Barry Schumm to his parents Fred and Hilda

The letter is dated Sunday 3-9-39, the day Britain declared war on Germany.

Dad, then aged 12, had just been evacuated from Burnage, South Manchester to Howick near Preston, Lancashire. Very matter-of-factly he says “Being told in the bus to report at school we did so, there hearing that war had been declared on their wireless”.

The letter describing his evacuation is full of other interesting details, including a mix-up with their accommodation which resulted in Dad being taken in by a couple who had only just moved into their house 2 days ago.

Near the end he tells his parents “I hope you have made preparations for Air-Raids and Black Outs and I hope you are not frightened.”

We discovered the letter in a chest of drawers in the loft when clearing out our parents’ house. The chest used to be in our grandparents’ house.

We had no idea about the existence of the letter and knew hardly anything about the things our Dad describes. We found many other letters to and from various members of the family going back as far as 1912.

Transcript:

WAR POST
Sunday
3.9.39

Dear Mum & Dad

Hope you are all keeping well. When I left home I walked to the "Kingsway" meaning to catch a bus, but I was lucky, for I saw Mrs Stacey in her car and she took Brian and I down to school with a few other of our boys. On Reaching school we went to our form rooms and then into the quad. Our rucksacks felt very heavy because of our long wait. We marched out into the bus which conveyed us to Victoria. Another long wait at Victoria and then putting my rucksack on the rack I brushed my cap on the side of the open door, the cap falling between the step and the line. The master who was in our compartment was Mr Johnson so he found a porter who reached it out with two Indicator boards. Our train journey was not so interesting so we read comics untill we reached Chorley where we all looked out of the window to see the underground amunition factory. From the station, progress was very slow. The people in the streets gave us drinks of water as we were very thirsty. We were examined at the village school (what a place) where we were tested to see if we had a sore throat or any cuts and bruises. From there we went into the town hall and received rations for 48 hours (2 tins of condensed milk [Pooh], 2 bars of Plain York (2d), a tin of corned beef and two packets of ginger biscuits. We embarked on a bus and in five minutes we were in Penwartham Hall. Going up to a desk we asked if there was a billet for three but the answer was "there is only room for two of you". We were given a slip of paper on which was the address and name of our lady. A kind man took 6 of us, including himself, in a 2 seater. On arriving at our house we found that our lady had removed but Mrs Southworth kindly took us in although she had only been here two days. It is a very nice bungalow with all modern conveniences (I'm sure you would like it). Mr & Mrs Southworth are very homely and should say that they are forty odd. We had a look at Hutton Grammar School. Being told in the bus to report at school we did so, there hearing that war had been declared on their wireless.

This afternoon we had a grand time in the woods with some other boys from our school. It rained slightly at night so we looked at "Picture Posts". Valentines father and mother came up to see him in their car. You will have received my postcard about my trunks won't you. Send me a letter telling how Pam is liking her stay. Will you tell all neighbours, relations etc. that I am enjoying myself although I miss you greatly. I hope you have made preparations for Air-Raids & Black Outs and I hope you are not frightened. We have to go to school tomorrow at eleven o'clock so I will have to go to bed so Good-bye for the present.

Love Barry

P.S. come over on your bikes to see me + bring my rubber please
Sirlong

Tagged:
Evacuee

Contributed by:
Clare Compson, Janice Schumm and James Schumm

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