大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by Anna Jones of the 大象传媒 on behalf of Bill Allen and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."

In late August, early September 1939 we were assembled at Ambler School and ushered to Finsbury Park Station and travelled by train to Stevenage. I was 11. I felt excited 鈥� there were lots of tears about with Mums and children. We were labelled and our teachers travelled with us on the train. From Stevenage we were sent out in groups 鈥� the Arsenal group went to Codicote and assembled in the village hall. We were all mixed up 鈥� I think I had one friend with me. Then we were dispatched in two鈥檚 or three鈥檚 to various houses in the village 鈥� I was in a group of 4 and we were sent to a Mrs Sparrow who didn鈥檛 want us because she wanted girls. Fortunately Mrs Hemmings who lived next door agreed to take us. Thank goodness for Mrs Hemmings. She was the mother of a farming family on the edge of the village. We settled in the four of us. We had to sleep three to a double bed and one in a put-you-up at the foot of the bed. This obviously led to some fun and games! One of the boys I was billeted with was called David. He came from a fairly rich family and his father would visit from time to time in his large silver Chrysler car bringing boxes of chocolates and jars of sweets for the school and us boys in the house. We always looked forward to his visits.

Arrangements were made to share the village school with the village children.
It was strange at first as we were the 鈥渢ownies鈥� but we eventually made friends. We had a half day each at the school 鈥� one week in the mornings and one week in the afternoons. It worked very well with ample time to explore the countryside. I spent most of my free time on the farm and loved every minute. Cutting up logs, watching the milking, being with animals 鈥� for a city boy this was heaven. We used to help out with little jobs around the farm and I used to deliver logs with one of the farm hands by horse and cart to George Bernard Shaw鈥檚 house in Ayot St Lawrence We think we saw him at the window once but he was always inside. We were usually received by his housekeeper. Once on the way out, I was allowed to take the reins and immediately drove into the gatepost. I shot forwards and was yanked back just in time by the driver.

Some mornings I used to help out with the milk float deliveries. The milk cart was like a chariot and pulled by a pony. It carried a large churn and a collection of milk bottles and cans. We delivered to all members of the village community. On one occasion the pony bolted with me in the cart and the milk lady chasing desperately after us. She wasn鈥檛 very happy and was rather flustered.

Regrettably I was only there for about 3 months. The boys that I was with were eventually picked up by their parents 鈥� It was only Mrs Hemmings and her daughter and me there.
David was the last one to leave leaving me on my own eventually being given the title, 鈥淢aster of the House鈥�. If anyone called late at night they鈥檇 come to the back door which led off a meadow and I had to get up and open the window and call out 鈥淲ho is it?鈥�

Then one day out of the blue the blow fell. My mother arrived unexpectedly, apparently insistent that I should return home which with great regret I did.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.