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This story was submitted to the People’s War Site by Three Counties Action, on behalf of Irene Joan Brown, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

One day early 1940, at the age of 5 and a half years, I met up with my school (“Strand on the Green Chiswick London”) with a label on my coat to say who I was, a case and gas mask, to catch a train to destination unknown. The good byes were the hardest, the journey was long as I ended up in Cornwall, not a bad place to be in difficult circumstances. As it turned out it was one of the best parts of my life.

On arrival we were allocated a home. I ended up with another girl at Mr and Mrs Oliver’s (auntie and Uncle) at “Seaview” Polgeath, it took me about 6 months to settle down. The other girl stayed about one year then went back home, and along came Eileen, who stayed with me for four years, as I stayed five. I saw my Mother and Father once a year, so now you know why I call it the lost years. Eileen and I were like sisters, the sister I never had. We had a wonderful four years together with the most wonderful people. Our schooling was very sparse as there was not the schools to cope we used to go half a day. I didn’t know a lot about the war as Polgeath was another world, and Auntie and Uncle Oliver were so kind and good people and I was very privileged to have lived with them. They are both buried in St Enodoc Church and I have visited many times since. When the war ended it was another sad goodbye to Eileen and Auntie and Uncle and back to London what a drastic change 5 years of wonderful memories.

Eileen and I have never seen each other since, she now lives in Florida and we are in touch by letter after 60 years. I have been back to Polgeath, the house is now someone’s holiday home and I got in touch with the agent and managed to get access. I went in all the rooms and the special one, our bedroom that Eileen and I shared for all those years and I’m sure I could hear our childish laughter and chat. I did a video of it all and sent it to Eileen. We had a wonderful childhood together, I am sure she feels the same.

The war for us was a wonderful experience that would never have happened without it but I still think of years my Mum missed of my life so I dedicate this to her.

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