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This contribution to People’s War was received by the Action Desk at ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝ Radio Cleveland and submitted to the website, with the permission and on behalf of Mr J Wilkinson.

EVACUATED - A POEM
Sheffield to Sherwood Forrest

I’m a lonely little evacuee and I’m only 8 years old
I don’t know where they are sending me as we have not yet been told
To my Mam and Dad I’ve said goodbye
I tried to be brave but I had a tear in my eye
My Gran gave me a great big hug
She said “Now don’t you worry love”
Off we went in a big chara bang
I sadly waved to my Mam, Dad and Gran
The railway station was the next stop
Walking up the platform made my eyes pop
For standing there belching smoke and seam
Was the biggest engine I had ever seen
So, in a station or on a train I had never been
There were hundred’s of kiddies from lots of schools
We were told to obey all the rules
“Always keep your name label on show
Take your gas mask wherever you go”
With great excitement we climbed onto the train
To get a seat near the window was everyone’s aim
Of we went through the countryside — what a treat
Great to see the fields full of cows and sheet
After a few hours the train began slowing down
We all began to wonder, was this out town
We were in the middle of Sherwood Forest at a tiny station
Yes now we had reached our destination
We were marched away to the village hall
No one told us where to go we knew nothing at all
By now I was living with a rumbling tum
All I wanted was to be back with my Mum
Amongst us all there wasn’t many dry eyes
But the carers and teachers had no time to sympathise
We were put into groups taken from door to door
If we asked we were told it’s because of the war
My group was the last it seemed no one wanted us
We were tired and hungry but we didn’t make a fuss
Now I was the last the carer said “We will try this door”
By the look of things it’s the last — there isn’t any more
The door slowly opened, I gasped with shock
There stood an enormous woman in a flowered frock
She said “I’m Mrs Butcher, where are you from?”
“Sheffield” I spluttered
“Speak up she shouted has cat got your tongue?
Now this is my son Charles, we don’t call him Charlie do you hear?”
I nodded my head I thought “I’m not welcome here”
Charles was older than me he just stood and glared
I knew he didn’t like me, he just stood and glared
I knew he didn’t like me he never said a word
“Charles will show you your room”
Off I went with her son
As we came down stairs he just said “I’m 10 see”
I said “I don’t care, it doesn’t bother me”
Back into the kitchen for a mug of tea, jam and bread
Eaten in silence not a word was said
I was told “No talking at the table just eating”
So mealtimes were never a friendly meeting
Next morning ready for school hoping to see all my mates again
Because being with Charles was one big pain
Before going out the door she was there to detect
Clean shoes, clean teeth, clean neck
This was done with great discipline
If she had found any dirt it would be a sin
School was chaotic it was overflowing
Teachers and carers coming and going
The village hall was needed and the church hall too
Such a lot of use we caused quite a hula baloo
We had nature walks in Sherwood
I liked them they were really good
We saw lots of animals I had never seen before
And up in every tree were birds galore

PLAYTIME

Meeting up with pals at playtime we used a field to kick a ball around
One day after a shower there was lots of mud on the ground
We all enjoyed a good game but got covered in dirt
The look of horror on Mrs Butcher’s face was when she saw my dirty shirt
She scrummed me clean sat me on the chair
She said “Don’t you move from there”
It was high no cushion I had to sit there till tea
I sat there that long I said, “Please I need a wee”
She said “We don’t use that word we say toilet.
Off you go down the yard to the toilet”
Now this place was a wooden hut but nice and clean
And when you were done you could see here you had been
It was a plank of wood with a hole in it
Over a bucket and you had to make sure you didn’t miss it

NIGHT TIME

At night in the dark I was scared to go for a wee
So I tried not to drink very much tea
Just sitting there on the chair not talking was quite boring
Wishing and wishing that it was morning
Then I told a fib, I said “I must go to my room to do my homework”
“Yes, said Mrs B “your school work you must not shirt”
I spent a lot of lonely nights at the top of the stairs where
I pretended to do homework I just didn’t care
I did a bit of writing and drawing just for fun
Because in the morning she would want to see what I had done

HAPPY DAY

One day much to my delight
Mam and Dad came to visit me on a motorbike
It was lovely to see them but it was hard to say goodbye
I really hope they didn’t see the tears in my eye
But a few weeks later he came again a great surprise
When I saw him I could not believe my eyes
He said “I would be just as safe in Sheffield with my own family around”
I really jumped for joy, my feet just left the ground
There was no petrol then he tried to explain
I didn’t care, we went home on the train
It was a year since I had left home a sad little lad that was me
And now I never want to be another EVACUEE!!

This poem was written by Mr Wilkinson’s friend Christine Winspear of Northallerton, North Yorkshire

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