Joyce McLure's Story

 

 

I have lived in the United States since 1961 and have

never met anyone who was evacuated during the war. My

younger brother and sister and I did not leave England,

but were sent to Northamptonshire. We were living in

Wapping, my father moving us there to be safer! Of

course, living right next door to the docks was one

of the most unlikely places to find safety.

That first day of the bombing is still so vivid in my

memory. I actually saw the first bombs drop from the

planes and can remember every detail of that sunny

Saturday afternoon and of the many nights of bombing

that followed.

 

I also recall the day we were evacuated, although I

have no idea where we boarded the busses that took us

out of London. We were at the top of the bus and the

only thing I can recall most clearly is that my five

-year old sister wet her knickers.

We arrived at a small village and were taken into the

village hall where the villagers were waiting for us.

A very pleasant grey haired lady spoke with us and,

after reading on our identification labels that we did

not have lice or nits; she examined the contents of

our small bags of belongings. She found them to be

clean and mended and asked if we would like to go home

with her. That was the beginning of our life as evacuees.

There is much more to this story, of course - my brother

was no longer with us having put himself onto another bus!

This is my first attempt to communicate with anyone,

other than my nieces, on the internet but having read

in 'This England' some of the accounts written by

others sent from home during the war decided to take

the plunge.

Joyce


 

 

 updated 12/21/2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated 11/4/00