“We thought being evacuated was thrilling. We were so naïve.”
This week, we’re marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day by sharing some of our residents’ stories of WWII. First up is Joan, who shares her memories of being an evacuee…
Joan was sent to Maidenhead with her twin brother and little sister. She shares, “The whole school went and we thought it was all rather thrilling. Being Londoners, going to the countryside sounded great. We were so naïve. We were sent on the train with our cases and gas masks. When we arrived, we had to sit in a field and wait to be chosen. That was the worst part, seeing whether anyone wanted you.
“A woman looked us over and said she could take my sister and I, but not my twin brother. He had a wonderful time with the family he stayed with, but my sister and I weren’t so lucky. People got paid for taking in evacuees, and I think the couple who took us just wanted the money. It was awful. My older sisters would come down to visit us with their boyfriends and we’d implore them to take us home, but they couldn’t.
“My twin brother would drive past in this big car and wave to us. We’d be sat on the doorstep with just a packet of crisps and corn beef.
“Luckily, we only stayed for a month as I got tonsillitis. My parents happened to come down for a visit, took one look at me and brought my sister and me straight back home. I was so thankful. Mind you, other children had it worse. My neighbours went to stay with a family that were crawling with fleas.
“After a year, the couple who were looking after my brother wrote to my parents to ask whether they could adopt him. My parents had no intention of letting that happen, so they got him home on the very next train!”
While Joan was happy to be back at home, London was a scary place to live during the Blitz. “It was a terrible time. In and out of the shelters, dodging bombs.”
Joan was 13 when the Normandy landings took place. She remembers everyone being glued to the wireless listening to commentaries but, “As a child, I didn’t really understand the enormity of it.”
Joan is now 93 and has lived at Sycamore House for 23 years. “Moving here was the best thing I ever did. It’s a wonderful place to live. We have very good staff and the most beautiful gardens.
“I can’t see to read or do embroidery anymore, but I’m regenerating from top to bottom! It’s onwards and upwards – that’s my motto.”