Description
Object description
British schoolchild evacuee from London to Ongar, Essex and Horsham, Sussex, 1939-1942
Content description
REEL 1: Background in London, 1926-1939: parents; father's work as minister with London City Missionary; education; religious beliefs; father volunteered for services; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; story of evacuation with younger sister from school to Ongar, Essex, 2/Sep/1939; allocation of billets in school hall; attitude to being evacuated; luggage and clothing; name label; description of train journey to Ongar; further comments on allocation of billets; social background of children.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period in Ongar, Essex, 1939-1940: opinion of first host family; description of house and living conditions; food; daily routine; school attendance; story of hearing declaration of war on radio, 3/Sep/1939; description of second billet and relations with host family; education; various memories of Ongar; story of boy evacuee hanging himself in pub.
REEL 3 Continues: further comments on host family; table manners; personal hygiene; first periods and use of sanitary towels; question of homesickness; billeted with widow; moved to new billet with family in council house; opinion of host family; sleeping arrangements; food; memory of Christmas, 1939; problem of sister contracting scabies; relations with other children; recreational activities; visit from mother.
REEL 4 Continues: story of Christmas at home in Woodford, London, 1939; Christmas shopping; food; blackout; attitude to returning to Ongar; description of new billet with Bardsleigh family, 1-4/1940; relations with host family; sister's behavioural problems; opinion of food.
REEL 5 Continues: pocket money; daily routine and social life; attitude to being evacuee; question of church attendance. Aspects of period at Cooper's Farm Camp, Horsham, Sussex, 1940-1942: description of co-educational school camp and facilities; educational arrangements; organisation of camp and duties; discipline and punishments.
REEL 6 Continues: story of boys stealing items from Woolworth's in Horsham; visits from parents; memory of aerial combats during Battle of Britain; awareness of progress of war; attitude to bombing of London; air raid shelters in camp; gas masks; pocket money; recreational activities and social life; opinion of food; Christmas celebrations; religious services; relations with local inhabitants.
REEL 7 Continues: film shows; dances; school curriculum; state of health and medical facilities; heating; duties as head girl; attitude to leaving school, 1942; separation of parents. Reflections on period as evacuee.