Evacuated in WW2

Mary & Alfred Cark with sons Alfred (Left)age4 or 5 & Bill (right) aged 3 in Valletta, Malta circa 1939

Evacuees

Many people still recall the time during WW2 when they were evacuated to parts of the country that were deemed to be safe from bombing. Bill Clark is one such person and he was recently in contact with me and we spoke of research work that is being done on this subject, and also of the article I printed in the Forest Town Crier Community Newspaper in June 2006. On learning of the ‘ourmansfieldandarea’ web site Bill was enthusiastic for the article to be republished.

From the Forest Town Crier June 2006

The phone rang, ‘Hello Pauline this is Jack from the British Legion, I have just been to a meeting with other representatives from various parts of the country and met a gentleman who was evacuated with his brother to Forest Town. Would you like to contact him?” From there the following story unfolded

From Malta

In May 1940 British service families were evacuated from Malta, Bill Clark, his brothers and mother were one such family. Within a few days they had arrived in Liverpool and were on their way to stay with relatives in Sussex. In April 1941 Bill and his brother Alf found themselves being evacuated again, this time to Forest Town.

Worthing to Forest Town

Bill says ‘I vaguely remember the coach at Worthing taking us away, possibly to the train station at Worthing. I probably remember because I dropped and lost forever my 2/6d going away money. I believe we spent the night in a Hall (possibly the school) and waited for ‘the selection’.

Placement

I am confused about where we stayed as I thought that initially my brother Alf and I were together but quickly moved and separated. My mother thought it was because the lady had been called up, but having evacuees in the house actually prevented call up.

Alf went to a home where there was already a child and a connection with the ARP (Air Raid Warden).  My new home had a connection with an allotment where I used to help out, or loaf around.

I remember the park and the railway embankment, with the long line of coal trains labouring up the incline. I certainly remember romping around the Sherwood Forest and running into marsh land.

APPLE SCRUMPING

I do have a memory of being with my brother and a gang scrumping apples. As the youngest member I was placed by a wall on lookout, however I failed to spot a gentleman who claimed to be a policeman, he gathered all the children and lambasted them verbally. He had failed to spot me, and I remained behind the wall listening to the gang being frightened out of their wits.

TEACHERS

We had teachers from Worthing who used to keep in contact with our parents and send reports of our general well-being. I believe we remained in [Forest Town] Mansfield for about a year before returning to Sussex’.

Bill Clark

EXTRA INFORMATION I AM NOW ADDING TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE

The Forest Town School Infants Admission Register lists evacuated from Worthing being admitted to the school on the 1st April 1941, among them are both Bill and his brother Alfred who are shown as staying with Mrs Brotherhood at 56 Newlands Road. In September some of the children were moved up to the Mixed Department of the school, these included Bill and Alfred Clark.

The school Log Books contain a number of entries relating to Worthing ie.  below are some examples from 1941 & 1943.

19th and 20th March 1941 – The school was closed these two days owing to the evacuation of children from Worthing. Teachers were engaged both days with the reception and billeting of these children. 135 children of ages ranging from 5 to 12 were received and billeted. [Forest Town may have been a ‘receiving centre’ and It is possible some of these children were billeted around the Mansfield area]

28th March 1941 W Golby visited the school in the afternoon to discuss the accommodation of the evacuees and the problems arising from evacuation.

1st April 1941 67 Worthing children who have been evacuated to Forest Town under the Government evacuation scheme were officially admitted to the school today. They were merged with our own children and to provide the additional accommodation necessary the woodwork room was cleared of benches etc and desks put in. At present there are four Worthing Teachers with the children viz; Miss Powell, Miss Bateman, Miss Allman & Mrs Babbage.

8th December 1944 – The Worthing children evacuated 1941 returned home today along with Miss Allman the Worthing teacher attached to this staff

 

 

Comments about this page

  • My mum and dad (Dolly Clarke and John Clarke )had a son called John Clarke and they recieved evacuees  called John Clarke and Jean Clarke both we believe from Worthing, we made contact with John and he came back to Forest Town to meet Dolly (Doris Clarke).

    By kathleen hawkins nee clarke (22/02/2015)
  • Hi Maureen, I think it is called the “Fog of War” but at least it gave you a chance to travel and hopefully got you away from the dreadful bombing. Have you joined the Evacuees Reunion Association? The monthly newsletter is interesting and highlights various evacuee’s experiences, good and bad. I was 5 years of age in 1941 so possibly we were in the same class at Forest Town. Hope that your recent trip down memory lane went well.

    By Bill Clark (25/09/2012)
  • I was one of those evacuees from Worthing, though rather by chance. We had been staying with my mother’s sister in Worthing after having to leave our house near Harrow in Middlesex due to bomb damage. I must have been about five years old and remember being in the a hall (school hall or church hall?) waiting to be selected. A lady whom I remember only as Laura took me home with her, but I was so upset with the whole situation that she had to call in her neighbour, Grace Wilson, who took me home with her. I stayed with Bill and Grace Wilson until my mother decided to take me back to London for a holiday and then didn’t want to send me back. I’m not sure how long I was in Forest Town, but I think it must have been for at least a couple of years. The Wilsons were very kind to me during the time I lived with them and I have often thought about them. In fact, I have decided to take a trip to Forest Town early next month (September 2012) to see how things have altered over the years.

    By Maureen Brooke (21/08/2012)
  • Hi Pauline, I think your research on the subject of the Worthing Evacuees is simply brilliant. Highly professional and very readable. Well Done and Thanks. Bill Clark

    By Bill Clark (04/08/2012)

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