大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Enza Stellato on behalf of Joan MacGregor and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

When England had its back to the wall in early 1940 expecting a German invasion, my parents accepted a chance of evacuation to Canada for their three daughters. My father was a trade union organiser and he and my mother were active Labour Party members. It was thought that Germany could target the port of Middlesbrough, where we lived, as an invasion point. In that eventuality we would all be sent to concentration camps immediately.

In early August 1940 my sisters Mary and Margaret, and I received the news we were going to go to Canada. Our ages were 11, 12, and 14 years. I had my thirteenth birthday on the journey. We left out hometown and travelled to Liverpool. There we slept on camp beds in a school gym, for a few nights. The convoy was assembling for the journey. Apparently there were a lot of U boats outside Liverpool harbour and the departure was aborted. We were put on a train to Greenock outside Glasgow where the convoy assembly was completed and we set off.

The journey to St. John's took over a week. I was seasick every day and had my first period. The liner was still in prewar mode, there were panelled cabins, and delicious fresh rolls were baked each day along with other first class foods. Unfortunately I couldn't eat anything.

On arrival at St. John's we were put on a train which travelled across Canada dropping off evacuees along the way. We were about four days and nights on this train. At the small town stops for refuelling etc. we could take short walks on the platform People hearing about the evacuees on the train would come and talk to us.

At Winnipeg we three girls and some others left the train and again were put up temporarily in a school while our futures were decided. I, and my younger sister Mary, went to one family and my older sister Margaret to another. After one year my hosts left Winnipeg and together with Mary, I went to an orphanage. Eventually I went to one family and Mary to a different host. After three years at the age of seventeen I was called up and returned to England on a troop ship.

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