When the War Is Over: Far from Home, Far from Family, Safe from the War - A True Story of Two Second World War Evacuees

by Barbara Fox

Gwenda and Douglas Brady were among the millions of British children sent to live with new families for their own safety during the Second World War, leaving behind their parents, their friends and all that felt familiar and safe. Evacuation could be a scary experience, but five-year-old Gwenda and her brother were lucky enough to be housed with a kindly schoolmaster and his wife, and soon the realities of the war felt very far away.

When the War is Over touchingly tells the story of how Gwenda and Doug found a second family and a loving home in Bampton... and how the war touched the lives of everyone, even those far away from the big cities.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2016

About the author

Barbara Fox was inspired to write her first book, 'Bedpans & Bobby Socks', after reading the letters her mother, Gwenda Gofton, wrote home while working as a young nurse in 1950s America.

She worked with shepherdess Emma Gray on 'One Girl and Her Dogs', an account of Emma's first year running a farm in an isolated part of Northumberland, before writing 'Is the Vicar in, Pet?', her own childhood memoir about growing up in the mining town of Ashington, Northumberland.

'When the War Is Over' turns back the clock to Gwenda's childhood during the Second World War and her evacuation to a Lake District schoolhouse.

Barbara's most recent work is as editor of 'Eve's War', the wartime diaries of Evelyn Shillington, who accompanied her officer husband to postings all over the UK.

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming - sometimes humorous & heartbreaking - true story of Gwenda and her brother, Doug as children when they were evacuees in England's Lake Country during WWII. I can't imagine how tough it would've been to send your children to perfect strangers for months - in this instance, YEARS - but I'm sure they thought they were doing what was best - and maybe it was. It would also be difficult, for both the children & adults, when those strangers became like family and the children had to eventually go back to where they lived before the war. Written by Gwenda's daughter and includes lots of photographs.

[Sonia Gensler]

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of a child's evacuation from Newcastle to the Lake District during WWII. I really couldn't put it down, and how I wish it were possible to have a cuppa and chat with Gwenda and her daughter, Barbara Fox!

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Audiobook version]

It seems strange now to think how easily I said goodbye to my mother as we parted. We had enjoyed our visit home, but Doug and I were both happy to be returning. I doubt we spared a thought for what our mother was feeling as she watched her children leave her yet again and went back to an empty house. The bombs so close to our own home had undoubtedly helped to convince her that she had made the correct decision, but I wonder how she really felt every time she let us go.

This was so lovely -- it's one child's experience of being evacuated from Newcastle to the Lake District, but it's not at all mawkish or saccharine. The writing is unaffected, but all the more moving and thought-provoking because of it. There are highs and lows including the death of Aunty and Uncle's own son, who was away at boarding school, and Gwenda gets into plenty of scrapes, and there are so many little details about what life was like back then -- but also, specifically, what it was like for her. (Her Newcastle friends find her new accent hilarious, and her parents are uncomfortable by how religious she's becoming.)

The bond between Gwenda and her brother Doug really shines through, and I thought their sibling banter was particularly accurate. There's a bit where they go home for a visit and Gwenda tells her mother, "Doug's got a girlfriend!" and Doug says, "Well YOU were sick on the bus!" and Gwenda immediately counters with, "Yeah, because I was watching you two be all lovey-dovey!" It's hilarious and so true to life.

Oh, and I was a little baffled as to how Gwenda's mother made them banana sandwiches for every journey -- until it was revealed that she made them with mashed potato and banana essence. The children couldn't tell the difference and found them delicious.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming and inspirational true story from a woman who, with her older brother, were sent to live with strangers during World War 2 so as to avoid the bombs being dropped by the Germans on key parts of London. Gwenda tells a story of a remote village with kind people, in particular the host couple who took them in and taught them many skills virtually unheard of in the big city. The "uncle" as they called him was the headmaster of a small school and his wife was an accomplished seamstress among other farm chores as well as being a daily hostess of sincerest hospitality to one and all.

[mrs s fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Forget

A lovely story. of true facts of sadness and happiness. So perfectly told. It had me spellbound i knew about evacuees but never read a personal story about any of them like this .what a wonderful outcome for the author and brother to live with wonderful people like aunty an uncle.in such beautiful surroundings. May they RIP and thank you Barbara Fox for your wonderful story .

[john foster, mrs Debra Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Love this genre and this book is up there with the best of them. From Newcastle myself, so know many of the areas mentioned. A magnificent description of life in war time, the area came alive in my mind the writing was that good. Thoroughly enjoyed every page, didn't want it to end. Can't recommend this book enough.

[T4bsF (Call me Flo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A well-told, lovely story and the pictures of the people in the book really made it even more enjoyable. Some of the escapades little Gwenda got up to - I can relate to very well - especially the bull episode, as this very thing happened to me, except in my case it wasn't a ball - it was an apple.

[Nigel Code · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read, overflowing with wonderful memories. I really got to know the people who lived in and around Bampton at that time. My only wish is that the area had been described more as it was then, rather than just people and places. It must have been such a wonderful time and place to be children, and that comes across so weel in this lovely book.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another story of the disruption in Great Britain during WWII.

Children "adopted" by rural families who were at risk in cities targeted by Nazi bombing campaigns.

Nostalgic - such different times, mores, expectations, all in years of want.

[Annette Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

A well written beautiful book. I have always loved stories based around the second world war and this, being from a child's view just lovely. I felt I really knew all the people in the book, I wish I had known them, they sound the best.


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[jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend, I will certainly read more of this authors books I wish my memory to remember the past so vividly was as good as hers.

[Wendy Lovatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read, learning about a small English country town during the war and the feelings and views of the young girl are so easy to relate to.

[janet Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read couldn’t put it down

[Mr steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little heartwarming story especially for these days

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir of Gwenda in the era of WWII in England as an evacuee from Newcastle to Bampton and her feelings and adventures during this era. I found this book to be very interesting about daily life in the countryside, the sacrifices made daily by all of the people in the country, their fears and their joys and their losses. This book was successful in conveying the feelings of Gwenda as she remembers events and daily life.

[Jenny Marchant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fox tries to give an in sight to life as evacuee who is sent to the depth of the country side in the second world war .Many people have written on this subject and indeed it is a good record of personnel experience of the evacuees but it is too much of account of one person .She tries to write it in the manner of the evacuee but it is a poor attempt. Interesting but not a good read .

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book an account f the author and her brother being evacuated during ww2. a very enjoyable read.
5 stars.

[ALICIA MARGARET POWER · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Loved this book! Shows wonderful innocence of children as well as depiction of country life all through the eyes of a child