Description
Object description
British civilian evacuee from London, GB, to Illinois and Texas, USA, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Crystal Palace, GB, 1934-1939: evacuation of school and family to Brighton; decision of father to send Vince further away; story of father asking her which service to join; story of boarding ship and disembarkation at Liverpool. Aspects of voyage from Liverpool, GB, to Canada, 1939: family travelled with, accommodation; activities during voyage; scenes from ship; journey into USA from Canada. Aspects of period as child evacuee in USA, 1939-1945: impressions of adoptive family and home; memories of snow; opinion of American vegetables and V8 Vegetable Juice; memories of birthday party; request of Mrs Shipman to call her Mummy; move to Wilmette and new home; rationing of bath water; description of sleigh rides; family pets; learning to swim; memories of Babe Ruth and baseball; problems with money on return to Britain; story of visit from British soldier; education; memories of dreams; examples of naivety; period in Kansas City including school lunch; journey to Kansas City; story of later train journey; move to Galveston; memories of Aunt Ida Shipman; story of message recorded for parents; story of teddy left behind in GB; description of Ida Shipman playing saw; memories of bullfrogs; trip to Rodeo; return to Chicago; exchange of mail with father; war service of father; story of visit from father; story of throwing stones at a snake; story of Halloween birthday party; memories of maid; story of illicit smoking and punishment.
REEL 2 Continues: story of selecting a Christmas tree; memories of childhood before evacuation; fires; rations; plans to dig to China; memories of Easter; listening to radio and later reaction to British radio; bouts of whooping cough and measles; further details of radio; styling of hair; receiving news of return home; preparations for journey; journey to New York docks. Aspects of journey from New York, USA, to Liverpool, GB, 1945: telegram sent by father; memories of depth charges; rations; scenes of sinking ship; deteriorating state during journey and story of bath; length of journey; arrival in Liverpool. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: stay in Liverpool including first experience of dried eggs; train journey to Watford; reunion with mother; memories of father's batman; death of President Roosevelt; experiences of air raids and anti-radar 'Window'; listening to agent's radio; education including problems from American accent; loss of accent; knowledge of Britain on return; family home; changes to life following return; bomb damage in London.
REEL 3 Continues: story of visit to Piccadilly Circus and return of normality in London; continuation of rationing and ID Cards; visits to Special Forces Club; offer of American citizenship; opinion of America and treatment received there; reflections on father's visits to her in USA; behaviour and education on return to London; memories of American education and life; leisure activities in America including journey to and from school; treatment of black population in Chicago and Texas.
REEL 4 Continues: details of segregation; attendance at church; relationship with Shipman family; discipline; contact kept with Shipmans; censorship of mail during war; contact between father and Mr Shipman; departure from GB; work of father following war; psychological effects on return to GB; relationship with parents; discussion about discipline and story of letter written to David Cameron.
