大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer from CSV/大象传媒London on behalf of Norman Douglas Allen and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Allen understands the site's terms and conditions.

When the war broke out we were living in Ilford, Essex. When I was 10 years old I was evacuated with my school, Gearies Primary School to Claydon in Suffold. Four of us stayed with a family. I wasn't very happy so after about six months I came back home. During this time my father who was a widower had remarried. My step-sister, Pamela, and I were then evacuated together to Midsomer Norton, near Bath. We were separated but lived in the same road. I lived in Norton Hill which was a coalmining area. We used to climb to the top of the slag heaps and slide down on pieces of tin. The family I was with were very good to me and I used to help to look after their young children which I enjoyed. I stayed there for about eighteen months and then returned home. The family would have liked to adopt me but when I went back to Ilford I was happy to stay.

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