The Evacuee’s
It was post war 1918 and was the end of November, when our two young evacuee’s were on their way back home to the south west on a train travelling back from Wales, to their home in central park London!
They were brother and sister, his name was George and he was 9 years old, his sisters name was Joan and she was 7 years old. These were lucky children the fact that the home they had been evacuated too was in fact a relative of their immediate family! So it wasnt so much a hardship as more an adventure!
They both had their belongings in the brown cardboard boxes, but George had lost his in the lake at Wales, and one suitcase with all their clothes in between them!
They were very excited to finally be going back home, Joan said “Im so glad we are going back home now, even though we enjoyed our time in the countryside, I am looking forward to Christmas now are you?” she giggled excitedly, George replied “Joan dont expect too much from mum and dad, they have been getting things but have had limitations due to the war, dont forget!”
Joan said “Do you think we will get any presents?” “I’m not sure we will have to wait and see!” At this George put his arm around his sister to comfort her, as he knew how scared she still was from everything that had happened to them this year, they had been through a lot, as had many other people!
When they pulled into Picadilly train station, there were lots of people waiting on platforms, as they got closer, they could see there mother waiting to collect them, they got off the train and ran to her where she had her arms open wide to scoop them both in with love!
The two told their parents of their adventures in Wales once they were back home, their father Charles said “Where is your box George?” At this George hung his head low and started to cry thinking he was in big trouble and replied “I lost it father in a lake in Wales” Charels said “Was your ration books and stamps in it?” George said “no father they are in the suticase “Well thats ok then you still have everything important, we will have to get you another gas mask thats all, so dont worry son not all is lost” at this Charles put his arms around his son and comforted him which soon turned to laughter!
There had been lots of devastation caused in London that year in the first World War, but luckily all that the family had destroyed was their garden shed and garden!
Joan said to her mum Eileen “Mum are we still having Christmas this year?” George rolled his eyes and laughed and their mum said “Yes Joan we are, we will have a tree if there are any left after the bombing but not sure about the presents as yet!” George said “It’s ok mum, we understand were just lucky to be alive!”
© Wiccy Allsop
Christie Cooper
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