大象传媒

This is Stacey Ashworth of Southmoor Community school, Sunderland entering Joyce Speight story onto the website and they fully understand the website terms and conditions of the use.
It was the year 1939, the beginning of World War Two. Sunderland鈥檚 thriving industry was a prime target, with its successful coalmines and busy shipyards. Sunderland was in great danger. It was early September and Sunderland was being bombed by Germany. My mother decided that it would be best if I went to live in the countryside. It was heartbreaking for her to let me go but she knew that it was for the best. Some of my friends were being evacuated also, it was quite frightening but I knew that it was only for the good of me.
My mother left me under strict instructions to stay with my brother, ten years old, and my twin cousins- who were five. I had to look after them and make sure that they stayed safe. Being thirteen at the time, this was a great responsibility but it also gave me great comfort.
I left Sunderland鈥檚 train station with my brother and two cousins. All of our family was there to say their goodbyes. Kisses and cuddles all round. I saw many of my friends, all with their names and ages on a tag hanging around their neck. The coarse rope of the gas mask rubbed violently on the delicate skin of my neck.
One by one we boarded the train, as we set off for the countryside. It was hot and stifling. I had butterflies in my stomach鈥ho was I to live with?
We stumbled of the train, I told the lady who was gathering us (counting us) that I must stay with my brother and cousins. She nodded her head acknowledging me. I kept hold of my brother鈥檚 hand with a tight grip, to give him comfort and to show that I was there for him. He was very confused to what was going on. I reassured him. We were taken into a village in the countryside. I told the lady repeatedly that I was not to leave my brother and cousins. We were together.
We were took to the house where we were to stay. The woman who looked after us was very kind and caring. She looked after us very well! In the village where we were living, many of my friends and teachers were there too. Sometimes the teachers taught us lessons in the local school. Every night we would take precautions to ensure that no light could be seen from the houses. Black heavy curtains were hung up in the windows. Everyone did this; everyone came together as a community to make sure that we all stayed safe. Things would be sent to us in the post such as comforting letters from my aunty and uncle and grandparents.
Things were going great! But for my brother and cousins things were quite different. They were missing home and were very confused. We all slept in the same bed and I had many sleepless nights whilst they cried their tears of misery. I decided to write home and to tell them of this problem and how desperate they were to go home. With hindsight I knew my family would tell me to go back home, whether it was safe or not.
As I expected I got a letter back, telling me that me, my brother and cousins were not to worry and that we would be picked up from where we were staying. I broke the news to the lady looking after us. She was very upset. Her husband was out at war and she had no children, she was comforted by us being with her. My mum and aunty came to collect us from where we were staying. The lady accompanied us to the train station. She cried tears of sorrow.
We travelled back to Sunderland, but this time the atmosphere was different now it was joyful but I couldn鈥檛 help but feel guilty. When we arrived in Sunderland things weren鈥檛 like what they use to be. We had to be very careful and take precautions. However at the time I didn鈥檛 realise how serious the situation was.
I remember one time, I went to Roker beach for a day out and the sirens started to roar and echo around me (indicating a near attack). But I didn鈥檛 run home! I hurried. My mother was very angry with me, when I got home. Now I think about it, I realise how oblivious I was to the huge danger I encountered.
My memory of world War Two will always stay strong in my mind; I forget such a drastic change to civilisation and the roles that people played through out the war.

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