I Was An Evacuee.

A Memory of Colemans Hatch.

I remember Wrens Warren camp vividly as I was one of many sent there during W.W. 2. It was a happy period in my life as a young boy in the 1940's. I and my friends spent many hours exploring the surrounding woods, making a dam in the stream below the camp and swimming in the pool we had made. Making bows and arrows, spears, and vaulting poles out of young Chestnut trees. Making musical whistles. Sledding down the slopes in winter. collecting Sweet Chestnuts and Conkers. Walking into Hartfield on a Saturday or through 500 Acre woods to Crowborough. When the Canadian Army set up their Base in 500 Acre Woods, they adopted the camp and we were taken in their vehicles each Christmas to their base for a party. We used to roam the woods looking for live ammunition (rifle bullets, cannon shells etc.} We would take the bullet out of it's casing collecting the cordite from the casings. and make rockets by binding tin cans with tape and a stick, makes holes in the lid and fill them with the collected cordite then light them. Unfortunately three boys found a land mine and in trying to open it it exploded and they were badly injured, which put a stop to our exploits. We used to watch Doodle bugs fly over the camp. and sometimes a fighter plane would chase it trying to shoot it down or try to tip its stubby wings so that it fell to the ground . We used to catch wild rabbits make cages and keep them as pets. Parents day was an event we looked forward to. We would all line up on the road opposite the camp entrance hoping that our own parents would arrive on one of the many busses that arrived. I learned to dance there, as the camp was for both boys and girls. I think that the headmaster was a Mr. Collet. I do not think that many of the lads and lasses who were there then are alive to-day, I am now 92 years of age, but memories of Wrens Warren Camp remain clearly in that period of my life. Cheer's John Thomas.