THREE DOZEN YEARS

CHAPTER FOUR - EVACUATION AND THE WAR

In the previous chapter it was recorded that on 1 September, 1939, the School was evacuated to Cambridge. But this statement rather over-simplifies the event. Evacuation had been planned from the point of view of the Railway Companies getting children out of London. The School did not know its destination before hand and, when it started off, it did not know where it would finish up.

At Cambridge the School was accommodated in the buildings of the Central School, which were in the form of a hollow square with cloisters on the inside of the square. There were two schools in the building, a boys' and girls' Central School, and Downhills occupied a number of classrooms between the two schools, which varied between three and six according to requirements. The organisation of the School was maintained so far as circumstances would permit. About three-quarters of the School were evacuated and a number of the younger brothers and sisters of the Downhills pupils were in the party. Some of these were accommodated in a Roman Catholic School in Houghton Street and there was an Infants' Department at Newnham. A condemned School was opened to house West Green Infants and Junior Schools, and when the Heads of these Schools returned to London the Headmaster of Downhills took charge of them.

The chief problem was billeting. Normally, a large part of the population of Cambridge lives by letting rooms and when, at first, it was rumoured that the Colleges would not re-open, the lodging-house keepers were anxious to take children, but when it appeared that the town would be crammed they naturally preferred better-paying guests. The Headmaster relates that Miss Ward tramped the streets trying to find new billets for children until she returned to London to teach the Central School children who had returned.

Mr. Bullen worked untiringly making new time-tables as the numbers of children, teachers and rooms varied. The Headmaster states that he worked "pretty hard" himself, "round all the schools all day, on billets every night, church parade and correspondence all the weekend." The Cambridge Education Committee and its Director did everything possible to anticipate the needs of the evacuated schools and did their utmost to help.

The problems of evacuation seem to have received more consideration in Cambridge than in most other reception towns. At a meeting of child psychologists and social workers held in Cambridge in October, 1939, it was resolved to undertake an investigation. This was completed in the following July and the results published in January, 1941. (The Cambridge Evacuation Survey: a Wartime Study in Social Welfare and Education. Edited by Susan Isaacs, M.A., D.Sc. Methuen, 1941.) In explaining how the Survey came to be undertaken it is stated that "It so happened that a large Central School had been moved from Tottenham and that some members of the teaching staff were particularly interested in the scheme; indeed, if it had not been for the enthusiastic help of the teachers, it is doubtful whether the study could have ever been carried out at all, and every chapter in this book is evidence of their interest." The School referred to is Downhills and the Headmaster and one of the Assistant Masters, Mr. G. A. Bullen, joined the Research Committee and were part authors of the book. It was decided to confine the study to children from two London Boroughs, viz., 373 from Tottenham and 352 from Islington and, for an interesting account of the problems encountered, readers are referred to the book. For the purpose of this history it is interesting to record the conclusions that the health of the children had improved and that their relations with their teachers had become more intimate, trustful and confident. Although there had been a slowing down of academic learning there had been great gains in other directions, for example, in general outlook, outside interests and in self-reliance.

In the course of the investigation it was thought desirable to obtain direct evidence from the children, and each of the Downhills children was asked to write two essays: "What I Like in Cambridge" and "What I Miss in Cambridge." No previous notice was given but they were told that the purpose was to help them by giving them more of what they liked and by trying to supply what they had missed. Some very candid essays were produced. One boy of twelve wrote: "What I miss most in Cambridge is the thick fogs and fish and chips." A girl of twelve said that "I have all our meals with the maids and not with the lady of the house. The maids are very nice." A boy of fourteen said: "I like my brothers and sisters being at home and not messing up my belongings... I miss getting hidings from my dad when I get into trouble," and another of thirteen: "I like bedtime because I have a very big bed all to myself!" A girl of fourteen wrote: "Cambridge is also interesting because the people seem so different from the Londoners and some of them are most funny and dress very queerly." And this, by a girl of fifteen, is delightful and deserves to be quoted as written:

