大象传媒

My two sisters and I were evacuated on the 2nd September 1939. Previous to this we were 'drilled' to stand in line then walk around our playground in an orderly manner.

On 2nd September 1939 we had to be at our school early then marched along the Old Kent Road to Waterloo Station. There we were taken to the St John's churchyard to await our train. Then crossed the road to our platform and boarded a train.

Seven of us stayed together - in one compartment - and vowed not to be parted.

En route - the train stopped at a station and we got up to get off but were stopped by ladies on the platform offering cups of water.

The train proceeded then stopped at Templecombe.

We alighted and boarded coaches to a village school where we had to sit around the hall and be selected by lots of ladies. This was for fostering during the war.

Us seven were not selected so, eventually, were all taken to a house - where a lady already had her own three children - and us seven slept in one big room.

Next day - 3rd September 1939 - we all went to the village square and saw papers in print "WAR DECLARED".

We were shattered as previously our mothers had told us there would be no war and we were only going away for seven days. For us, this lasted some years.

Being billeted in Dorset - seven of us girls were playing a field one Saturday morning when an aircraft flew overhead and 'strafed' the field we were in. We all jumped into a ditch and watched the 'plane' turn and do the same. We were terrified and hurried back to the village.

Another time - a Saturday - we went to the market square and saw it was filled with stretchers with wounded soldiers laying on them. We were told they had been rescued from Dunkirk. Some of our mothers - who were visiting us for the weekend-end - were giving and lighting cigarettes "for the boys". Although everything was 'rationed' the little tobacconist willingly sold us more cigarettes as he said "our brave boys come first".

The next morning we went to the market square and it was completely empty. Nobody knew where "our boys" had gone.

The above instances will remain with us for ever.

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