- Contributed by听
- ateamwar
- People in story:听
- Elsie Cutts (nee Knight)
- Location of story:听
- Bethesda, near Bangor
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4052170
- Contributed on:听
- 11 May 2005
Elsie was 11 years old, and with two sisters, one twelve years old and one just five years old.They were evacuated to Wales.
At the Bethesda School they held a "Battle of Britain day" competiton.
Elsie won her Scottish sword dancing event.
They stayed at the (Railway) Station House which was large- the other kids were jealous that they had such a large property!The truth was that the ground floor was still used as a ticket office - so it wasn't all that big.
They stayed with a pensioner and also his 22 year old daughter (who looked after them).The daughter, Florence, was dating an RAF bloke.
Elsie and her sisters thought they were never coming home; no visitors came (as it was too expensive for the parents to take the train so they couldn't see the children), even the Bed & Breakfast places were beyond their means.
They were able to write home.
They were sent 1/2 crown by postal order by their father.
alas ! no sweets as they were rationed.
In winter,in the fields the snow grew up to their shoulders . It was a fabulous time. They would walk 1/2 mile each morning with a billy can to collect the milk- rolling it there and carrying it back!
The May Blitz happened and Mr. Wright was killed (their neighbour who lived at the the property to the back of theirs).
their mother was buried alive.
The Headmaster at Bethesda School however got "Wright" and "Knight" mixed up and told Elsie Knight that her father (who worked on the docks) was killed.
Needless to say this was a stressful time for them, until the truth was reavealed that he was very much alive!
'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.