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My Father wrote this for my 8 year old daughter when they were looking at WW2 at school recently.

When I was 8 ½ years old it was obvious that something big was going to happen. The workmen were digging large holes in Highbury Fields to make bomb shelters — some people were having shelters put into their gardens. It seemed exciting for us children who did not realize how serious war was going to be.

Even before war was declared, everyone was issued with a gas mask, the smell of the rubber was quite strong. Then all the schoolchildren were told they were going to be evacuated if their parents agreed. I had three sisters, 10, 12 and 14 years old — we were all going to be evacuated. Our Father had already joined the army and was away training.

All of us were issued with a haversack and labels. As I went to a different school to my sisters, I was told I would be going to join them in one of their schools. My eldest sister was going to be sent to Luton, where her whole school went. My other sister was going to Northampton.

On 1st September we were told to go to the school at 8.00am with our haversacks full. They held a complete change of clothes, our favourite toys (if small) and a label attached to the bag and a label with name, address and age attached to our coats. We also had to take a sandwich and fruit to eat on the journey.

It was exciting — the country sounded fine — we knew what Hampstead Heath was like but the only animals we ever saw were at the zoo and out of the train or coach windows if we were lucky enough to go on holidays — many children didn’t go on holidays in those days because money was very short.

We all lined up and were marched down to Highbury station where we boarded the train to Northampton. Parents were not allowed in the school on this morning and the last time we saw our Mum was on the way to the station, they were not allowed there either.

The train took a long time with many delays — well it was happening all over London and hundreds of trains were used so the lines were very busy. At last we arrived at Northampton. It was about 6.30pm and was already starting to get dark. There we were given a drink and sandwich. We were then put on buses to various parts of Northampton and surrounding villages.

My sister and I all went to Far Cotton, which was a suburb of Northampton. We alighted from the bus and lined up, we were tired, hungry and getting cold and miserable. There were many people waiting when we arrived, and they were called forward to choose a child from the queue, boy or girl. Slowly the queue got shorter and we soon realized that no-one wanted 3 children, or even two! So it was decided we had to split up. I went with the eldest of my sisters while the other went alone.

I was now very cold, very miserable and probably not very appealing to anyone, but one lady decided that although she wanted a girl, she would take me for ‘a couple of days’, that was a relief! The lady, Mrs Eagles, took us home and gave us a nice meal, it was lovely to be indoors and warm and comfortable after our travelling in the cold.

I had to sleep with my sister that night. In the morning there was good news. A lady two door’s away, on hearing the problem of Mrs Eagles, decided to take me. I didn’t know if this was a good move or not, but I had to go.

Mr and Mrs Wright were very nice, they had two daughters who were about 17 and 19, and a younger son Brian who was only about 4. I had a room to myself and soon settled in.

You can imagine the problem a train-load of evacuees made to Northampton, two bus-loads of children to a small place like Far Cotton!

Schools were soon split into two — local children in the morning and evacuees in the afternoon. For us it meant that every morning we were able to go out, either walking or to a museum. If it was raining we went to a Community Hall for singing or some lessons, difficult when we were all age groups. Boys had lots of trouble with the local boys and there were many fights.

That first winter was particularly bad with lots of snow. The River Nene froze over and we were allowed on the ice to play.

I was not happy at Number 128 London Road. The house was right opposite a large estate which had a wall around it, the wall was falling down and we used to climb over it. One day we found some logs cut up. Due to the war homes were unable to get coal, so we took them home. Mr Wright was delighted to be able to burn them on the fire. However, I had been spotted by a neighbour who told the Police who, reported me to the school. The next day I was caned for stealing wood — one on each hand! It really hurt, but taught me not to do it again.

For some time I enjoyed it at Northampton, but the two girls I was living with made we very unhappy as they wanted me to clean their shoes, do errands and were pretty nasty. I decided I had had enough of this and in 1941 decided to go home. By this time one of the girls had gone into the Land Army and the other one was planning to do the same. They let me use their bikes, though the saddle had to be lowered.

One Friday evening I saved some of my bread, took and apple and next morning at 07.00am got on the bike and set off on my journey to London. It was a long way. I arrived late afternoon. Luckily I was blessed with a wind behind me, and fine weather. What a shock for my Mother when she answered the door! She saw I was upset and after a meal and a nice cup of tea she took me to the Police Station and they had to telephone to Northampton Police to tell them where I was, and to inform Mr and Mrs Wright! What a Saturday!

After a short trip at 6.30am on Monday I was at Euston Station with my Mum and the bike to go back to Northampton and straight to school. I was told not to tell anyone where I had been — I think they thought others may get the same idea!

That trip did not do me any good. It made it harder to stay in Northampton, and they decided to send me to Luton where recently my sister had started senior school. I went, but Luton was less than half the distance to cycle home, and after I did it twice more they let me stay in London. I was pleased!

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