Eric Jackson grew up as a child on Merseyside. During the Second World War he was evacuated to Wales. Aged eight he was sent to Newtown with his older sister May, where they lodged for a short time with Mr and Mrs Gittins. His second evacuation took him to Llanidloes where he was billeted with Mr and Mrs Fred Bebb and their son Eric. Fred and Eric Bebb were the local blacksmiths in Oakley Park, and Eric was to spend three and a half years with the family.
'By the autumn of 1940 German air raids on Merseyside increased in both frequency and intensity. Yet life continued, people continued to carry on with their normal daily routines of going to work and children of course attending school... Some 7,500 civilians died on Merseyside during the period of the blitz.
The raids became a nightly routine, always starting soon after 7 o'clock in the evening. Mum would tell us "Mind to be in the house before the raid starts!" ... and we were! The sirens would wail out their warning and people would scatter for the nearest shelter, but as time wore on and the raids became routine people were usually in their shelter before the sirens sounded...
We had no local public shelter where we lived at 31 Wycliffe Street, neither had we a private Anderson shelter, so dad improvised the best he could. He cleaned out the space under the stairs and wallpapered it to make it more attractive; mattresses were laid on the floor to provide some degree of comfort. Dad, mum, May and baby Peter sheltered in there while Sheila and I had a mattress under the solid oak kitchen table.
Dad decided I should return to the safety of Wales and for Sheila (now about five) to follow once I was settled - if I was settled. I should have gone before Christmas 1940 but Christmas, being what it was, wasn't willing, so we opted to be included in a batch of evacuees as soon as possible in January 1941...'
Eric Jackson
Eric's Evacuee Memoirs - Part Two
Eric the Evacuee: Photo Gallery
your comments
Arthur Woods, Devils Bridge
I was evacuated from Liverpool & spent 4 years in a fully Welsh environment. No electricity, plumbing. Plainest of food. Didn't see fish ever!! Welsh only spoken. Devils Bridge -A world beauty spot but only THE FALLS.
Wed Jan 9 11:22:08 2008
Sydnie Anstey from Plymouth
I really liked Erics story it was very touching and sad but with happy moments to I hope people think a little bit more about the people who risked their lives for others and not laugh about them. So I hope you think about them on poppy day and give appreciation.
Mon Feb 19 09:32:05 2007
Betty Mcleod Tampa Florida
During the bombing of London I was evacuated to Broxbourne Herts, not to far from London really, we saw the red sky's of the docks in London from the garden, went to school there, and rode my bike to work at the co-op, saw the air-fights (dog fights), and boo-ed the German and clapped when one of them came down. Later I joined the WRNS (Womens Navy)it was an exciting time, because we were young and did'nt look at the war as we did when we were older.
Tue Dec 19 09:35:45 2006
Jessica Colbourne from Ebbw Vale
Hiya peeps, Erics story has helped me to do my school project on evacuees and I very much enjoyed it!!!!!!
Fri Nov 10 09:37:42 2006
Phil Servante from Epsom Surrey
I was evacuated to Llanstephn in 1943 along with my Mother and baby Sister and stayed until the War ended.We lived with Jenny Lewis and her Father at Rose Cottage. It was one of the most peacful and happiest times of my life, I was allowed to run wild, playing in the castle (what boy can say that they had a real castle to play in)digging for cockles at Scots Bay.
The people were so friendly and welcoming, it was a sad time when we had to say goodbye and return to bombed out London. My Mother and I used to talk a lot about our stay at Llanstephan and I promised her that one day I would take her back for a visit.
Unfortunatly she died before I was able to fulfill my promise. I happened to mention to my Son that it would have been lovely to have returned to see the place one more time, and without any hesitation he told me to pack an overnight bag as he was going to take me, there and then. I said I can't go just like that. My wife said yes you can, so off we went in the early hours of the next morning.
It was like a time warp. I pointed out the Castle to my son as we rounded the coast road heading to Llanstephan. The place hadn't changed at all. We parked outside the pub I remembered as a boy, the Sticks Hotel it's called now and booked in for an overnight stay.
I went to the house we lived in and was about to take a few photographs when a man came out wanting to know why I was taking photos of his house. I explained that I lived in his house for eighteen happy months nearly sixty years ago. He took me into his home introduced me to his wife and two children and allowed me to take my photos. He took me into the room where we stayed all those years ago and it felt as if time had stood still, it was a strange feeling. He told me that Jenny Lewis had moved and that he was about to alter and renovate the house and call it a different name to Rose Cottage.
He was a very nice man with a lovely family who made me feel very welcome. I showed my Son Scots Bay and the Castle, who would have thought that I would be showing the place where I played in safety and happiness as a boy to my Son after all those years??? Needless to say we had a great night that night and met some lovely people. One of the people that I was looking forward to meeting was Winston Johns, he was a boy I played with at that time, he had moved a little way from the village.I could go on and on but I feel sure that I may become a bit boreing. Perhaps one day I'll go back and have another look at Llanstephan and rekindle some more memories.
Wed Aug 23 15:49:17 2006
Jeffrey Huws from Builth
Hi there nice to know about someone story from thing 2nd world war. Very good help with my school project.
Mon Jul 17 14:33:23 2006
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