Grimwood, Betty (Oral history)

British schoolchild in London and evacuee in Crawley, West Sussex and Lancashire, GB, 1939-1945

REEL 1: Aspects of period in London, Sussex and Lancashire, GB, 1939-1946: story of evacuation with brother from home in Brixton to Crawley, Sussex, 1939; reason for carrying handkerchief; opinion of packed lunch; story of being taken to foster home with brother; opinion of host Mrs Wilson and family; story of running away after six weeks and returning to home in London; reaction of mother and punishment; description of father’s work with Heavy Rescue unit; reason for father telling children to use cupboard under stairs during air raids; story of V1 rocket hitting house opposite and description of damage to home; effect of explosion on nerves including temporary loss of speech; story of being evacuated to relations in Lancashire village until end of war; problem of suffering from St. Vitus’ Dance and stuttering due to shock; story of doctor recommending recreational and sporting activities; reaction to loss of school friends in air raids. REEL 2 Continues: various memories of family and social life in London; friendships with other London evacuees while in Crawley; further memories of period as evacuee in Lancashire; effect of nervous condition on education; attitude of local children to evacuees from London; opinion of school and treatment; improvement in health following return to London; story of becoming professional roller skater after war; story of father suffering nervous breakdown after attending victims of bombing at East End underground station; story of leaving school age 14 and starting work at Morley’s store in Brixton, 1946; learned to type at night school; wages; reflections on experiences during war; further comments on returning to Brixton at end of war; social life and recreational activities including roller skating; attitude to Germans; story about bringing cat and dog back from Lancashire.