大象传媒

PREPERATION FOR DEPARTURE.

The school playground was packed with mothers and their children all were chattering and laughing, though some poor souls were crying in bewilderment. I do believe however that the majority were excited by the thought of such a holiday.

Some mother's were unable to accompany their children for various reasons, so after a many tearful farewell, those particular charges were taken care of by the WVS (Womens Voluntary Services). They were assigned to travel with the children all the way to the final destination.

There were buses and coaches lining the school road, never had I seen so many at any one time (well! you can never find one when you want one) to most of us this seemed the beginning of a great adventure.

We all had to be processed individually by the local council people, clerks etc. there were nurses on stand by, police officers and our teachers, plus the Vicar and some of his congregation.

Bill Saxby, was a bus driver that lived in The Henry Prince Est. two blocks away from us, on this day he arrived at The Wandle School to take us to Paddington Station. This man kissed us all and shed tears in our presence, for he was a true part of our lives, t'is a shame I never did see Bill again.

Eventually we all arrived at Paddington Railway station, everyone had to line up in groups in an orderly fashion. Some family groups would be governed by a parent, others were monitored by the WVS or other government official.

When we had all boarded the train it was packed like a tin of sardines, no one seemed to know where we were destined to go or how long the journey would take. The only instructions we were given was - Keep away from the doors and windows - No running up and down the corridors and Not to drop any food on the floor. I wonder how many of us took any notice of the rules?

WE'ERE OFF.

Slowly the train began to move off, well do I remember, the music created by the sound of the wheels of the train running over the tracks, clickity click, clickity click, clickity click. The smell of the smoke from the engine and the speed of the train going faster and faster.

The journey by now had become long and boring and lots of the children began to get fidgety and agitated, every now and again you would hear grizzling from a carriage. Then breaking from that source the beginning of an argument from the grown-ups, some children had been accused of pinching or stealing from other children, or of being too noisy etc.

But more often than not someone from another carriage would break out into song, then within seconds the whole train would come alive and all would be singing their heads off. Sometimes the singing was rather loud but did lesson the tension from other matters. We sang anything and everything from nursery rhymes to patriotic songs.

THE ARRIVAL.

Then eventually the train began to slow down, brother Bill the eldest lad took a look out of the corridor window, on his return he told us we were coming into a station named Cardiff and that he knew this to be Wales. I remember that from every compartment and corridor there was this low droning sound as if everyone couldn鈥檛 believe that we had arrived in another country.

So much more time was spent in finding and gathering up the children before enlightening from the train, some had run from one carriage to another, some were trying to find their guardian or parent. One mother whom started out with just two children had accumulated no less than six.

One child was locked in a toilet and couldn鈥檛 get out, a WVS lady very distraught had lost two of her charges, they were eventually found. They had jumped out of the carriage the wrong side and were later found wandering along the track on their own.

We heard some stories about some more mature young lads had decided to return to London, how they intended to get back home still remains a mystery.

We eventually started to gather together once more into various groups, slowly once a group had been recognised, they were escorted to the outside of the station. There were many cars and coaches waiting to take us to a special departure point, which turned out to be a large hall.

DISTRIBUTION.

We arrived at this hall we were given tea, lemonade, milk, sandwiches and cakes, after our well satisfying meal, the authorities began to process us all once more. After this processing some local people escorted some new arrivals out of the building. Families having more than one or two children were left for process to the very last.

By this time we were all very tired and even worse never knowing where we were going to end up. Mum repeatedly spoke to the authorities begging them not to split the family up, but they told her that this may not be a solution at this stage. It was getting dark outside the day was getting late, mum almost beginning to give up hope.

Mum had to look after baby Ted aged 9 months. Sister Gwen in charge of brother Less aged 3 years, brother Bill was to look after brother Eric aged 7 years and the Ray aged 5 years.

It was getting quite dark and our family was one of the last groups to be escorted from the station by a local council official, There were two cars waiting outside for our family, this was the first time any of us had been in a private car.

