Cliff Douthwaite
I was just turned seven at the evacuation and was then at Lavender Hill School, parents were given the option to keep families together, so I was sent with Battersea Central School with my two elder brother Jack (12) and Ted (16). Although Ted had left Battersea Central School and was starting a course on Industrial design at the Borough Polytechnic. But Mum sent Ted to make sure his kid brothers were looked after. Keeping families together seemed a great idea but did place a larger burden on those we were billeted with.
I cannot remember much of the journey apart from the trauma of being locked in a train compartment not knowing where we were going.
Our first and second billets just passed in a haze although I have a strong feeling we were not welcomed at either location.
First placement, Martin’s Farm, Higher Oakshott Farm.
The welcome given was rather muted as Mrs. Martin had agreed to take three nice girls, and having three Battersea boys was rather a shock and this became apparent, as we were soon shunted out to one of the unwilling farm workers wife.
In 2002 all three Douthwaite "boys" had the privilege of revisiting Oakshott Farm under better circumstances and were delightfully welcomed by the new (of 35 years!) owners Sue and David Rigby. To be allowed to enter the Farmhouse after so many years was a rare treat, although the property had been much enlarged and of course much of the interior changed. We enjoyed the welcoming tea where Larry Knowles their gardener who was of our age during the evacuation, but was and still is a Hawkley lad joined us!
Ted returns home to Battersea, second placement, Jack & Cliff moved to farm workers cottage on the same farm with Mr. & Mrs. Stevens, daughter Daphne who works in post-office/shop, since closed, due to the limited space and rather crude sanitation this became unacceptable.
Our final placement was at Hawkley Hurst (shown in 2002) under the auspices of Miss Imms the nanny hired by the owner Clive Davies. This was a large country house magnificent in terms of grandeur and palatial extensive well-kept gardens, a long shot and in a different world to life in Amies Street Battersea. (shown below in footnote)
The years spent there were a very pleasant period, although we did miss Mum and Dad, we saw them about three times in the same number of years. Naturally the evacuees were kept separate from the Squires family except each morning we all including the servants and ground staff had to join the Squire for prayers.
The first Christmas was very special and Jack relives this in his memories slot.
Memories of being made to eat Spinach, ugh, but we were never short of food, as the Hurst owned two farms and a Turkey Farm. I also was chosen to spread rose petals in front of the bride and groom at Gwendoline's grand wedding in the village Church, we were all impress by the Bentley's and Rolls Royce's of the guest. Needless to say all the evacuees were kept well out of the way, we were in a different social class structure than the Squires family.
The vast ground of the Hurst were enclosed by shut splendid white gates, these were opened by cars driving over a raise white hoop this in turn swung the gates open in a memorable fashion, almost saying "Welcome Home Squire". On one occasion I was taken to the nearest dentist in Liss and by car this was a highlight seeing the gates open for lowly me although I am sure the dentist part was not, the mind can be very selective.
Walking to school each day was a chore, especially in the cold, tobogganing down the grounds of the Hurst during a snowy winter was great, we used tin trays by kind permission of Mr. Hudson the butler.
Each Sunday we had to attend Church but four of us younger evacuees were allowed to leave before the sermon, on our way home we were allowed to take an apple from the store in the Headmaster garage loft. This was great until the stock got low and one of us (not me you understand) stood on the Head's car bonnet to get at the last few, he was not amused to see footprints in the dust on his car and gave us all a roasting.
Students who were originally at Battersea Central School were accommodated in the Village School (since closed and converted into a private residence) complete with masters from Battersea Central School. But us younger folk were dumped out to the one class school in the village Institute (since replaced by a nice community hall). In my case I lost about three years of general schooling by the time I returned home (age 11), this was a real drag for the rest of my schooling days.
We occasionally watched the battle of Britain fighter in the dog fights overhead not really understanding the drama that young men on both sides were loosing their lives, thanks boys. Miss Imms got very upset if we were late home from school after watching the aircraft high in the sky, we now understand her anxiety, at the time just felt she was a cross old dear!
On the rare occasions when a night-time air raid warning took place, we had to decamp to the Hurst cellars, where bunks were available. We only ever had one bomb on the estate in the High Field; this caused quite a large crater, which was eventually filled with the help of the elder evacuee's of the Hurst.
In the grounds of the adjoining Home Farm, ran a small river with a weir waterfall and below this a pool, the elder boys used to swim in this, even on a very hot day the water was freezing, it was not my idea of fun.
Cliff, Sub-Lieutenant Royal Navy 1955 serving in the light fleet carrier HMS Ocean, which was then part of the Training Fleet with the light fleet carrier HMS Theseus
HMS Ocean (left), Colossus class light fleet carrier. Built at Govan on the Clyde and was launched 8th August 1944 completed 30th June 1945, scrapped 1962.
Formally operated in the Mediterranean and was in 1949 Flagship of the Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet. In 1952 saw action in the Korean War then converted for service in the Training Squadron. During the Cyprus crisis 1955 carried troops and equipment to the Island with sister ship HMS Theseus. Visited Virgo, Gibraltar, Malta with Nato exercises in the North Atlantic.
More about HMS Ocean, CLICK here.
Returning to the Hurst after 60 odd years although much changed on the interior still brings back sharp memories and indeed a shiver up the spine! If the motor vehicles are not parked around the village green then so little has changed one could imagine we were back in the 1940's, till one feels the aches and pains of old age.
Cliff left in 1996
Footnote
Cliff in Amies street aged about 5, 1937 on the tricycle with brother Bob behind, not sure who the girl is.Holiday for poor children, I as the youngest of 5 in a poor family was sent for a holiday to a home in St Leonard's on Sea about 1937/8 when I was about 6, I hated the experience and a certain grace before meals when sung always fills my heart with dread, even after all those years.
I am pretty sure the approach came via the vicar of the C 0f E church where I was christened, could have been St Stephens near the end of Battersea street market. I am sure the holiday was meant as a break for the family as well as the children and had all good intents, but as a shy boy who had not been away from home it had the reverse effect on me, so when we were evacuated Mum ensured I was looked after by my elder brothers.
Note the iron railings, these were all removed to help as raw materials for the war effort.
Jack and myself returned from Hawkley about mid 1942, our parents had moved to what was considered a safer place of New Malden, Surrey about 12 miles south of Battersea. By this time the blitz had finished but later we entered the V1 period or the DoodleBug guided bombs a forerunner of the Cruise missiles or Blue Steel our nuclear guided weapon.
New Malden was in the flight paths of the V1 and we had quite a few near misses and our home had a Morrison shelter installed in the living room, but it was used only on the rare occasions as a shelter but it made a handsome table tennis table but had the disadvantage of having a line of bolt heads around the sides and ends this was a hazard for the flight of the ball!
We got rather adapt at recognising the stuttering sound of the Doodlebugs and only got worried when the pulse jet engine stopped, then it was diving for any cover and counting up to seven and awaiting the bang.
Luckily the later V2 rockets were few and far between, those you heard the explosion first and then the sound of the missile coming, I think the first fell in Battersea and destroyed a Church, was this St Stephens in Battersea?
More about Cliff - CLICK here.
