A Glimps Of My War Years

A Memory of Gateshead.

Born Cecil Nixon @ 131 Morrison St.Gatesgead County Durham. Went to Rose St school,Prest St. Victoria Road, Marske by the Sea and Reeth schools. Kicked out of school before war began by the
Black Watch & Tyne-side Scottish Regiments, evacuated the day before war began to
Marske By the Sea. Several months then back to Rose Street School for a short time.
Rose St. school taken over by soldiers returning from Dunkirk. We roamed the streets for months, taken in by Prest St school for a short time, back on the streets again running around and getting into mischief. Taken in by Victoria Rd School for several months.
Mid 1940s, evacuated to Reeth near Richmond in North Yorkshire.
About 1942 back to Rose St School until we get kicked out again to make room for the Tank Corps. Early 1944 started work at Hugh Woods Mining Machinery making roller sections for the armys on the beaches of Normandy to roll amunition boxes and other supplies up the beaches from the landing craft.
During the times of the school changes we only attended part time as the schools concerned only had so much capacity and really couldn't handle a large influx.
Different Schools had different ideas, sometimes we went in the morning while the locals attended in the afternoon, next week we would change over. At other schools the local kids started a full day at school on Moday and attended Wednesday and Friday, while the evacuees fronted up on Tuesday and Thursday - the next week we would change over, and so it went on.
Times were not quite as simple as above as there was also a shortage of teachers. On more than one occasion I had the experience of being taught a lesson by a teacher, while she taught another two classes, two different subjects in another two rooms.
Another consideration was air raids, air raid drills and at times being taught a lesson while wearing a gas mask, the teacher included.
I have been living in the Adelaide Hills for the past 50 years.
I changed my Christian name in 1976 when I was forced to change my occupation and decided to have a change of image and grew a beard and moustache.
This is a very abridged version of my war years best regards John.