About Our Words: Evacuee
Eileen Brown was deeply moved by a section of Robert Owen's autobiography in which he described being evacuated as a child to Cumbria during the war.
I read with great interest, and felt very emotional too, your insights and perceptions of being evacutated to Cumbria/ Cumberland. My Mother Hilda Batchelor, who has now passed on, was one of the many evacuees from South Shields to be sent away. Her story waa not as sweet as yours. She did not find her adopting family as welcoming as many were. In fact i think they were positively unkind to her.
It was an extraordinary happening,. I'm sure that the decisions to send children away was in their best interests. It is sad to think of the awful life changing events that took place and altered lives for ever. It is mind boggling to think of the risk of sending the most precious of things to the safe keeping of people unknown. How unbelievably trusting their parents were.
This is an enormous part of our history. Looking back on it is important, so thank you for that.
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2007/01/14_the_wanderin_1.php
