大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Woodbridge Library on behalf of June Johnson and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

It really began when my father who was serving in the army had a Dear John letter informing him that his wife was being unfaithful to him. He was immediately given 24 hours compassionate leave to sort out his domestic arrangements.

My experience was turning up and my father taking my 3 year old sister and myself to an orphanage because none of the family could accommodate us. We were wrenched from our mother who had no idea what was happening, and deposited at the orphanage.

My life was changed irretrievably. Suddenly we had no family, because my father refused to tell anyone where we were because of the family's refusal to help us.

Life in tlhe orphanage was most difficult. It was the lack of love and the isolation that hit us most.

We were lways hungry to the point that we ended up eating leaves from trees in the grounds. No body ever checked that we children were fed properly. Every little girl was abused, there was no help available at all. I was too traumatised, by everything that happened to me to absorb the education offered and I came out of the orphanage at the age of 11 totally illiterate, with no social skills. I could not even use a knife and fork.

We had no sweets, but my father who was a cook in the army sent us his home-made toffee whenever he could. Unfortunately we never received it, but I have never told my father this as I know he would have been terribly upset.

There were two bright spots in my life, which I hold dear. One day some wonderful black American soldiers turned up with toys for all the children at the orphanage.
It was the only time we had toys, but I felt it wasn't the toys themselves that were important,but the fact that here were people who cared and showed us love.

The only other good experience that I can recall was a lady who was a staff member who said to me. "You have no mother and father but remember God is your mother and father, he can see you, he can hear your prayers. And he will answer your prayers Don't take my word for it. You must ask him for yourself."

I have found this to be absolutely true all my life. God has heard me and answered my prayers, and taken away any bitterness I may have had.

My father was de-mobbed in 1948. As we left the gates of lthe orphanage I remember he said. "Look behind you, remember everybody in the orphanage now,then put it all behind you. You have a new life."

And that was true. That was when I began my new life, and put the war years behind me.

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