My mother was nine
years old when she was evacuated from London to escape the bombs in
World War Two. As the youngest of eight, Mum was sent away without her
siblings. She was gone for four whole years during which time her father only
visited a handful of times and her mother not at all.
In those days,
getting to Surrey from London—which now takes about an hour by train—was
incredibly difficult. Apart from the fact that my grandfather fought on the
Western Front in The Great War and was severely shell-shocked, neither of my
grandparents could drive and besides, petrol was strictly rationed.
During my trip to
the UK this summer I was lucky enough to combine a book tour and spend time
with my mother. The two of us traveled around England. It was a wonderful
trip—especially when my daughter was able to join us for the odd weekend. Girls
on tour! But most of all, it was the first time as an adult I could really question
mum about her life as a wartime evacuee.
She stayed with
three different families—one woman, "Olive" was particularly unkind
to her (mental note to self, potential murder victim) and Mum was incredibly
lonely. My grandparents did not have a telephone and although they wrote to
her, letters were slow in arriving.
I asked Mum how she
survived and she said by reading a book called "The Twins To The
Rescue."
The first thing I did
was read the book myself.
Published around
1937, author Joyce Bruce tells the story of twins who are sent to stay with a
distant relative in a manor house far away from home because their parents are
going abroad for six months. It was easy to understand why the book struck such
a chord for her.
Abbey Antiquarian
Books said they are "Purveyors of nostalgia." I began to think about
the books I loved when I was age 9. Enid Blyton's "The Famous Five, Michael
Bond's "Paddington
Bear," and my all-time favorite, "The Lion, The Witch and
The Wardrobe," (oddly enough I only read that book at the time, not the
others in the Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis.
I also started
thinking about times when reading a book brought me great comfort during
difficult times. Books have helped me escape from reality when I’ve suffered
through many a broken heart, a divorce, bereavement, unbearable anxiety and
just plain nerves whilst waiting to interview for a new job. But I’m sure none
can equal the fear of a nine-year old sleeping in a strange bed so far from
home over seventy years ago.
“The Twins to The
Rescue” was published with Girl Guides in mind (at a cost of 3s 6d). Throughout
the story the twins are governed by Girl Guide Law No.8.
“A Guide smiles and sings under all
difficulties.”
And my darling Mum
still smiles and sings under all difficulties to this day.
