Description
Object description
British schoolchild evacuted from Peckham, London to Charing, Asford and Llanelli, GB, 9/1939-7/1940; civilian living in London, 8/1940-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Peckham, London, GB, 1924-1939: family home; family; obtaining scholarship to grammar school; social life including visits to cinema; relatives service during First World War; issue of gas mask, 9/1938. Aspects of evacuation from Peckham to Charing, GB, 1/9/1939: preparations for evacuation from school; luggage; number of evacuees; description of train journey from London to Charing, 1/9/1939; provision of food at local school; accommodation at farmhouse; name label.
REEL 2 Continues: description of gas mask and case; age group of pupils; facilities on train; attitude to being evacuated. Aspect of period as evacuee in Charing and Ashford, GB, 1939: selection process for evacuees; initial billeting on farm near Charing; move to house near Ashford; further details of period on farm near Charing; opinion of treatment by host family; medical checks; hearing news of outbreak of Second World War whilst in church, 3/9/1939; evidence of military preparations; communication with parents; initial impressions of Ashford; move to billet in Ashford; question of billetting according to class; attitude of host family towards evacuees; opinion of food.
REEL 3 Continues: description of house and accommodation; relations with host family; recreational activities including knitting; baths; laundry; visit from mother; Christmas at home in Peckham, London, 25/12/1939; move to new billet with elderly couple near Ashford; opinion of food; relations with host family; attitude to homesickness; school curriculum.
REEL 4 Continues: description of school in Ashford; importance of having same teachers; relations with local children and villagers; effect of war on education; memories of wounded troops from Dunkirk Evacuation arriving at Ashford Railway Station, 5/1940-6/1940; air raid warnings; attitude to threat of invasion. Aspects of period as evacuee in Llanelli, GB, 6/1940-7/1940: description of train journey to Llanelli, 6/1940; description of billet; relations with host family and their maid; opinion of food; reaction to failing Matriculation Examination; relations with local people; comparison of different billets.
REEL 5 Continues: Welsh lifestyle and customs; return to London, 7/1940. Aspects of period as civilian in London, GB, 1940-1945: air raid precautions; story of air raid during visit to cinema; opinion of sleeping in Anderson Shelter; incident of bomb exploding at workplace and effect on nerves; obtaining employment at Ministry of Labour; story of land mine exploding near home; accommodation; registered for National Service; employment in factory inspecting aircraft parts; relations with male workers; attitude to night work; opinion of Morrison Shelter; German V1 Flying Bomb and V2 Rocket attacks; opinion of Prime Minister Winston Churchill; memories of VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; reflections on period as evacuee, 1939-1940.
