91热爆

I and two sisters were evacuated from Grimsby, Lincs in July 1940. My younger sister turned 6 on the voyage and my elder sister was 11 and I was 7. I do not recall leaving "home" and my first memory is of being billeted at an "open air camp" - somewhere near Liverpool I presume as we sailed from there on the HMS Hillary.I thought the whole thing was a huge adventure but many children were not so thrilled. Most of us got sea sick on the voyage and my younger sister developed measles so we did not see her for a long time as she was taken to hospital when we landed in Halifax and we were trundled off to a boat train for a 3 day 2 night trip to Montreal. I can still recall the sounds of the six corvettes whooping day and night as they escorted us across the Atlantic.

We were billeted at Royal Victoria College - a girl's dorm at McGill University. There we were kept amused and taken on trips until, day by day, children were taken away to stay with host families. We would have been billeted there for several weeks because it was mid September when I went to school. My sisters and I were separated as not many people could take on three children. We ultimately lived in adjoining towns (Lachine and Dorval, Quebec).

My first billeting was not a happy one as I lived with an older couple who had three grown children and a spirited 7 year old caused some problems for them (and me!). The case worker came to visit when it became appparent that I was so unhappy but I was then billeted with a couple who had no children and I think we became a perfect fit. I stayed with them until June 1945.

I was very active in school and in the community attending church and the "Y" etc. I seldom saw my sisters - perhaps 2 or 3 times a year but it was comforting to know they were close. My elder sister and I attended the same school but because of our age difference we hardly crossed paths.
Everyone was very kind to us and certainly welcomed us with open arms. One school teacher took all 3 of us to her parent's home in the Eastern Townshps. They owned a maple sugar bush and we "drove" there on a horse drawn sleigh. It was very exciting and of course new to us.

My host family were wonderful people and gave me many golden opportunities. I took skating lessons, dance lessons, swimming lessons, skiing lessons etc. etc. It was a rude awakening when we had to return to England in June 1945. I think many children longed to return home (my sisters did) but I had become very Canadianized.

It was a sad evening at the train station in Montreal when 200 of us left for "home". That memory shall remain with me forever. However, we were now all 5 years older and the anticipation of the long train ride to Halifax and the ocean voyage - mostly unchaperoned - was exciting.
We made many new friends and partied for several days (mostly innocent, I think!) We planned to keep in touch but as the kids were from all counties it was an impossible dream. I have no idea how many were from Grimsby. I know of one family of three and one other girl but we soon lost track of each other.

It was a great culture shock for me and I was devastated by the bombed out buildings
and what seemed like utter poverty everywhere. My mother and two sisters met us - all total strangers. I was very homesick for Canada and the way of life I had enjoyed. I vowed I would return one day.

I did settle down in Grimsby after a short period. Because of my nature I had learned to make the most of any situation thrown to me. I recall writing to my Canadian "parents" that I could not understand anything anyone said and a few weeks later writing to say that they now all spoke "Canadian". Little did I realize that I had quickly picked up the accent.

I went back to the school I had left, knowing noone. It was quite an adjustment but once again I soon fit in and quite enjoyed myself. UNTIL, I discovered that at the age of 14 I was expected to leave school and find work. I was utterly shocked. When I wrote to Canada that this was the case they offered to take me back and let me complete my education. As they had no children they missed me very much and I filled a void in their lives. My parents agreed that it was a golden opportunityy fo me and so in June 1947 I sailed from Southampton on the Queen Elizabeth - a magnificent ship. What luxury after those 2 years of severe rationing.

I sailed to New York City and then took a train to Montreal to be reunited with my Canadan parents and several friends. I spent the summer at "our" cottage and started high school - Grade 9 - with many of my old classmates. I was home again.

I stayed with these wonderful people until I got married (1957). My husband and I lived in Surrey for 3 years after he graduated from McGill University and our first child was born in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1962. We returned to Canada in 1964 and our second son was born and then our daughter was born in 1968. We have 5 wonderful grandchildren.

I am often asked if I would/could send my children away under such circumstances and I always answer "NO" but that is academic. Who knows what anyone would do under these circumstances. I am sure my parents wanted the best for us although it did take a big toll on our mother.

My sisters did not have the same happy experience and I am fully aware how privileged I was. I lucked out!

I love Canada and its people but I am very loyal to England and proud to be British.

I would love to hear from anyone who was evacuated to Canada.

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