大象传媒

I was only four and a half when I was evacuated from Acton in London to south Devon. I remember being on the train and I went to a place called Bovey Tracey. I was there five years I think and I was very homesick at first. I was with an older lady and her second husband, her first husband had died eleven days before the end of the first world war. My brother went to a newly married couple they were only sixteen.

The woman I lived with was very stern looking and a traditionalist it was a completely different world. I also remember from 1943 onwards there were thousands of American soldiers there in South Devon and lots of young ladies being wooed by them. I remember Slapton Sands beig used for live landing rehearsals and more than a 1000 Americans were killed on one night when they were attacked by German E Boats. It was kept secret for ages and only came out in the 1960鈥檚. I remember them leaving and throwing gifts for the children.

this story was submitted to the People's war site by Liz Goddard on behalf of Frank Surey who fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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