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EVACUATION

by Patricia Pratt

We all stood in line, each a Gas Mask and label,
My sister stops crying but I wasn't able
The feeling of horror had just left me numb,
There were plenty of people but where was my Mum?

Once on the train we were made to sit still
Some children enjoyed it, but I just felt ill
The noise of the engine, the "clickety clack"
All seemed to be saying, "you're not coming back".

The scenery altered from buildings to Dales
But we didn't know we were headed for Wales.
When we arrived we were herded again,
A large hall was waiting away from the train.

Some people already were making their choices
We couldn't make out what was wrong with their voices.
Friendly and helpful they welcomed us all
My sister and I were the last in the hall.

Later a lady arrived with her son,
Was sorry to say she could "take only one"
But my sister Trudy, older than me
Said, "we stay together, to that I will see".

At last we were settled and put into bed,
We cuddled each other our prayers were now said.
The morning arrived and we looked all around
And made ourselves known to the family we'd found.

There was mother, Father and children three.
Dad was a miner, this we could see
By clothes that were hanging on back of the door
And boots black and dusty that littered the floor.

It was so long ago but remember it well
all of us children had stories to tell,
some of them happy, some of them sad
Take into account all the good and the bad.

They let us run wild and we ate what we could
Chutney for breakfast and dinner "bread pud"
We scratched all night long, it was not very nice
Our heads were infested and covered in lice.

Mum came to visit, was late in arriving
We were in bed and were ducking and diving.
When Mum saw our heads, she knew at a glance
Why we were scratching and doing a dance.

She packed our belongings, back home we were going
Although she was grateful for all they were doing,
she thought it was better that we stay together
And face all the dangers whatever the weather.

With hats firmly jammed so that none could drop out
The insects were moving and jumping about
We wanted to scratch as we sat on the train
But Mum kept on pulling our hats down again.

We got back to London at three in the morn
Made sure we were bathed and hair tightly shorn,
We stayed together the rest of the War
With many more tales like 'The old apple core'.

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