I was five, and the powers that be, that wonderful English Government, decided that it was dangerous for kids to be living in the London area.

Now this was 1944 and the worst of the blitz was already over, but they still decided that the kids had to get out of town. Our school was allocated to the town of Wrexham in North Wales.

So, on the fateful day we were packed up with our suitcases and gas masks and put aboard a train. The local grocer, bless him, had provided every kid with a packed lunch with a sandwich, an apple and an orange. I don't know how he got around rationing, perhaps he collected coupons or maybe he worked a fiddle, I don't know.

The train was virtually non stop to Wrexham. At least I don't remember stopping, guess they didn't want to risk any kids getting off. I was luckier than a lot of the kids because I was with my older sister aged seven. Most of the poor brats were travelling alone.

They must have opened up some little used lines in the North East of London because we didn't have to change at Fenchurch Street.

Somehow word had got a round that there was a train load of evacuees because on the trip through London it seemed that everyone was at their back windows waving at us (Houses usually backed onto the railway).

Of course, time came I had to go for a pee. So I took off alone up the corridor to find the lavatory. Well you can just imagine what state they were in, a non stop train load of kids, Yeuch! Eventually I came upon one that was marginally useable. When I'd finished I headed back along the corridor to find my sister - the wrong way of course, I'd got turned around somehow, Hey I was only five, I didn't think about which way the train was moving.

So I go tramping off up the corridor, on and on, not finding her and it was a bloody long train. I knew I'd find her sometime but I was still lonely and scared. Eventally I got to the end of the train and realised what had happened so I had to go all the way back, of course it was further this time and although I knew that I was headed in the right direction now, I was still bloody scared.

Eventually I found her and she was worried because I'd been gone for so long.

I don't remeber much else about the journey, but I thought I'd share these memories with you.

Bert.