Evacuees from the Shipyard Area of Tyneside
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Description
In September 1939 we were assembled at West Walker School. It was early morning and we were carrying our gas masks in cardboard boxes and very little else. All the children had labels on their coats with thier names and addresses written in ink. The whole school walked to Walker Railway Station. We were given a brown paper carrier bag containing food and a carton of milk, to be given to people who were taking in evacuees. My mother had insisted that my sister Betty and I were to be billeted together and not to be separated. My own feeling at that time was just sheer excitement of the occasion. The train took us to Stocksfield. We were split into groups of 10-12 children and taken by teachers or volunteers to various houses in the village, where the occupants were asked if they could take evacuees. My sister and I were housed with Mr Ridley, a miner who lived at No.4 with his daughter Ivy. They were lovely, caring people. We were given a bedroom upstairs with the most fantastic view over the Tyne Valley, a view which stayed with me for life. We were both very happy at No.4, but could only stay for a few weeks as Ivy was to be married soon after we arrived. The houses willing to take any evacuees could only take one child. So my sister and I went to different homes..... -
Owner
BBC - WW2 People's War -
Source
Local (Co-Curate) -
License
What does this mean? Unknown license check permission to reuse
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Further information
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/01/a4689101.shtml
Resource type: Text/Website
Added by: Simon Cotterill
Last modified: 1 month ago
Viewed: 50 times
Picture Taken: Unknown -
Co-Curate tags
