大象传媒

Liverpool, September 1st 1939 Evacuation. We lived at No 3 Elswick St Liverpool 8, Mother, Father, me Joyce Coleman, and little brother Robert James Coleman, I was eleven years old and my brother was six. Today we are on our way to join a long line of children and mothers at the train station. As we arrived a newspaper reporter climbed a lamppost and took a picture of us all. We then scrambled onto the train leaving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends behind - arrived at Middlewich, Cheshire, with labels on our coats and carrying gas masks. We were taken in groups around the village until my brother were picked by Mrs Gregory of 1 Warmingham Lane. At first it was all new and we felt OK, but it didn't last. TERRIBLY HOMESICK. Mrs Gregory was very houseproud and had no children herself, Mr Gregory was OK but remote. We were not allowed to stay in the house during the day so spent our days just walking everywhere. Time passed and nearly all the evacuees had been taken home - no chance for us, mother had joined the W.A.A.F. How we longed for Liverpool, even the name seemed magical. (The song at the time was South of the Border down Liverpool way) Winter came so cold (even the guard dog Peggy had to be thawed out of her kennel) Poor Peggy chained to her kennel and only taken out on Sunday mornings if the weather permitted, she liked us but was never allowed in the house. By this time we were feeling so alone, still homesick, ill (who cared). Spring came and we were allowed to take Peggy with us on our walks (the first and only time). We set off, walked quite a way into our usual place miles from anywhere, just fields not another soul around, going to see the cows -YES - the dog spooked the cows - we had a stampede - not a very nice thing to happen to two kids and a dog. With hearts thumping and lungs bursting we made safety (we did have a good start). About 8 months later our Aunt Nell took us back to Liverpool.

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