大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Yasmin from Dover Road C.P. school and has been added to the website on behalf of Mrs Olive Heath with her permission and they fully understand the site鈥榮 terms and conditions.

When I was twelve years old I lived with my mother and two brothers, Alan who was eight and Dennis who was fifteen our home was at Oakview in Catford, I went to st. Augustine鈥檚 catholic school.

Alan and I were evacuated, to a place called Holtye near Cowden in Kent I lived in a gardener鈥檚 cottage on the estate of a large house, which was owned by the Bidll family. My brother and I were in the care of Mr and Mrs Cooper, Mr Cooper was the head gardener.

The cottage had outside toilets which are something I was not used to. There were lots of army camps in the area and exercises went on around us. One day we were asked if the DUKE OF GLOUSTER could use the toilet! A proper toilet roll was found because they were very short. We did not have toilet rolls to use ourselves we only had small squares of newspaper which we tore up ourselves in the evening and we hung up sheets with string to use later. In the event the facilities were not needed much to the disappointment of the land lady. The duke must have made other arrangements!

It was two years before I saw my home in Catford again just in time for the V1鈥檚 to arrive.

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