大象传媒

The day we were all evacuated we went to a studio to be photographed all together. We were all given ID cards. Our grandmother saw us off at the station as our parents were in hospital due to the bombing. We boarded the train to Oxofrd and on arrival went to the Billeting office where people went along to chose evacuees. Evacuees were paid for by their parents at 10s per week per child. The office was located in Woodstock Road. As our mother wanted us to stay together so it was quite a while before a lady called Mrs Janaway took us home with her. She had no children and her husband was in the Navy. We stayed with her for 2 years before her sister was taken very ill who live in High Wycombe. By this time my parent were well and working, my father was a firefighter at Brunswick Road fire station and my mother worked for Ford at Dagenham. Mrs Janaway contacted our parents as she was unable to look after four of us. Both Ronald and Frances returned and stayed with our grandparents in Romford. Josephine went to stay with Mrs Allan in Jackson Road, Oxford whose husband was in the army. I stayed for about 6 months with Mrs Janaway in High Wycombe. I then stayed with Mrs Allan in Jackson Road. One night all the windows had to be blacked out and the ARP man knocked on the door and said that they were showing a light. The ARP man wanted to know why they were on their own and Mrs Allan's oldest daughter said that she was looking after them. The ARP man reported this to the authorities as I was under age for being left alone. I was then moved to Mrs Turner who lived at the other end of Jackosn Road. We went to school and all the evacuee children would queue up for a spoonful of cod liver oil and malt. After having the cod liver oil and malt we would sleep for an hour or two before having classes. If the bombing was really then we would go to the communal bomb shelter. There were blankets and everything down there. Josephine and I caught scabies which meant that we were isolated in hospital. As Josephine had it on her hair she had her hair shaved off and she was dabbed in a purple lotion. As she was older than me she didn't scratch. I had splints on my arms and legs so that I wouldn't scratch. I had to have sulphur baths twice a day where they removed the sores and then I was covered in purple lotion. Mrs Allan kept chickens and she would hold up a fresh egg at the window saying that it was for them. They never saw the eggs as the only egg that we ate was powdered egg. Ronald stayer with our grandmother for about a year before the bombing started as she lived near the railway and gas works so he was moved to a farm in Cheshire where he stayed till the end of the war. One of the things that I remember is eating a lot of fruit and vegetables and not a lot of real meat. The hi-light of the week was Sunday when we had bread and condensed milk. My parents would visit us once a month and would bring parcels with them. From time to time my father suffered terrible injuries which would mean that he was unable to visit. My mother worked for Ford making equipment for soldiers e.g. helmets etc.. My father's name was Joseph John Gouge. When the Americans arrived in their tanks and lorries we were allowed by school to welcome them. As they drove down the street they threw candies and chewing gum, things that we hadn't seen for a long time. They held various parties including Christmas which is where I got my first doll. We were called Limies as we came from Limehouse. Josephine and I celebrted VE day in Oxford. Frances came to collect Josephine and I from Oxford to celebrate VJ day. We came home on the train which was packed full of soldiers who were all rejoicing. When we arrived at my grandparents house there was a street party and everyone was rejoicing. There was a stage and everyone was happy.

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