Evacuated to Ireland

This story was told to East Ayrshire staff at their tea party on the 11th June 2004 by Patricia Riley from Kilmarnock.

I was 5 year old when war broke our. Living in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, my father joined the Irish Guards. My Mother was taken ill and my sister and I were evacuated. One of the homes we went to were a middle class couple – then we were moved to a very working class place. When my dad came to visit us, he was horrified to find that we were expected to take empty bottles back to the pub – to earn a few pennies. He soon decided to take us away to my mother’s parents who lived in Dagenham. I do remember the air raids – going to the air raid shelters – and people being very excited. My dad took us to Eire in August 1940 – being neutral Eire was taking in many children. We went to stay with my dad’s mother. Sadly mother died in September 1940, so my sister and I stayed with my Granma until the war was over. During that time my dad served in Italy where he was badly wounded – and also took part in the liberation of Europe. We were very fortunate that we were not short of food etc. in Ireland – but luxury items were in short supply. We only saw dad twice – that was all the leave he got. Once after he had recovered from the wounds he got in Italy and then again just before he went to liberate Europe. I wish now that I had listened more to all the war stories that my dad told when we eventually lived together – one of these days I’ll try to sort out his war records.

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