大象传媒

This story has been submitted at Grimsby Library by Gwendoline Kershaw. Gwendoline was involved in the evacuation but has written this in the third person.

She stood clutching her teddy bear, shivering in the cold damp of that November day. They were sending her away, she didn't understand why. Something about the war they'd said, and going to a place of safety in the country until the war ended.

She looked around. The station was packed with people. Further down the platform she say some other children, some she recognised as school playmates. Each had the same little boxes hanging round their necks as she had. Then she heard a noise like thunder rumbling in the distance. She'd heard that noise before. She clutched her mother's hand tightly as the great noise came nearer. Her mother bent down to reassure her: "It's only a train darling". But she didn't like it. She'd heard about trains. People went away on them and never came back. She remembered how she'd been here before. the noise and the smell! Only there weren't so many people then, only her mummy, daddy and grandma and grandad.

Daddy was a soldier, and he was being sent away too. He'd picked her up and told her to look after mummy and kissed her. Why was he crying? She'd never seen her daddy cry before.
Then that noise! She'd put her hands up to her ears as it came nearer like a great giant with steam coming out of it's head. She'd just wished it would go away and it had, but it had taken her daddy away with it, and she hadn't seen him since.

Now the giant was coming to take her away too. Away from mummy and everything she had left behind at home.
What if she didn't come back? As if to read her thoughts her mother bent down and told her: "It won't be for long darling, and I'll come to see you as often as I can - be a brave girl". And she'd hugged her as if she'd never let her go. She'd clung to her mother then, crying as if her heart would break.

The children at the other end of the platform were being shepherded along now by a teacher who was going to accompany them on their journey. Having said goodbye to their parents, and after some initial tears, most of them now seemed resigned and cheerful at the prospect of the journey that lay ahead of them.

The little girl and her mother came forward to join them. The child had brightened up a little by now and a little smile hovered around her mouth. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad now her friends were going with her. She didn't feel half so frightened now. She looked up to her mother who gave her a reassuring smile, then it was time to climb aboard the train. Some of the children had already got on board and were eagerly waving to their parents. The little child was lifted on board and her mother handed her her small lunch box and an attache case. Still clutching her teddy she made her way down the corridor to join the other children at the window for the final wave to their parents. Doors slammed, then a whistle blew as the train huffed and puffed into life before beginning it's journey, taking them to the safety of the countryside for the duration of the war. The parents stood for a little while and watched the train carrying its precious cargo out of sight.

As she left the station, the girl's mother pulled up her coat collar against the damp cold November day.

End

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