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I spent most of my childhood in the Far East — Burma.
My father was in the Colonial Service. I had an unusual and privileged upbringing until the war started, and was at school at a boarding school in Rangoon. I was 12 years old. Father had an elephant that he used for his touring as part of his work and as a treat, when it came for medical attention each year from the Arakan - Yomas mountain range, we rode it round the town!
The Japanese had started their invasion of Burma, Singapore had fallen and they were moving across to Mandalay where we were stationed at the time.
We were asked by the Government if we wanted to evacuate, so a group of about 20 started our trek from there to the Indian Border. We walked for about 14 miles a day, from camp to camp. We had a soldier at the front and the back for our protection. Coolies carried our treasures and essentials and everyone was allowed to take 60lbs in weight of possessions, but as children we took our treasures, rather than essentials. We took quite a lot of money which my brother carried in a money belt. The camps, of bamboo huts, were constructed for us. I was with my mother who was 40, and my two brothers, one older, one younger, and we were the only children on the walk. When we left we were told to bring provisions (mainly tinned foods) that had to be ‘handed in’ and then from then on we would be feed. We were up at 4 am, and walked until about 11 am, from one camp to the next, where we were given rice or lentils to eat, nothing much more and then rested for the rest of the day. As children, we thought it all a big adventure. Mother had asthma and had to rest and at times she had to be carried in a sedan chair. Everybody helped each other and we bathed in the rivers to keep clean.
And the next day came more walking, and for the next 21 days until we came right to the border of India. From there we took a bus into the Head of the Railway. We got the train to Calcutta where we were billeted in a convent, sleeping on the ground. We were grateful for a mattress and to be under cover as we had been on the move for 2 months. As children we were delighted to see ice cream on a stick!
The authorities asked us if we had any relations, or places that we wished to go. We had an Aunt in New Delhi, so we went there and the remainder of the group went to another camp down south. From there we went to another Uncle at Lucknow, who had 5 children. We were asked if we wanted to go back to school so my brothers went to a Christian Brother’s school and I went to a convent. We were all day pupils.
My Father eventually came across from Burma. He walked with part of the 14th Army to join us, up until then we had been very much alone with my mother and in the end, we went back to Calcutta, once more a family.
1949. We had to surrender our British passports or ‘move on’ so my Father said we were going to England. We had to pay our passage to Tilbury. My father brought a flat in London. It was hard for my Mother with no servants and no idea how to cook, run a home, look after us all, cope with money or rationing and come to terms with life in England and London. I went to secretarial college, one brother to college and another became a naval cadet. Dad then got a house in Archway, and all our crated possessions arrived by sea from Calcutta
Dad worked in administration for telecommunications. He was 50 when we got to England and worked for about 15 years in the City
My boyfriend came over to England to finish his education in Dunbarton, to become a Marine Engineer. We married in Highgate, and moved to St Albans where my youngest son was born and have lived on Anglesey, before moving to Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

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