangements for over 900 children and teachers coming to Norfolk. I heard the announcement that we were at war from the pulpit of the Fairland Congregational Church, Wymondham. Since 1972 it has been The Fairland United Reformed Church.

I knew then that I would have to arrange for my four year old son, Philip, to be looked after, as soon as the vacuees arrived. I had promised to use my mother鈥檚 car to take children to various homes. Well over 900 arrived at the school on Norwich Road, and they stood or sat around with their teachers until suitable places could be fouind. They all looked tired and some were crying. Some had spent the night on Yarmouth Race Course, or at some of the schools after arriving by boat from Gravesend. I spent the day taking children to Silfield and Suton, and finished by taking two teachers to London Road.

My husband had picked a 13 year old girl, Jean, and her 7 year old brother , Tony, to live next door to us, with a retired Metropolitan Policeman and his wife who hadn鈥檛 any children of their own. Needless to say, they spent a great deal of their time with my two evacuees, Betty, who was eleven, and Joan, twelve. Joan only stayed a few months, but Betty stayed nearly a year. I then had a daughter, Elizabeth, in December1940, and lots of the evacuees went home.

Later, in 1942, Wymondham had another batch of women and children from Walthamstow and London. At tea time one day my husband came home bringing a young girl of anout 18, with a wee baby of 3 months. They had no clothes, no nappies, and I couldn鈥檛 turn them away. I soon found nappies and clothes for the baby, and let her have a cot and pram. I鈥檇 no clothes that would fit the mother, but several friends gave me dresses etc for her. We had her for several months until my mother was ill, and we had to move to look after her. Expectant mothers had to go to Downham Market to have their babaies. It was a long way to go, and I tried to take my mother for the ride when she was well enough.

Looking back on those war years, I marvel how my husband, who was rating and Valuation Officer for Wymondham and district, and a member of the National Fire Service, could also be Billeting Officer. Certainly we learned how the other half lives, but some friends were made, and continue to this day. My evacuees still visit us from Gravesend.

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