"When I first came to Cambridge at the end of August, I spent most of the time walking with my friends that's one thing I like, the open space that is good for walks. Sitting by the river watching the punts, fishing for the small fish that are in it. The School here, Cambridge Central School, in some respects is better than D.C.S. in Tottenham. The gym which is set out so good, with changing room and showers. On the other hand the cloisters which are all round the centre of the School are very cold. On Monday evening we are allowed to go to Newnham College where several students look after groups of us. For one evening a week I go dancing with some of my friends and have a lovely evening there. The shops here are rather good for shopping purposes and they are all built close together only it is a rather long way to walk every time I want to buy anything special. I like the concerts they have in the Guildhall especially one by Joan Metcalfe. On Armistice day I thought the students were good sports the way they dressed themselves up in different costumes and didn't mind when every one were laughing at them. The people of Cambridge were very kind when I first came to Cambridge. Cambridge is a very nice place but I shall be pleased when we are altogether once more in Tottenham and the war is over.

"One of the things I miss in Cambridge is when coming home from School in the evening if I'm not going to any school activities (e.g. Newnham College, etc.). I know that the evening will be spent as usual knitting and sometimes reading. When I'm home in Tottenham I often go out to tea to a friend or relation of mine and spend an evening with them. Over the weekends when I feel as if I'd like to stay in by the fireside the lady I'm billeted with generally expects us to go for a walk, and as it is almost wintry it is not very nice. I miss my relatives, parents, and friends who are in Tottenham. And often wish our foster mother wasn't so particular although she does that for our good, as she says."

The teachers, too, had their view about evacuation. "Too long was spent in perfecting the mechanics of evacuation while the personal problems of the evacuee were too often quickly dismissed from the mind." The rôles of home and school were reversed - "School was now their home." The words of one teacher are quoted:-

"There have been times when I have been unhappy. I have been grieved by the ingratitude I have seen and there have been times when I have doubted our resolution and will to endure, but in my quieter moments I have known that the gratitude outweighs the ingratitude and that the resolution is always to be found when the need for if is realised.

"I am still conscious of the pride with which we teachers received the children from their parents. Here was a compliment more real than any words could bring, and I believe that it marked the beginning of a new era of co-operation between parents and schools. I recall with pride the impression created by our youngsters.

"London for me holds little beyond my work and my friends. Now my work lies near to the countryside. The birds and the flowers are never far away, there's a freshness over everything and I am content."

It is fitting that this account of the evacuation should conclude by quoting the tribute paid to our hosts at Cambridge by the authors of the "Cambridge Evacuation Survey."

"In time of grave national crisis, a large number of the citizens of Cambridge have been willing to extend hospitality to other people's children; and have for the most part done so with kindness, with generosity and with a considerable degree of success."

From the very first, the children began to drift back from Cambridge. Indeed, one child was snatched from the ranks as the School was proceeding to Turnpike Lane Station. Not many weeks after evacuation a branch was established in the Education Offices under Miss Ward for the Central School children who had returned. The "Cambridge Evacuation Survey" states that the main reasons for the return of the children were home-sickness, parental anxiety, unsatisfactory foster-homes and finance. It seems strange that the unexpected absence of bombing in the early period of the war was not regarded as one of the main factors. The School Log Book records that, on 29 January, 1940, "Downhills Central School was reopened upon instructions received from the Director of Education. Mr. F. M. Abell (Headmaster, Downhills Junior Mixed School) in charge temporarily. The Staff, many recalled from the Reception area, Cambridge, is as follows: Mr. Larcombe, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Mackay, Miss Ward, Miss Roberts, Miss Brown, Miss Davis. Seven forms, IV; IIIa, b; IIa, b; I.a, b." On 12 February, Mr. J. R. Bolitho, B.Sc., was appointed temporary Headmaster.

In May the war situation became critical with the German invasion of Scandinavia and the Netherlands. The Whitsun Holiday was cancelled and teachers recalled by wireless. All the staff and 72 children were present on 13 May. On 18 May an appeal was made for clothing for refugees.

