大象传媒

An Evacuee from Belfast

By
Eileen Young (nee McEwen)

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Joan Thompson of SEELB staff on behalf of Eileen Young and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was seven and my brother Jackie was six when we were evacuated from the Albertbridge Road in Belfast to the town land of Creevyargon just outside Ballynahinch. We went by train with our mother and got out at a small halt near Ballynahinch along with all the other children. I remember running after the train when my mum left. We were taken to stay on a farm with Mr and Mrs Bailey, their daughter and two sons.
The first night away from mum was very hard but Mr and Mrs Bailey and their family were very good to us and mum was able to visit us about once every three weeks at the weekend. Since it was the first time we had ever been on a farm it was a real adventure. The farm had cows, pigs and sheep and there were horses in the nearby fields. We were terrified of the roosters and geese but liked the Banty hens we collected the eggs from. I can also remember getting pratie oaten bread (bread made with oats and potatoes) freshly baked on the griddle with lovely country butter for tea and rice pudding from the range. I also remember bringing tea out to the men working in the fields and leaning against the haystacks. The family went to market on a horse and cart. I also learned how to knit when I was in Creevyargon.
We walked to Ballymacaramery school 2 陆 miles away through all kind of weather including snow but the walks alongside primrose covered hedgerows gave me a love of the county which I have never lost. We, along with local children and other evacuees, were all taught in the same room. I attribute my love of reading to the Sunday school prize books which the Baileys had in their house and which they allowed us to read.
We stayed with the Baileys for two years before returning home to Belfast and at first I hated it. I hated the Belfast accents and the lack of freedom of the city streets. The blackouts were still in operation and mums house had been damaged in some of the raids so perhaps it was just as well we were evacuated. The one great thing that had happened by the time we came back home was that I had a new baby brother to look after. I was delighted!
I kept in touch with Nina the eldest daughter of the Bailey family until her death and I have brought my own family to see the farm (which is now empty) where we stayed. For me although being parted from mum for weeks at a time was hard my memories of being evacuated are good ones-I loved the family I stayed with and I loved country life. Even today I love to go to our cottage in the Mourne mountains to get away from it all!

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