But still no one had any idea where we were going, eventually the family was split into the two cars, but not until it was agreed that the family would be driven to the same destination.

In one car there was mum and baby Ted, sister Gwen and brother Less, in the other car, brother Bill, brother Eric and The Ray, it was about 7 o' clock in the evening.

N.B. I had to ask my brother Bill if he could remember the make of the cars we were driven in, as far as his memory served they were Morris 8 or 10.

It seemed to take an age to reach our final destination (the same journey would to-day have taken about 20 minutes). We travelled up and down the hills, twisting and turning all the way, eventually we arrived at a place named Ferndale (what a lovely name).

Ours were not the only cars to arrive in the Ferndale area, we mounted this last hill slowly, until all cars came to a standstill.

It seemed that time stood still, apart from the sound of some babies crying in the distance, we were all engaged into an eerie silence.

All of a sudden the cars became surrounded by the local people carrying lights either by candles or oil lamps, everyone in the cars were terrified.

THEN THE REAL ORDEAL BEGAN:

Shouts of! 'I would like a little girl, I would like a little boy, I can only take one, I want one of each, I want some strong lads, I want a girl to help me around the house. This went on and on and on and on, can anyone imagine why we felt like animals in a cage?

By this time it was between 8 - 9 in the evening, this whole day for us evacuees, had been a devastating experience. We all had suffered the torment and trauma and degradation of this our London鈥檚 race, but not for us to despair.

SETTLEMENT.

A local lady looked into the car window and chose brother Eric, she was only allowed one by her husband, then her husband Bill arrived and chose Eric's little brother = The Ray.

Once Eric and I were allocated, brother Bill told us he would see us in the morning. He then went to mum's car to re-assure her that we were settled.
On the way to mum's car, Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins of No. 17 agreed to take Bill on his own, then the mum, sister Gwen and baby Ted were to be at No. 15

Brother Eric and I were taken to No. 16 escorted by Bill Thomas and his wife Phylis, when we got inside we were given home made biscuits and hot milk, Mrs. Thomas introduced us to her sister Dora, we were told that from now on we must call them uncle Bill, aunty Phylis and aunty Dora.

We were told that we would sleep in a downstairs room, it had been a tiring day and we were only too glad to settle down. We were given a chamber pot and some newspaper and were told to use these if we needed the lavatory.
(at this time we didn鈥檛 know the lavatory was outside).

Before we settled down we were assured that we would see our family in the morning, needless to say because we were so tired sleep came easily.

The following morning brother Eric awoke first and then woke me, we were both very frightened finding ourselves in strange surroundings. We cuddled close to each other for comfort, I must confess we both had to use the chamber pot.

Then the door opened and aunt Phylis told us to get dressed and go into the kitchen, aunt Dora washed our hands and faces and our grubby knees. Aunt Phylis gave us eggs on toast and a cup of tea. Apparently uncle Bill had gone of to his work and would see us later.

Shortly after we had finished breakfast there was a knock at the front door, it was the rest of our family, they were all invited into the kitchen, there were kisses, cuddles and tears. Eventually everyone began talking to each other, it seemed to go on for hours.

Obviously there was much to be discussed by the adults about our welfare regarding each others needs etc. and it was established that Sister Gwen was to return to London this day. Because she was 14 years old she was old enough to get a job and look after our dad, but she would be travelling to London on her own.

Then brother Bill knocked at the door accompanied by Johnny Jenkins from No. 17 Johnny asked if he could take Eric and I to show us around. Bill stayed with mum, the adults agreed providing we didn鈥檛 go too far away.

When Johnny, Eric and I were outside he suggested taking us to the quarry up the mountainside, he told us not to look down and to keep close together, at 9 years of age he seemed quite a guardian.

When we eventually reached the top of the mountain we entered the quarry, Johnny told us to sit down, he said he was going to tell us a story but it would cost us a penny each. We were too young to have any money so we gave him some coloured marbles instead.

