大象传媒

A short piece about my evacuation to Canada during WW2:

The Other Anne

My memories of life before August 6, 1940 are somewhat scant, although I do remember Mum waking us up in the middle of the night and bringing us downstairs to lay beneath the dining table with cotton wool in our ears so as to drown out the noise of the guns firing and I thought it great fun to see my baby brother strapped in his body sized gas mask which we all took turns to keep the air pumping in. I was a happy 6 year old and delighted to be asked if I would like a holiday in Canada. Naturally I assumed the whole family would be going. The big day dawned and we all walked up to await the coach - my sister and I got on and sat right at the back and the driver started up when I realised my mother and father had not yet embarked! I stood up and shouted out to the driver to stop as my parents were not on and everyone told me to sit down and not be so stupid as of course they were not coming.

From that moment I remember crying and crying and no one could pacify me. We sailed on the S.S. Oronsay and I vaguely recall being in a cabin with 4 bunk beds with my sister who was 8, one other older girl and a lady who seemed to be in charge of us. I was either crying or being sick for most of the journey and don't remember eating anything at all. I know the 'lady' used to take me to the head of the companionway leading down to the 'mess' but as soon as I got there the smell of engine oil would make be sick again and she would take me back to the cabin! I must have been great fun to be with.

We arrived on Prince Edward Island and the wonderful people there took us to their hearts and homes. I was very lucky to be 'chosen' by a wonderful man - 'Uncle' Charlie Beer and I adored him from the first moment I saw him. Luckily this was mutual and he visited regularly and the bond between us grew quickly. Unfortunately, due to some of their family problems my sister and I were moved to another family, the Moores, where I spent the rest of my time in Canada and I couldn't have had a happier time with them. However, my sister didn't settle there and she moved out to the country for the rest of the duration. It was about this time that I identified with and imagined myself as Anne of Green Gables. Well, I had the red hair and felt like an orphan. It started with my being given the book as a present and I was totally hooked. I was lucky enough to be able to visit most of the places mentioned in the book and I would regularly disappear into my "Anne" world.

I could go on and on with my story and have lots of tales and experiences to add both in Canada and on returning to England but I don't know how long I should continue on here. A reunion was held on PEI in September 2001 and I met up once again with a boy who lived near me in England and on PEI and who was in my school class there. He had returned to Canada at the age of 16 and we had no contact since then but have vowed to keep in touch from now on, having had a very emotional meeting which surprised us both!

Stella Bates

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