Description
Object description
British civilian evacuee from Canning Town, London to Wallingford and to Henley-on-Thames, GB, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1909-1939: family life in East End of London; preparations for possible war; story of first pre-war evacuation to Wallingford for one week. Aspects of period as civilian in London, GB, 1939-1940: reaction to outbreak of Second World War and first air raid alert, 3/9/1939; memories of German air raids during First World War; description of Anderson Shelter and problem of flooding; further details of family life and home in East End; attitude towards religion; German Air Force raids on London Docks, 9/1940; decision to evacuate with two babies to Henley-on-Thames, 1940; story of catching rheumatic fever from sleeping in air raid shelters; attitude to fear and behaviour of children; amusing story of new curtains.
REEL 2 Continues: description of German Air Force attacks on London; community spirit; initial week long pre-war evacuation to Wallingford, 1939; relations with host family; role of Women's Voluntary Service in helping evacuees; reason for returning to London after one week. Recollections of period as evacuee in Henley-on-Thames, GB, 1940-1945: reason for decision to evacuate to Henley-on-Thames, 1940; reaction of husband and mother-in-law to evacuation; question of possible length of war; advantages of evacuation for children; preparations for evacuation; luggage; problem of evacuating with young children; train journey from London to Henley-on-Thames; arrival and reception; billeting procedure; description of first billet in evacuee house named 'The Cannon'; opinion of living conditions.
REEL 3 Continues: problem of lack of privacy and sharing resources; relations with other refugee families; problem of different customs of Orthodox Jewish family; story of children catching scabies from blankets and demanding medical treatment; description of accommodation in two rooms; purchase of paraffin stove for cooking and heating; incident of pan exploding; lack of community spirit among residents; social class of residents; availability of food; living conditions for children; comparison of lifestyles in London and Henley-on-Thames; relations between evacuees and local population; support received from Women's Voluntary Service; loans of money for evacuee families.
REEL 4 Continues: financial situation; employment in munitions factory and as cleaner; rates of pay; visits from husband; wartime love affairs; story of murder and attempted suicide; education available for evacuees; comparison of social life with that in London; description of work in munitions factory; opinion of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's speeches; opinion of Royal Family; reaction to bombing of Buckingham Palace; attitude to possible German invasion.
REEL 5 Continues munitions work and child care; description of cleaning job; reason for opening public house after Second World War; daily life in Henley-on-Thames; relations between British and American troops; visits to London; birth of son Robert and maternity care, 1943; story of return to London, 1945. Aspects of post-war life and employment in London, GB: bomb damage; problem of readjusting to married life; reaction of children on returning to London.
REEL 6 Continues: problem of childrens' accents; attitude to evacuation and contacts maintained in Henley-on-Thames; description of London Docks; daily life in London; wartime recipes and 'Dig for Victory' campaign; victory celebrations in London, 1945; details of mother's life in East End of London during 1920s; effect of influenza epidemic, 1918; reflections on period of evacuation.