- Contributed by
- BBC LONDON CSV ACTION DESK
- People in story:
- Alan Ellis
- Location of story:
- Stockport, Cheshire, and Melbourne, Australia
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A4349829
- Contributed on:
- 04 July 2005
This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer from the BBC on behalf of Alan Ellis and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Ellis fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
I was 9 years old when I went with my brother (age 14) on the TSS Nestor from Liverpool via South Africa to Melbourne.
We went to stay with business friends of my father, but they were not used to boys and my brother was soon moved elsewhere. After two years at local schools I too moved on to a boarding school where life was pretty tough. The school was Mentone School, attended many years later by one Shane Warne! I had a good enough education, with good positions in class, until the last year, when I lost interest and just wanted to come home.
My parents were allowed to send one cable per month (e.g. "I am well" or "I am sick"!) but later letters were possible.
When my brother turned 18 he was able to come home and join the British forces.
In 1945 I came back on the RMS Andes and we celebrated VJ Day in the middle of the Indian Ocean. My photo (age 14) appears in many of the relevant books in a line of about a dozen children celebrating our return to Southampton.
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo 