大象传媒

WEETABIX & BUTTER

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War Site by Three Counties Action, on behalf of Henry Osborne, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was born on 12th May 1938, one year before the start of WW2. By the time the war in Europe was over, I would have been seven years old.
During those years I was to be evacuated twice. The first time was as a family to High Littleton in Somerset, around 1940, Mum and Dad and 6 children. These provided me with my earliest childhood memories. Odd as it may sound they are happy memories. I was too young to realise, but for my part the war did not seem to affect us. I started school there, and my memories are of beautiful countryside, woods, meadows, wild flowers, and the happiness of childhood. My best friend then was Peter Hedges, the son of a local farmer.
This way of life came to an abrupt halt, when for some reason, the whole family moved back to London, the year 1944. We soon found ourselves in the midst of the flying bomb raids and all that entailed. We were living in Grove Road, Bow, London E3. One day, or night, I know not, one of these weapons fell in the Grove Road Railway Bridge, not 400 yards from our house. There was widespread devastation and damage but we survives.
The situation gave rise to a mass evacuation of children from the East End, it happened so fast. I remember the morning of our departure, and me and my three elder sisters. In the chaos there was no milk that morning but mum had to feed as a breakfast somehow or other, and there was a rationing. It turned out to be 鈥� Weetabix and butter鈥�. How strange!
Off we were dispatched to Hareford St, School Stepney, labeled and sorted onto a fleet of London buses and there to Paddington Railway station.
There was no time for goodbyes. I was confused and sad, but I had my big sister Molly with e, sworn by my mum to keep with me no matter what; my sisters Jean and Elsie in tow. The seemingly endless train journey took us to Pontarddulias, Near Swansea, Wales. We were gathered into the school at Hendy, to be 鈥渃hosen鈥�. Some kind person gave me some fruit cake and tea, the cake stuck in my throat as I tried to hold back the tears of home sickness. May, Magerate, and Issac Edwards of Harleyford Road took us in, Molly and I that is. My sisters Jean and Elsie were billeted else where. The love and attention given to us by 鈥渁unties鈥�. May, Magerate and 鈥渦ncle鈥� Issac well stay with me forever we kept in touch long after the war ended.
As I sit here in my garden 60 years after the end of war in Europe, surrounded by my Family and Grand children, I feel very blessed and lucky. To all that were concerned at that time thank you.

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