大象传媒

I was an evacuee from Jersey in 1939. Stories are often written about children evacuated from big cities and Germany and being sent to the US or even Australia. We were the first evacuees and seem to have been forgotten about. We were still children of the war but our country was invaded. It would appear that many of us were sent from Jersey to Lancashire prior to the German invasion of the islands. I was a baby and my mother who was widowed then, as my father had died shortly before of lead poisoning contracted painting ships in the docks at St Peters Port. My mother it appears left two older children on the island and took me as a baby and a slightly older brother with her on the evacuation. What a trauma it must have been for the people sent to a new area on an island they did not know. Lancashire people received the evacues with open arms and my mother landed up in Astley Bridge in Bolton. I was fostered out with a childless couple and it would appear eventually that they agreed, I suspect pressed, to adopt me. This process must have been difficult as my Jersey birth certificate says I was born on the 24th November 1939 but my present birth certificate says I was born on the 24 December 1939. I suspect a month was lost to meet period deadlines My mother and brother then I suspect moved to the North East where I understand her family originally came from. I was a luckly lad the people who adopted me were wonderful and I could not have asked for better parents who gave me a wonderful childhood and who I hold in great regard. For many years now I have not progressed any investigation as I did not want to upset my parents and I suppose myself. I did a little research a few years ago but could not find my elder brothers or trace what happened to my mother and other brother. It was a half hearted attempt anyway as I am a little frightened of what I may find. I am sure there must be many more like me the forgotten evacuees. I write this not to seek to trace anyone but just to express how hard it must have been for the people who were sent away and how traumatic it could have been for those who did not return to the place they left. Please rememeber those who were completely uprooted and dont forget the stress they must have been put through. Peter

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