In June a further evacuation plan was carried out and the School became an assembly point, for Tottenham. 32 children of the School were evacuated to Radyr, near Cardiff. The School was closed for nine days and was re-opened on 20 June with a staff of seven.

On 26 August the School re-opened under Mr. Mercer, who had returned from Cambridge, and thirteen members of the staff. Nearly all the Cambridge evacuees had returned; those that remained were absorbed into the Cambridge Schools. The Log Book for 27 August records: "Very poor attendance, especially in the morning, following an Air Raid warning during the previous night." This was the prelude to the Battle of Britain and the first bombing of London. Nearly all the entries in the Log Book between September, 1940, and May, 1941, are concerned with air raid warnings. When the bombing ceased in May the activities of the School began to widen. Many of these were connected with the War Savings movement and included Open Days, Parents' Meetings, School concerts and Old Scholars' dances. The School Savings records are impressive:-

12 September, 1941, War Savings Week £106
26 March, 1942, Warship Week (Target £300) £613
4 March, 1943, Wings for Victory week (Target £750) £2,331
31 January, 1944, Salute the Soldier Week £2,648
24 September, 1945, Thanksgiving Week £622

It was in 1941 that news was received that the School Ship, "S.S. Beaverford," had been sunk with all hands in action with a German Pocket Battleship on 5 November, 1940, in the North Atlantic, the same action in which the famous "Jervis Bay" was lost. A Memorial fund was started and raised about £150, most of which was given to the Dreadnought Hospital for Merchant Sailors. A small proportion was devoted to the provision of a Memorial in the Hall, which takes the form of a water colour of the "Beaverford," flanked by the Red Ensign and the House Flag of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Underneath is a bronze plaque bearing the inscription:-

S.S. BEAVERFORD,
Our Ship,
Lost with all hands
in Action
5th Nov. 1940.

The Memorial was unveiled by Mrs. Pettigrew, the widow of the Master, in the presence of Alderman Morell, Chairman of the Education Committee, Dr. Strong, Director of Education, Captain R. N. Stuart, V.C., D.S.O., relatives of the crew and parents and scholars. A memorial service is held annually in November, to which relatives of the crew still come. Before the War, parties had often visited the Ship in London Docks and members of the crew had come to the School. During the War parcels and comforts had been sent. The School has adopted the new "Beaverford."

On 13 June, 1944, the raids by "Doodlebugs" and, later, "Rockets," began. On 16 June attendance dropped by 50 per cent. On 28 June, "bombs fell dangerously near and so children were kept in the shelters." During these days the children spent much of their time in the shelters and instruction was carried on in the best way possible. One of the classrooms was turned into a shelter, a look-out was posted on the roof and, when a flying bomb came in sight, he gave warning to the School. In the middle of this, ten children were taking their School Certificate examination (and seven of them passed). The Headmaster recalls that he wrote to the Director of Education asking him to make a strong room available for the examination. In the end the examination took place in the needlework room, a room of light wooden construction, and the candidates took shelter under their tables when missiles came near.

The Autumn term was heralded by what used to be known as an "incident." A flying bomb fell in Cornwall Road. The attendance was affected and the School slightly damaged." Nevertheless, all was not lost. On 4 September, "Mr Thomas, H.M.I., called to measure up the various rooms." The change to rockets is recorded on 31 October. "Explosions during the night." Not until 13 November are they called Rocket explosions. 9 January, 1945, must have been a very bad day, and one can imagine the Headmaster's feelings as he wrote: "Rockets during the night, snow all morning. In the afternoon play not taken and the School dismissed at 3.45 p.m." And, on 15 January: "Rockets and alert during the night. T.T. still very disorganised as four teachers are absent or have left." However, the end was near and the last record of an alert is 27 March, 1945. The warnings had been almost daily since 13 June of the previous year.

The end of the War in Europe, in May,1945, did not, from all accounts, make a great change in the School routine. There were no special celebrations and the change-over took place slowly and unobtrusively as it did in the life of the nation.