大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Rachel Conway from Brighton and has been added to the website on behalf of Maureen Blakey (nee Goodyer) with her permission and they fully understand the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was evacuated in 1939 with my sister, Honor when I was six from Tooting in London to Goring-by-Sea in Sussex. On arrival we were met by a very official body of people. I later found out these were 鈥榖illeting officers鈥� who found you your new home, along with Nuns, local teachers and other volunteers with cars to take you to your new home. We were first lead from the station in crocodile fashion to a hall behind the station where people were there to 鈥榗ollect their evacuee鈥�. It was a strange experience on reflection, a bit like a cattle market, you heard 鈥淚鈥檒l take that one鈥� or 鈥渢hose two over there鈥�. Brothers and sisters were split up, sent to different families and told 鈥榶ou鈥檒l see each other at school!鈥�. Finally the hall was almost empty, just a few grown ups and Honor and myself left 鈥� 鈥済ood鈥� I thought 鈥渘ow we can go home to Tooting鈥�. The hall is still there when I saw it recently the memories came flooding back and so did the tears.

Then a lady came charging across and said 鈥渇ollow me鈥�. Outside there was a black car waiting, we both got in it with the lady and taken to what was to be our new home. The front door opened and the 鈥榖illeting officer鈥� said 鈥淚鈥檝e brought you evacuees from London鈥�. The little lady who opened the door said 鈥淚 wanted boys!鈥� All this time Honor had kept quiet, when suddenly she said 鈥淲ell you have got two girls and if you don鈥檛 want us that鈥檚 okay by me, because we have had quite enough for one day and I鈥檓 ready to go back to where we belong!鈥� The billeting officer said 鈥淥h no, that isn鈥檛 possible鈥�. The little lady than said, 鈥淐ome inside, you must be tired, you can stay the night and we will sort things out in the morning鈥�.

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