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This story has been written onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by CSV Storygather, Martine Knight, on behalf of Peter Askins, who told his story to CSV Storygatherer, Chris Knight. They fully understand the terms and conditions of the site.

At the age of three my sister and I were evacuated to a mining village in Staffordshire. My sister and I were separated and I moved in with a couple I knew as Uncle Arthur and Auntie Marg.
He was a character with many talents. With his ration of free coal he kept 2 greenhouses heated plus he kept pigs and chickens.
As well as working in the pits he also worked for the local greengrocer which resulted in local peoples’ rations being supplemented.

My sister was moved from home to home and, unfortunately, she caught diphtheria and died. This was one of the few occasions when I saw my father because he was given compassionate leave.

I can remember being told of the war ending and having a big street party and then, not long after that, moving back to my home in Streatham, which was a complete culture shock — coming back to rationing etc.

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