Evacuation from Guernsey.

When war was declared I was in the Children Home and we were asked to listen to the broadcast on the radio. It did not seem as if there was a war on, as nothing seemed to be any different. It was not until we were informed that some of us were going to be billeted out that we realised that there might be some danger imminent. I was anxious to know whether I would be one of those to be billeted out. I was chosen and so was my younger Brother George.
I had been in the home from age 5 when my mother died and I was now 11 years old and was excited at the prospect of living as part of a family.
The war was getting closer to the Islands. After Dunkirk, we knew that the enemy would soon be looking to take over these Islands. In July 1940 we were informed by the local media that the evacuation of these islands would take place the following day and we were to report to the School room that day if we wished to go.
The next day we were to report at the harbour, we were allowed to take a small number of personal possessions with us. I had never been on a ship before and found it a little exciting, but there was worry about where we were going. The ship seemed to take a long time to get to Weymouth and had to go fairly slow through, what we were told were, some minefields. When we reached Weymouth we were accommodated at a school. We were separated, I believe, according to age and sex. I spent that first night sleeping sitting at a school desk. I did not sleep well because I was worried as to where my younger brother “George” had gone, and would I see him again. He was the only family member known to me, without him I felt alone in the world.
We stayed in Weymouth about 3 or 4 weeks and then went to Glasgow. The train ride was a new experience for me. We do not have trains in Guernsey, although I believe we did have one some years earlier.
We had more comfortable accommodation and better food in Glasgow but I still did not know where brother George was at that time. Several people, wanting to foster us, came to look us over but it was some 3or 4 weeks before I was lucky to be chosen. When the “Foster Parents” arrived my brother was with them. I was so pleased to see him again.
We lived as part of the family for about a year or so but then things changed and we had to have our meals separately. I remember that when there were air raids we would go for shelter in a cupboard under the stairs. The relationship between the foster carers and us became more unpleasant and we eventually moved to another foster home.
The second foster home was not much better and we still had our separate dining area. We were not living as part of the family. After a big bombing raid on Glasgow some Glasgow children were billeted where I was living.
We had to carry our Gas Masks to School and had to practice wearing them. We, also, had to have drill wearing the Gas Masks in the Air Raid Shelters.
On V.E. day I celebrated with lots of others in George Square, Glasgow. I had more to celebrate, because I was aware that soon the Islands would be freed and I would be able to return to Guernsey.
It was not until September 1945 that I made the return trip. I was not sure where I would live and there was no one to welcome us. My brother and I were again separated. I was accepted the house where I had been staying after I left the home. My Brother had a different home.
We have both built ourselves successful lives for ourselves. We have had to do it without any help.

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