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At the outbreak of the Second World War, I was nine years of age and one of four childen living with my parents in Dale Road, Normanton, Derby.

With my two elder brothers aged eleven and thirteen and my younger sister aged seven, I attended St. Joseph's School which, shortly before the outbreak of war, was evacuated from Derby to avoid the expected enemy bombing of the built-up areas.

This is my story which took place in the first few months of a war which was to interrupt so many lives and was to last for a further five and a half years.

All through the summer of 1939 the was clouds had gathered. Since my earliest recollections, the world had never known peace and I remember the newpaper photographs of conflict in Abyssinia, China and Spain. Now trouble was nearer to home and preparations were made for a war that weemed inevitable.

I remember one evening, before the outbreak of was, when the whole family attended Hastings Street School to be fitted with gas masks as a precaution against gas, should it be used in the expected air raids.

As a further precaution against bombing of our towns and cities, plans were made to move or evacuate schools from the built up areas which might become targets for enemy bombers, to safety of the countryside.

It was even whispered that children were going to Canada, so it was with some excitment that our names were put forward for possible evacuation.

The international situation worsened and just before the outbreak of was, we were assembled at school for evacuation to a secret destination, each of us labelled with our name and address, carrying our gas mask and all our worldly possessions in a carrier bag or suitcase.

We boarded the bus at St Joseph's School and left for SAt Mary's to join the remainder of the party, amid tearful farewells from children and parents. After saying 'Goodbye' at St Joseph's most of the parents caught the trolley bus and arrived at St Mary's just before we left for a further round of farewells.

The bus eventually left, destination unknown, to us at least. I was still hopeful for Canada and wondered if I would be seasick on the crossing.Prior to leaving the Headmaster, Mr D Sweeney, warned that we might be achine gunned en route by enemy planes and , in the event, we were to sheldter in the nearest ditch. This bothered me as I was wearing my one and only navy blue suit and I would have to decide between the wrath of my parents if the suit got muddied against the danger from the expected air attack.

We departed in great excitement and headed out of town. I had never left Derby before except for a day trip to Skegness so I had no idea which direction we were taking, but I expected to see the sea eventually.

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