Johnny began to tell us about the three different quarries, the one we were in where cowboys and Indians were played. The Angel and Devil's Ladder was another and the third, was the most dangerous that we must not go to, because of falling rocks.

He told us that we must not visit the quarries in the winter, because if it rained they became flooded and if it snowed the cold nights would turn the snow to ice. So the best time to visit and have fun is in the spring and summer.

We were in the quarry for a very long time but we were quite happy because Johnny had told us many stories. All of a sudden we heard a shout from the valley below, it was Johnnies mum calling him.

Johnny told us not to tell anyone where we had been, otherwise he may get into trouble and if anyone did ask tell them we just went for a walk. Johnny then escorted us down the mountainside he really did look after us.

By the time we reached the house sister Gwen had left for London, mum, brother Bill, brother Less and baby Ted were still at aunt Phylis's. Everyone seemed to be still chattering with each other.

Then mum gave us the usual instructions, be polite, always be good and to take notice what uncle Bill, aunt Phylis and aunty Dora tells us. After the family had left, aunty Phylis cooked sausages and mash for us, I remember this well, because I told her I didn鈥檛 like sausages.

Much to my annoyance brother Eric told aunt Phylis that I had never had sausages before, so I wouldn鈥檛 know what they tasted like. Aunt Phylis had great powers of persuasion and coaxed me into trying them, they were gorgeous.

Aunty Dora, brother Eric and I played various games until uncle Bill came home. We were so surprised at uncle Bill's appearance, last evening we remembered him as a fairly large man, but looked like our dad.

But his face and hands were black, he looked quite frightening, his eyes stood out like two boiled eggs. He eventually assured us that he was the same uncle Bill and it was his work down the pit, that made him appear different.

Uncle Bill told aunt Phylis to let us boys go outside to play with Johnny next door while he cleaned himself up, Little did we know then, that it was the custom for him to have a bath every night after he returned home from work.

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The focal point in the kitchen was the large Ivory Black open range cooker, apparently this was how aunty Phylis was able to boil big pots of hot water each day, for all their needs.

Eric and I was told that our bath time would be every Saturday and a lick and a spit during the week (a wash).

It only took me a couple of days to get used to our new surroundings, but poor Eric had a very quiet and timid nature. Where as I was more outgoing, I was always asking questions, sometimes rather boisterous, but always getting up to mischief.

We were told that we would be starting school on the following Monday, Eric would be in the same class as Johnny and I into the infants class.

Mum had decided that brother Bill would not go to school, he would have to help mum with brother Less and baby Ted and to do all the shopping etc.

Mum was rather small of stature but rather cuddly, she used to get out of puff (breath) very easily, brother Bill grew up very fast due to his ladend responsibilities.

Aunty Phylis and aunt Dora was of a similar build to our mum, so I found it quite easy to relate to them as a mother figure. However much I tried to convince brother Eric that we will be well looked after, he seemed to become very quiet and never talked much, even to me.

One particular night after uncle Bill finished his bath, he decided to speak to us. He was very calm and cool in his approach to us as he began to inform us of certain rules that we must follow.

Be respectful to adults, keep clean and tidy and do as you are told, then he gave us some instances.

AS I REMEMBER.

We must not go into his greenhouse.
We must not pinch his tomatoes.
We must not leave the back garden gate open, because of straying animals.
We must not stray too far from home.
We must always listen to what we are told.

Every time we saw mum she seemed to become increasingly sad, she never went anywhere to explore the area. Her stature and commitment to the young ones restricted her to stay put.

Mum is missing the daughter Gwen and her husband and she asks herself the question, "how can I be away from my man and rely on my daughter to help his needs"?

Six weeks later brother Bill called in to see us, he told us that a decision had been made. That mum, brother Less, baby Ted and himself were going to return to London.

Eric was so upset and wanted to go back with them but Bill told him that he now had the responsibility for looking after brother Ray.

It was arranged that the family would leave before we came home from school, Eric and I didn鈥檛 know these arrangements. Eric and I got dressed after school and aunt Dora told us she was taking us to the cinema.

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