Children's Experiences
Featured stories and objects
"Frederick was just eight years old when he was evacuated from Liverpool to Aberaeron in Wales. He boarded a train from Lime Street station as his mother waved him off along with hundreds of children. He said he loved it. It was the best time of his childhood, leaving behind a city for the countryside, and he was lucky enough to be with a good family. His mother would travel up from Liverpool and walk across the fields in her high-heeled shoes to get to see him but he wasn't homesick at all and was safe from the bombing in the city. He later travelled back to visit the town as an adult as it had such an impact on him."
Shared by Jan online via the Their Finest Hour project website.
“The school playground had a large bomb crater in it, which we were supposed to keep away from, but I managed to fall on the edge & in consequence, fall in, and had what felt like a crater in my knee. The wound was full of gravel & had to be cleaned amid any tears. To this day the scar is still there, after it finally healed weeks later.”
The contributor's sister-in-law wrote a memoir in 1991 about her time as a schoolgirl. Her name is Janet E Manton (nee Dogget).
Shared by Lynn Patricia Rootham at Coventry Cathedral, Warwickshire on 9 September 2023.
Collection of family photos - the baby is Loretta. Loretta and her brother were both evacuated
The contributor's family moved from Hampstead out to Oxfordshire at start of war. Loretta Whitcombe was born in the servant's quarters as her mother didn't make it to the maternity ward in time. Loretta was officially baptised by her mother at the time, which she only discovered years later. Loretta was taken back to London in September 1940 as an infant, when the bombing had already started. Later, her mother took the children to Nottingham.
Shared by Loretta Louise Whitcomb at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh on 25 November 2023.
Collection of letters from the family, documenting life in London during the war.
Shared by Loretta Louise Whitcomb at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh on 25 November 2023.
Photos of evacuees; 1st: taken Sept 1939 Wokingham, back row; Mrs Squires, Dorothy Squires, Mrs Angell, Mrs Gee, middle row; Raymond Angell, Joyce Watson, Joan Gee, Hilda Angell, next row; Tommy Gee, George Squires, Peggy Squires, front; ?, Joyce Watson's sister.
“My mother, who was 3-4 years older than her brother, told me of her experiences. First, she was evacuated with this uncle and younger sister and mother to Wales, but because the host, a man on his own, was none too pleasant, my Nan refused to stay or leave the children in his care. Then, when the bombing in London increased, my mother was later evacuated at the same time as my uncle to Wokingham. Her memories did not appear to be as pleasant as those of her brother. She told me that her host said if she wasn't in by a certain time, she would miss her tea. She was expected to do chores. The little money she received from her mother was to be split with her brother, and her share had to be used for writing paper to send letters back home and also to buy her own sanitary towels.”
Shared by Mrs Dawn Cox online via the Their Finest Hour project website.
Street party photo.
Avril was born in 1936, she was aged 3 when the war started and 9 when it finished and comes from a South Wales mining family. Father was in the RAF as was an uncle and a cousin. Another uncle was in the army. Mother was WVS - certificate signed by Princess Alice.
There were two evacuees staying with them. They arrived in the town one evening from London. Avril was just 4 and was very upset that no evacuee was allocated to them. Apparently, she was crying and was saying "I want a wackawee" as she couldn't say ‘evacuee’.! Later on, two sisters were brought to their door. Their names were Enid & Susan Wilson and they stayed with them for around 4 years. Enid and Susan were not used to Welsh life. In age, they were between Avril and her older sister Margery, and occasionally they would play together, but not often. Enid and Susan did do a lot of reading.
Shared by Anon at Oundle School, Northamptonshire on 15 March 2023.
