Characteristics of the wartime experience for those not evacuated

All non-evacuees (N = 43) completed the Wartime Experiences Questionnaire (WEQ) and, as for the evacuees, missing data were usually due to self-reported difficulties in remembering details about the wartime. Approximately two-thirds of respondents lived in areas from which people were not evacuated during the war (rural and urban) and approximately one-third of respondents lived in areas from which many people were evacuated (e.g. London, Liverpool and the south coast of England).

Experience o f wartime bombing

The majority of non-evacuees (90.7%) experienced bombing raids during the war, although only 5 (11.6%) were bombed out of their home. Overall, 29 (67.4%) used air-raid shelters.

Death o f close friends or relatives during the war

Non-evacuees were also asked whether close relatives or friends were killed during the war and 12 (27.9%) reported that at least one member of their family, or a friend, had been killed. O f these, 2 (4.7%) reported that their brother had been killed, 3 (7.0%) reported that their uncle was killed, 4 (9.3%) reported the death of a cousin, 5 (11.6%) reported the death of a friend and 4 people stated that someone else who was close to them had been killed.

Chapter 3: Results

Separation from parents during the war

Six non-evacuees were separated from both parents during the war. The mean length of time of the separation was 2.4 months, and the time separated ranged from 1 month to six months. Respondents who had been separated from both parents had been cared for by other family members during this time. Reasons for the separation included family difficulties or going to stay with relatives who lived in a safer area. These respondents did not consider that they had been evacuated and so they were not included in the sample of evacuees.

Separations from father during the war were relatively common; fifteen (34.9%) non­ evacuees were separated from their father for a mean time of 24.7 months, and the length of separation ranged from 1 month to 5 years.

General happiness during wartime

Respondents were asked to rate how happy they were in general during the war. This was done on a five-point Likert scale from 0 (very unhappy) to 4 (very happy). The mean score was 2.8 (S.D. = 0.7), which suggests that, in general, respondents rated themselves as ‘quite happy’ during the war. No respondents made any mention of the occurrence of physical or sexual abuse.

The end o f the war

At the end of the war 5 (11.6%) respondents were no longer living in their original home. Reasons indicated for this included having been bombed out, parents deciding

to move during the war for various reasons, and the respondent having grown up and moved out of home by the end of the war

Respondents were asked to rate how happy they were in the months after the war on a five-point Likert scale from 0 (very unhappy) to 4 (very happy). The mean score was 2.9 (S.D. = 0.9). This suggests that, in general, respondents rated themselves as ‘quite happy’ in the months after the war ended.

On a similar scale, respondents also rated how family life after the war compared with family life before the war. The mean score was 2.1 (S.D. = 1.0), which indicates that the majority of respondents rated life as ‘the same’. If respondents reported family life had changed, they were asked what they thought had caused this. 9 (20.9%) respondents thought family life changed for the worse after the war, and they reported that this was due to their own wartime experience (N = 2); their mother’s wartime experience (N = 1); their father’s wartime experience (N = 1); parents’ separation or remarriage (N = 4); and the death of their father (N = 1).

In contrast, 14 (32.6%) respondents felt that family life changed for the better following their evacuation, and reported this was due to their own wartime experience (N = 3); to having grown up and now being independent (N = 2); to life being more relaxed and less worrying (N = 4) and to the end of rationing (N = 2).

Chapter 3: Results

The WEQ asked respondents to list three good things, if possible about their life during the war. Many respondents (53.5%) were able to list three things, but 14.0% were not able to name any good things. The results are categorised and summarised in Table 3-7. Examples of items in each category are given where appropriate.

Table 3-7 Respondents’ descriptions of ‘good things’ about their life during wartime.

“Good thing” N

Home and family 18

Staying with parents (no evacuation) 6 Contact with family in the services 3

Father able to stay at home 2

More contact with extended family 2 Family surviving the war (being reunited) 3

Having evacuee for company 1

Community 20 Community spirit/camaraderie 15 Cinema/dances 3 Patriotism 2 Schooling 6 Good schooling 4 Lessons disrupted Other 2 Freedom to wander 3 Excitement 3 Friendships 3 Growing up (marriage/work) 4

Bad things about respondents ’ lives during the war

Respondents were also asked to name three bad things, if possible, about their life during the war. The majority of respondents (67.4%) were able to describe three bad things, 7.0% did not describe any bad things. As above, the results have been grouped together and are summarised in Table 3-8, Examples of answers in each group are reported beneath each group heading.

Table 3-8 Respondents’ descriptions of ‘bad things’ about the their life during the war

“Bad thing” N

Bad feelings 12

Anxious about safety of family abroad 2

Anxiety/fear due to bombing 9

Losses 30

Missing friends who were evacuated 3

No social life 3

Separation from father 4

Death of relatives 3 Lack of food 12 Lack of sweets 5 Bad/disrupted schooling 9 War-related events 40 Bombing/air-raids 15 Seeing death 2 Doodlebugs 5 Black-outs 3

Gas masks - suffocating 3

Nights in shelters 4

Home bombed 3

Disturbed nights 4

Tables 3-7 and 3-8 indicate that remaining with family and the local community was an important aspect for people who were not evacuated as children during the war. Although some people found living through the war an exciting time, the majority found bombings and air-raids a frightening experience.

Use o f psychological therapy

People who had not been evacuated were also asked whether they had ever had any form of psychological therapy and, if so, whether they had talked about their wartime experiences. A total of 4 (9.3%) respondents reported that they had had psychological therapy, and 2 of these 4 people had talked about their wartime experiences.

Chapter 3: Results