Liz Woolley spoke to the Henley Archaeological and Historical Group on 6th May about Children and War, describing their experiences in Oxfordshire during the Second World War. This was extremely timely, given Henley’s celebration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and supplied useful wider context for the Group’s own research on what life was like in the town during the war,
Many children were evacuated from major cities at the outbreak of war in September 1939 and in September 1940 following the German invasion of France. As a result of the confusion arising during the complex evacuation process, some children destined for other counties ended up in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire was a relatively safe destination for the evacuees. A total of 3800 bombs fell on the county in the course of the war, although fatalities were few.
The children naturally suffered from separation from their families and some children could not be housed with their siblings. There were constant reminders of the ongoing war, with gas masks, air raid shelters and military activity, not to mention rationing – including sweets. Many children became involved in civilian activity in the county, particularly farming, and were often rewarded with sweets.
Tony Lynch