As a child I knew nothing of war, it was just something that older people often talked of, however, the reality soon came home to us. Policemen started to visit schools to inform the children that in the event of war, we would have to start taking precautions. Gas masks would have to be carried at all times in case of sudden attack and if the situation was prolonged, then we would have to be evacuated from the city to a safer place to live.
The gas masks were jet black for the over fives and coloured ones for the younger children. The coloured ones were fashioned in the style of the popular cartoon character Mickey Mouse. The policemen would demonstrate how to put the mask on quickly in the event of an attack. There was an air of excitement on first receiving our masks; however the novelty soon wore off as the masks were very uncomfortable. After only 3 or 4 minutes the mask would shrink onto the shape of your face leaving it bathed in sweat.
We had a baby at home, even one so young had to endure the dreaded gas mask. His was like an old fashioned diving suit, there were no arms or legs, he was put inside and laced up. There was a pump on the side, which had to be continually operated to keep the baby alive inside.
I remember the 3rd of September 1939 as if it were yesterday. The Prime Minister, Mister Chamberlain, had made his famous declaration of war speech. By about three o'clock The Empire News, which was printed in Manchester was out on the streets in record time. The newspaper boys were running through the streets shouting "Extra, Extra, Read All About It". How everyone who had lived through the First World War felt at this time was difficult to grasp, for the likes of us, there was a feeling of great excitement but this was short lived as eventually the reality of evacuation hit home.
In the weeks that followed, we had it drilled into us, what evacuation really meant; it was to be no holiday. Each child was given a list of clothes that they would be expected to take away with them, I regret to say, the list bore no resemblance to what was in my clothes cupboard at home. Needless to say, my ever-loving mam miraculously managed to get hold of most things. At the time it didn't occur to me that she probably had to go without in order to provide everything on the list.
At school we were each given a large sheet of brown paper and a piece of string to wrap our clothes in; two labels, one for the parcel of clothes and one to be pinned to our coat. We had to write our name and the schools name on our box containing the gas mask; this done, we were now ready.
A couple of days later, over 200 children from our school were marched in line to Lime Street Station. On arrival, we discovered that there were many hundreds more from all the other schools in the area. Many of the Mothers had found their own way to the station in order to say that one last goodbye to their precious children; the pain and anguish on their faces all too evident. Over at the ship builders Camel Lairds the new Mauritania had recently been launched, had it been this day, there were enough tears on Lime Street to have floated her.
Philip Doran
your comments
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Jodie
I love learning about this and to think the stuff that has been said is real really makes me more interested. I'm doing a school project and I'm going to use all of your helpful information for my project thanks!
Tue Dec 9 17:35:27 2008
Audrey Robinson of Ohio
We were evacuated during the war from Cardiff...to North Wales.
Tue Feb 26 10:48:59 2008
Liverpool
We did not evacuate during the war 1935/1945. We lived in Bootle, Liverpool 20. I am now 72 and have lived in America for 46 years, but will never forget the war years,the gas masks, cod liver oil and malt every school day, having to go to the wet basement, yes and there was big black nasty beetles waiting on us, even at such a young age I would rather have stayed up top and faced Hitler and his bombs, being a child I missed a lot of my childhood, it made me a very strong person on account of the nightmare we all lived thru, I think that is what they mean when they say 'British stiff upper lip', and my Liverpool came back from the ashes.
Mon Feb 25 09:56:44 2008
F. Burgoyne
On June 23rd 1940 our whole school (Erith County School for Boys) was moved from Ashford in Kent,where we had been since arriving from Canterbury six week earlier, to Whitland between Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. I was there for two years, fist billeted in the town, and later on a farm about three miles North. Cwm Felin Boeth. I left school in July 1942, to go back home to SE London I have the fondest memories of that time, I and one of my school pals were well looked after. Those two years were full of adventures, and with my pals I explored the country within cycle-reach very thoroughly, particularly the coast from Amroth through Pendine to Tenby. My parents would not have me at home during this time, but some of schoolchums did go home for some holidays. My then-close pal George Jones went home for Easter 1941 to Barnhust, and was killed.
Wed May 16 16:43:23 2007
Melissa Ratcliffe from Bolton
Hello I would just want to say that this infomation has been really helpful for my project at school, I found it really facinating and hopefully I will be able to get a good mark on my work so thank you.
Mon Mar 5 10:04:22 2007
Lauren Dowell from Preston Paignton Devon
I am learning about this at school my grandfather and my grandmother from both sides were evacuees, I find this is helping with my homework.
Mon Sep 11 09:56:45 2006
Chris Cann
i have to do a newspaper story in the eyes of a reporter during the evacuation. now i know know what context to put into thx!
Wed Jul 26 12:55:24 2006
MEGAN dormer
hello at school i am learning about all this and thanks to Phillip Doron i have got lots of infomation to do my history project my grandad was a Evacuee
Wed Jun 28 09:04:14 2006
Joan Marsh from Greenwich,London
I was evacuated to Sennbridge, South Wales in September 1939, and was there until 1944. As a 7 year old, I remember the kindness of my Welsh foster parents and will never forget their kindness to me and all other evacuees during the war years.
Thu Aug 25 21:28:06 2005
Were you an evacuee during the war? What are your recollections of this time? Send in your comments here.
Philip Doran of Pembrokeshire came on board the BBC Wales Bus during a World War II Day at Haverfordwest Library.
