大象传媒

In 1940 when I was 9 years of age little did I understand of war and the consequences of war, the events I now describe are exciting but not fully appreciated by myself or my Mum and Dad. Because of the turmoil in continental Europe my parents decided my safe future was to apply for me to be evacuated to.... Australia! September 1940 was a very busy time for the skies over our land. The Battle of Britain, the defence of Britain relied on the guts and resolve of the British people who joined in battle with the few of the Royal Air Force. My story tells of my personal experiences as a child during this traumatic and painful time.

Suddenly I was with 600 other children waiting on a pierside in Liverpool with my gas mask box, my sandwiches and a drink looking unaware of the experience that would affect me for the rest of my LIFE!

M/S Batory, a Polish passenger liner commandeered by the British, was eventually used as a troopship and a home for evacuees lasting 12 weeks on route to Australia. The voyage would turn out to be an exciting experience for young boys and girls, particularly for those who had never been on holiday before.

With Liverpool behind us we set sail for 'who knows where'; it was a big secret which would eventually be disclosed to everybody in time, we were soon told that Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa was our first port of call and eventually onto Capetown, South Africa, Columbo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Singapore, Perth, Western Australia and the final destination of all Port Jackson, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Some children went to relatives in Capetown almost all went 'Down Under'. The troops disembarked in Singapore and were captured by the Japanese within 2 years and became Prisoners of War.

Now this adventure is now my adventure story. On arrival in Sydney I was informed my Father's cousin, who would have been my guardian for the duration had died, his elderly wife felt she could not administer to the needs of a boisterous boy. So eventually I was placed with people of the same surname who had applied to take in a child from the home country. Putney Public School, Morrison Road, Putney, Sydney, Australia was to be my school. I was quickly accepted as a 'cobber' (mate) and was on my way to becoming an 'aussie'. The life in my new home wasn't easy. I was expected to do jobs of a nature that were arduous but were character building. I have no regrets, life in my new homeland gave me a sense of humour and fairness.

The war in Europe was closing, the war in the Pacific had to be won, my father lost his life in 1941 in a troop train crash near Sheffield, the loss for me was very heavy initially, but being away from home my life had to go on. 1945 was knocking on the door and my days in Putney were nearly over. My time had arrived to set sail for home in England. I was now 14 years old and had to be ready for a fresh start to an adult life in a strange country with an 'aussie' accent, trying to help and support my Mum.

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