World War Two Evacuee - Bill Ford

The year was 1940 we were taken to our local railway station complete with bag, gas mask, and label telling name age and address, where we were going we had know idea, after what seemed many many hours, we arrived at East Anstey station very tired hungry and very dirty, I suppose the dirt came from the steam train soot and smoke.

After being  formed into lines we were marched the short distance to the village hall given something to drink and eat, I should say at this point my age was nine and half years, my brother George was eleven with strict instructions not to let me out of his sight, after a quick inspection for head lice and the like, we were given a quick head wash in we think vinegar and water, during this time people from the surrounding village houses and farms came to select there charges, it seemed that George and I were not and the best of bunch and know one chose us, it seemed someone chose George but he told them we must not be split up, in the end a Mr Hills who we think was the squire took us to his house till some were could be found for us.

Taken in late 1939 the World War Two had just started - from left to right, Alfie Suttle, he was our half brother who was evacuated with us but because of his age was billeted in Romansleigh, another story! Centre is brother George. I (Bill Ford) am on the right. At this time we were always taken for twins.

I remember being very scared and crying after what seemed a very long day miles from home and with a lot of strange talking people, that night I cried all night and wet the bed so George told me along time after, We think the rather large house overlooked a wood could Armour Wood,?.the rather large porch entrance had the scull of a deer hanging on the wall with hats on its antlers little did we know then how much the red deer played in the local community life and ours with many many hours spent on Exmoor, still a lasting memory being reminded now by the series on TV, Johnny Kingdom, our life was just beginning.

The short stay we had with Mr Hills gave us a wrong impression of what was to come as he had electric lights, hot running water and inside toilets, just like home we thought, how wrong could you be.

Our arrival at the farm called West Liscombe came as a bit of a shock to say the least. There was no electricity, oil and candle light only and the toilet was over the yard at the bottom of the garden. It was a very strange time for two young town children, like my brother George and I , who had the opportunity to leave home on an adventure for the next three and half years, all thanks to Adolf Hitler!

We were introduced to the family. Mr Bowden seemed very rugged, strong and big. Mrs Bowden was a motherly type and extremely hard working. Ken Bowden, the eldest son, was in the Home Guard . Kathy? Bowden was their daughter. Alan Bowden was the same age as me, he seemed to see me as opposition. I never did know why!

The farm bordered on the edge of Exmoor. We had plenty of time to roam over the moors trying to reach Dunkery Beacon -so near yet so far.

Of course we had to go to school, the village school was a little small for the influx of a lot of evacuees.

East Anstey Primary
School - where Bill and George Ford went to School - taken during a return visit in 1980

Our days at school were a long, happy time. Unfortuntely, we did not learn a great dea.This was no fault of the teachers but our own. However, we did learn plenty about the local wild life as we lay in fields during the summer and watched the buzzards flying over head. We saw rabbits, stoats, foxes and deer and considered ourselves to be far luckier than our friends left at home in South London.

Little did we know just how many 'firsts' we would encounter. I had my first bread poultis put on my first boil on my bottom. My brother and I were very sick for days with over eating cream. We got drunk on the rough cider from the barn while the farmer and family were at Dulverton market. We found our first deer antler on Exmoor but never found a pair alhough we tried for years. We picked our first werts (Whortleberries) from Exmoor and came home with bright blue lips. We ate our first Lambs ball pie, saw a dead pig hanging up in the barn and attended both stag and fox hunting but never got to a kill. This were usually up-stream from Tarr Steps but we were on foot, funny how the stag destined to be hunted always made for the river.

I fell madly in love with a girl from school called Hazel Towel. We saw our first crashed German bomber as a school outing and picked foxglove leaves to help the war effort. A 'prisoner of war' farm-worker taught us how to make a whistle from ash wood so we would not get lost on Exmoor. I still teach my children and grandchildren to make them today.

The list of 'firsts' is endless - remember we were just children. We saw the American troops camped on Exmoor ready for the World War Two D-day landings. They gave us lots of gum, chocolate and other goodies. We even fired a 12 bore shot gun but missed the rabbit, nice times and memories we will never forget.

No young people today will ever experience the good life that brother George and I had as youngsters on Exmoor I recall nice times such as sitting around a big log fire at Christmas waiting for the faggot to burst into flame, and thinking of loved ones stuck back in South London; yes, how very lucky we were. Our 'firsts' are endless thanks to Exmoor.

After a short time, maybe six months or so, George and I were recruited into the local church choir. This was quite an eye opener for us. We felt privileged to join in at local weddings and festivals. I remember we were paid two pence for attending rehearsals and sixpence for a wedding. Church Choir also kept us out of trouble because otherwise we would be off swimming and fishing in the River Barle or at another favourite spot near Withypool. Exmoor provided us with all the entertainment we needed.

This picture of the church I took in the late 1980s

As I mentioned earlier as young boys we tried to reach Dunkery Beacon many times but never managed it . However, many years later 1974, I did manage to make the

Contributed by: Bill Ford