Children's fears during war

I was 11 years old when WWII began and my first memory of it was when I was put on a train with lots of other children and sent off to unknown parts to be safe.Nobody told us anything about what was happening or where we were going and many were crying.It was terrible and the older kids were trying to comfort the younger ones.We ended up in Wisbech St.Marys where we were picked out by the local people who were to take us in.I ended up with a local farmer along with another girl.She only stayed about 2 months and then went back home.I lasted longer but finally couldn't take it any longer and I too came back home.It seemed that I had no sooner arrived back in London when the Air Raids started and then the nightly treks to Kings Cross underground station began.I was raised by my Great Aunt and Uncle who were in their late 60's when the war started so it was hard for them to have to go out every night to the shelter.My biggest worry every morning after leaving the shelter was in coming to the corner of my street and wondering if our house was still standing.It was not good for children to have to worry about death and destruction at a time when they should have been enjoying their formative years.Whenever I see a reference to the movie "Casablanca" I have vivid memories of war.I had gone to see the movie with a friend and during the show the sirens went off.A man came on stage and said that the movie would continue for those who wanted to stay but those who wanted to leave should do so then.We decided to stay and when the movie ended we came out of the theatre and it looked like all of London was on fire.It was a bad raid and we had a hard time getting to the nearest underground station to get home.I will always be proud of the way our people acted and endured during the long years of this war.I am proud to be a former Londoner and even though I have lived in America since right after the war ended,my heart is still back home in England.

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