- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

Steve M · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Does anyone remember any of the evacuees (or stories about them) who were moved from London to Abertillery during WW2?

My grandparents looked after a 12 year old girl from Eltham College for Girls between 1941 until 1945 and I am trying to gather information on what life was like for her during her stay. I'm intrigued to know how the evacuees arrived and what were their first experiences of Abertillery together with details of how they were distributed amongst the host families. I'm also keen to hear about their schooling plus any other memories people might have of them.

If anyone can help please get in touch with me.

Steve

Margaretta · Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 12

fredprobyn · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject: evacuees

Steve M,I presume the Evacuee placement was the same in Abertillery as it was in Ynysddu.First of all an Evacuee Officer came around the houses to see what accomodation you had to spare,if you had the room you was asked to take an evacuee or evacuees in (I dont know if it was compulsory)If you had the room you was given a card with Evacuee printed on it and it was placed in the window so that people knew you had evacuees staying with you.
Next a person usually a Woman would turn up with an evacuee or maybe 2 or 3 perhaps they was from one family and they wanted to be kept together.Then came the Schooling,this was the bit I liked,to help the evacuees to settle in the schooling was arranged so that the evacuees went in the morning and the local Ynysddu boys and girls went in the afternoon,then the next week it was reversed you went mornings and the evacuees in the afternoon.
At the time we as kids thought it was great only half days at school.But as time went by it got back to full time education for all of us.There was no rivalry we all got on very well Our family took a Vicars daughter as our friend I can always remember her her name was Ruth Lewis.She was a lovely girl,and she wanted to stay in Ynysddu not go back to London but her family wanted her back home.How the food rationing for evacuees was worked out I have not got a clue,I know that the people had extra rations for them.hope that little bit of information was of some use to you.
Fred Very Happy

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fredprobyn · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: Evacuees

Steve I forgot to say that the Evacuees arrived by train and all of them had a Parcel label tied or pinned to thier coats with their names on they looked frightened,which I suppose was natural.because for most of them had never been away from home before. Very Happy

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Steve M · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Thanks Margaretta and Fred. I did try the Eltham Hill College site and found copies of correspondence between Eltham and Abertillery UDC, Eltham expressing thanks and Abertillery acknowledging the same. However the school doesn't have any pupil records of the time. They have asked me to provide any further information I can gather on the times to add to their archives.

I've written an email to Abertillery Museum to see if they've anything but received no reply so far, also Gwent Records Office for details of school admissions at the timebut again no reply so far. Perhaps next week will be more fruitful.

Fred, I think that you've captured the probable scene very well. Lots of apprehensive children all afraid of having left home for uncertain futures. Things would have been the same in Ynysddu as Abertillery I'm sure. Your information of the selection of homes and allocation of children too is great stuff.

Thanks again.

Steve M.

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

Here are two interesting sites with contact information and a quote from one evacuee returning home from Abertillery. We did have one or two brilliant accounts of evacuees living and going to school in Abertillery submitted to our memories section of the main site. The site is still under construction and this area has not yet been uploaded. Maybe David can help you with this information you will find his contact e mail if you click on the admin link provided on each section of this forum.

Steve M · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Thank you Carolyn. I will contact David as you suggested.

I did find the 'war experience' web site and the quote from Jay Delaney. Unfortunately it is not possible to follow this up because she indicated that she didn't want replies.

This is a pity since her experience was directly related to Abertillery.

I'm reading through the stories on the other web site and thank you again for the lead.

Steve M.

Steve M · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Carolyn,

Sorry to be dull but I can't locate the Admin Link. Can I trouble you and ask that you post a link please.

Steve M.

martyn142 · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

Here you go Steve

http://tilleryonline.myfreeforum....file.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2

This David's profile and there are links on there for PM and email.