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This story appears courtesy of and with thanks to the Liverpool Diocesan Care and Repair Association and James Taylor.

Mrs Florence Tyrer, born in 1909, found sending her children away heartbreaking:-

The eldest boy was evacuated to Wales.

What did he take with him?

Well he had a little knapsack hanging over his shoulder with his clothing in. He had new clothes while he was away because he was able to get them. The lady that he went to had a fruit shop and she had one of these men who used to come around with credit. She got him an overcoat which we paid for. My other son Bill was evacuated over to Wales and he wasn’t happy there. The people were alright with him but he wanted to be at home so he was only there for three or four months.

We used to be able to see the lights in the sky when the incendiary bombs were dropping and they always used to worry him. He was only none. I was broken hearted and I couldn’t think of anything else but the little boy I was separated from.

When that song was on, “The White Cliffs of Dover”, I used to have to walk out of the room when I heard the line “Jimmy will go to sleep in his own little room again”. I couldn’t help it, I was choked. I couldn’t settle till he came home. I wouldn’t have brought him home if he hadn’t wanted to come. I wouldn’t have made him.”

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