- Contributed by听
- scurvy-lice
- People in story:听
- marion curtis
- Location of story:听
- Aberystwyth S. Wales
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A6560237
- Contributed on:听
- 31 October 2005
In 1940 aged six I was evacuated to a farm without any sanitation. I was made to sleep in a wet maggot-infested bed [which never had sheets]! My teacher at the time noticed my unkempt, matted hair, and wrote to my mother who, although very poor arrived the next day. She was wearing a brand new hat that she had brought especially for the visit. On seeing me (having removed her hat)she took my hand and briskly walked me back to the railway station, where we caught the next train home to London. Lying in the corridors and toilets of the train were exhausted soldiers, sleeping. Suddenly, in the silence
came 'look mum' having picked another enormous lice from my head! My mother retorted 'wait until we get home dear and I will comb them out'. Unfortunately I was too infested, thus she took me to the public cleansing station ( then in existence). It was found I not only had lice, but scabies also. Consequently I had all my hair shaved off and had to wear a headscarf to school, where the children continually pulled it off. This was the beginning of my playing truant, eventually leading to being taken into care. Which was the best thing that had ever happened for it took me away from a very unhealthy family environment. The conclusion is, that the negativity of war brought into my life a positive beginning.
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