Evacuee Boys by John E. Forbat Page B

shorthand, touch typing and bookkeeping, that proved to be of considerable value in later life – but I was much chastened to be the only one still in short trousers. The others were so grown up and knowing about the ways of the world, with secret sayings and jokes whispered behind the hand that sounded intriguing – yet still much of a mystery to my innocent pubescence. I continued to hear the ‘F***ing’ word among other grown-up swear words, but I still had no clear idea of how it was done. It was definitely to do with girls, but as a good Scout, whose law said I had to be clean in thought and deed, and taught us to respect a girl’s body, I made no efforts to explore the subject myself. Being as always the youngest and somewhat the outsider, my older 14- and 15-year-old friends’ secretive ‘any moment now’ whispers were half-heard mysteries. Out in the fields, the 15- and 16-year-olds spent much of their time fervently engaged in a seemingly pointless game called ‘Kiss Chase’ with girls, and I remained ignorant about their purpose.

    Melksham Baptist church. (Author’s collection)

    Only having known girls who were my cousins – always older and wiser – my curiosity was not compelling enough to think of breaking the taboo associated with their superiority over little boys. Anyway, girls were sissy and a bit of a waste of time – especially Maureen Sullivan who seemed besotted by my disinterested presence next to her during the Saturday afternoon cowboy cliff-hanger movie in Melksham’s tiny ‘Picture Palace’. Lucky she was not there when I joined some friends in trying my first Woodbine cigarette near the front row. Instead of inhaling, I swallowed the smoke and soon threw up over the seats in front.

    12 December 1940 – a postcard
    Dear Mum & Dad,

    Thank you very much for your card, thought it is rather plaintive. The 5/- was very useful and I already paid another 1/- for my fountain pen, got my laundry out, bought pencils and periodicals. I have just finished my English examination and yesterday I did literature and arithmetic while on Monday we had book-keeping. So far I have done quite well. We had quite a number of warnings lately but no bombs were dropped anywhere in the neighbourhood. I am glad that Daddy has again good prospects to get into the B.B.C. I hope he does by Xmas. I have seen Mr. Redfearn & he says that I should wait till the results of the Cambridge come out, than apply for a transfer.

    Lots of love & luck from
    Andrew

    P.S. trousers have arrived & fit very well; chocolate too.

    6 January 1941
    Dear Mum & Dad,

    I have arrived quite safely with John yesterday, & there was quite a surprise for me when I got back because Mrs. K announced that she was going to let my room on Wednesday, & therefore I should have to sleep on a garden swing (I think you have seen it in summer) in another room (which incidentally will not be nearly as warm as the other one was).
    Today I went to school & have spoken to one or two of the masters. Mr. Boughton thought accountancy was a very good profession to choose only of course it would mean a lot of work. But he thought it was hardly worth while for me to stay here until March ‘working my time’, because really I should not learn much & would only get out of practice, whereas if I went home as soon as I knew the results, then I could get into what I had to do in an accountants office straight away. In view of this and Mrs. Kelly’s apparent unwillingness to retain me (she has been down to the billeting office to try & get me moved) I rather think it would be best for me to go home when I get my results out. I should like you to look out for advertisements in the meanwhile & try to see your Chartered Accountant & see if he has a vacancy.
    Talking of advertisements, Mrs. Kelly says she saw an advertisement for the W.U.D. [Wiltshire United Devises] who have vacancies for boys between 16 and 17. I am not particularly interested. I don’t know