Description
Object description
British civilian mother evacuated with her children from Dulwich, London to Bury, West Burton and Byworth in GB, 9/1939-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Dulwich, London, GB, 1939: initial reaction to move to London; children; family home; lack of anticipation of Second World War; husband's call up on reserve to Royal Navy, 9/1938; abortive attempts to be evacuated, 9/1939; daughters' evacuation to Surrey, 8/1939; preparations for daughters' evacuation; evacuees' and parents' reaction to evacuation. Recollections of evacuation from Dulwich, London to Bury, GB, 9/1939: false starts to evacuation; nature of departure; attitude towards countryside; arrival in Pulborough and move to Bury; background to allocation of billets.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of clergyman in charge of billeting; character of London evacuees; attitude to being chosen by host families; initial impressions of billet and host family; reasons for removing eiderdowns from beds; reaction to hearing radio broadcast of declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; removal to billet at Upper Lodge; opinion of first host family; relations between evacuees and villagers; attitude to evacuation to Bury. Recollections of period as evacuee in West Burton, GB, 9/1939-9/1940: move to Upper Lodge; use of oil stove; description of Upper Lodge billet; reaction to arrival of second evacuee mother; departure of second evacuee mother; behaviour of second evacuee mother and children; arrival of husband on leave from Royal Navy.
REEL 3 Continues: background to decision to stay in village; billeting of two daughters at Ashstead; reuniting of family at Upper Lodge; facilities in billet; story of return visit to home in London. Recollections of period as evacuee in Byworth, GB, 9/1940-5/1945: move to billet in cottage; initial arrangements sharing cottage; return of all evacuee families to London; relations with inhabitants in Bury area.
REEL 4 Continues: story of looting of family home in London; items brought back from looted home; attitude to evacuation away from London; attitude towards husband and brother's wartime service with Royal Navy; attitude towards returning to London at end of Second World War; attitude towards mother of family who she initially shared billet with; air raids; description of billet; attitude towards evacuation and prospect of returning to London; obtaining post-war accommodation in Fittleworth; opinion of villages billeted in and villagers; prior recollection of evacuee mother who shared accommodation at Upper Lodge, West Burton; attitude to looting of family home; number of evacuees in Byworth; relations with evacuee families in Petworth.
REEL 5 Continues: financial situation for family; need to walk with children; visits to cinema; question of relations with neighbours in Dulwich, London and at Byworth; relations between evacuees and country people; attending Christmas party, 12/1940; evacuees obtaining employment in area; character of village people; presence of evacuee teacher and her husband; lack of toys for her children; disputes with fellow evacuee; obtaining supplies from billeting officer.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of method of allocating billets; lack of social life; relations with Canadian troops; attitude towards bringing up five children on her own; children's education; move to cottage in Fittleworth at end of Second World War, 1945; children's education and later employment; attitude towards prospect of returning to London, 1945; post-war employment as domestic servant.
REEL 7 Continues: German bombing of Petworth Boys School, 29/9/1942; German V1 Flying Bomb attacks, 1944; nature of German Air Force attacks in area; unofficial evacuation of relatives from Portsmouth and attitude to having mother stay in billet; story of arrival of bombed out relatives; giving birth in cottage; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; attitude towards evacuation.