St. Stephen's
C.E. School
Year Six children from a Twickenham school were recently whisked to an unspecified rural location to avoid Hitler’s bombers.
Well, almost! To experience what it would really feel like to be evacuated, Year Six children from St Stephen’s CofE School in Twickenham donned wartime clothing and boarded a train for deepest Surrey. Once in their wartime attire, they got an inkling of what so many inner city children would have felt like when they were encouraged to move to the countryside to avoid being bombed by the Luftwaffe.
Equipped with a small suitcase, a facsimile case mask case they had made in Art lessons, a favourite cuddly toy and the obligatory brown cardboard ‘evacuee’ label they travelled to Bookham in Kent. Whilst travelling to their destination, the children sang wartime songs, such as ‘Don’t sit under the apple tree’, and were approached by couple of real-life evacuees who were keen to chat about their experiences during the Second World War.
After arriving at the local church hall in Bookham, Kent, they were visited by local teacher, Ann Lillywhite, who took on the role of ‘billeting’ officer. She gave them a realistic talk about what they could expect. Judging by the expression on some of the children’s faces, it was evident they momentarily thought really would be staying in Surrey! Then it was the turn of a local evacuee, Roy, who chatted to the children about the reality of being evacuated. Separated from their parents for several years and getting used to a new home seemed a daunting prospect for Year 6. But, for them it was only for the day. Roy had such a great time in Bookham during the evacuation that later in life, when he got married, he moved back to the area permanently.
Year 6’s Zach Leach enjoyed the experience. He said:”Today has made me feel like a real evacuee. I think if you had been sent to a nice family it would have been an adventure, but I would definitely miss my Mum and Dad. It was very interesting to hear Roy talk. He showed us a real ration book and it grateful I am to live now, rather than during the War when food and clothes were limited and you wouldn’t have had as much choice as we do today.”
With their ration books at the ready, it was time for an authentic and tasty lunch. Bacon sandwiches, malted milk biscuits and an apple, all washed down with some orange squash. Year Six teacher, Simon Bennett, sums up the benefits for the children,” We have been studying how children would be affected by World War Two, learning about rationing, food and evacuation. We hold a 1940s tea dance and an evacuation day. When we were evacuated the children and staff had to dress in 1940s-style clothes and carry gas masks. Many passengers were interested in our journey when they noticed our clothing and some former evacuees came up to us to tell us their stories. It really brought our work in the classroom to life.”
