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Your Story: The Kaleidoscope of Youth |
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It happened very quickly. We lived in a house on the outskirts of the town. There was a machine-gun nest manned by French soldiers just across the road from the house. As the nights were hot, we slept with the windows open and, going to bed, I found it reassuring to hear the distant murmur of voices and see cigarette lights in the darkness. Then one morning, as I was getting ready for school, the nest was empty and the French soldiers were gone. The Polish unit moved up. A train was commandeered. Wagon doors were pulled open and machine-guns mounted. Women and children who wanted to leave were ushered to passenger compartments. French families preferred to stay.
Danusia's graduation, Edinburgh University, 1948.
© Danusia Trotman-Dickenson |
We set off. Before the train approached the Loire, a message was sent that there would be a few minutes stop before the bridge so that civilians, if they wished, could get off. The bridge was mined and might blow up. We sat still. Soon the train began to cross the river very slowly. I looked down, the waters of the Loire were muddy brown and I wondered how long it would take the train to sink. I was not much of a swimmer and stopped speculating. When we finally stopped it was near the Spanish border and there the last stage of our journey began.
It took us nearly a year from when we left Warsaw until we reached London.
A note about the author: After settling in the UK, Danusia attended primary and secondary school, and went on to graduate from Edinburgh University in 1948, aged 19. She has taught at many British institutions, and retired as a Professor of Economics from Glamorgan University. Danusia has been the Executive Chairperson for the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative for 14 years. One of the schools involved with the Initative is Pengeulan Primary School, who have contributed a Your Story on Immigration and Emigration. Click on the link in the right hand menu to read more.
This story was first published in the book 'Parachutes and Petticoats' published by Honno Press
Words: Lady Danusia Trotman-Dickenson
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