I was nine-years-old when the Second World War began on September 3, 1939. Within a few weeks of the war starting, thousands of London children like myself were sent to various parts of England and Wales, while others were sent overseas. I went with my sister to Eastbourne in Sussex, but returned to London in 1940. A few months later, my sister was transferred with her school to Wolfscastle in Pembrokeshire. By the end of 1940, the Blitz on London had become so heavy that I, too, was re-evacuated to Wolfscastle. One Sunday afternoon in September 1942, I was in Sunday School when I was told by one of the elders of the chapel that the following morning I must board the 9 am bus to Haverfordwest which would take me to Narberth. I had never heard of Narberth and the news came as a great shock. The next day, carrying my meagre belongings in a cardboard box, I was met at Haverfordwest and driven to Narberth, where I was deposited at Lower Coxhill Farm in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Phillips. It was only then that I was told that I would be going to Greenwich Central School, which had come to Narberth from London. The school was located at five separate sites, Bethesda Baptist Chapel Vestry, the Tabernacle, a room over the National Provincial Bank in the High Street, the Petty Sessions Courtroom (now the library) and a one-storey building in the lane behind the High Street. Mr. Sidney Charlton was the headmaster and his teaching staff consisted of Mr. George Robinson, Mr. William Borash, Mr. R. W. Redfern, and Mr. Iain Rees-Davis (who would sing at the drop of a hint). In 1944, all the churches in Narberth combined to give a service of hymns which was broadcast on BBC radio, and it was Mr. Rees-Davis who conducted the rehearsals and the live performance. Our physical education teacher was Mr. Arthur C. Smith, who was not only a Sergeant in the Narberth Home Guard Unit, but also formed the Greenwich School Army Cadet Force (The Royal Welch). Those of us who were aged between 14 and 18 also joined No.1503 Squadron of the Air Training Corps. In 1944, we all took part in the Wings for Victory Parade in the High Street. Both these organisations gave the boys something to do, but otherwise there was very little in the way of entertainment. The main event of the week was the film show every Friday and Saturday night in the Women's Institute Hut, which was situated next to the cricket ground. On Sundays, we attended morning and evening church service, but most evenings young people congregated at Rabbiotti's ice-cream shop in Market Street or stood talking on street corners until it was time to go home. Our particular group included Johnny Gregg, Len Holmes, and Bernard Marsh (all fellow evacuees), together with local girl Anne Noot and Jill Freeman, a London evacuee. The five of us used to go to the regular Saturday night classes which were held in the hall at the rear of the De Rutzen Hotel in Market Street for the benefit of the local girls and the American, Canadian and British soldiers who were stationed in the area from time to time. We had to be content mostly with partners of our own age, although some of the older girls took us under their wing and taught us how to dance properly. On the whole, my life was pretty comfortable. I was safe from the bombing, I had a roof over my head (my parents' house in London was bombed twice) and I ate well. There was an abundance of meat and vegetables, as well as freshly baked bread and gallons of milk, but there was a noticeable absence of items such as chocolate, sweets and fruit. I never saw a banana or an orange from the beginning of the War to its end. I lived with Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, of Lower Coxhill Farm, for almost three years. Winford, the oldest of their two sons, worked in Llawhaden with his aunt and uncle, whilst Eric, the youngest, lived at home. Out of school hours, he and I were expected to do our bit by milking the cows, feeding the chickens, mucking out the stables and the pig-sty, cutting the hay and the corn, planting and picking potatoes, and helping with the thousand and one other jobs that constitute farm work. During the summer months, the Government introduced double summer time to enable farmers to carry on working in good light up to about 10 pm. Some of us older pupils were allowed to skip school so that we could help with the hay-making and threshing. We worked from early morning until late at night, for which we were paid five shillings a day, and by the time we got to bed we were exhausted. For three long years I was separated from my parents and sister and I missed them dearly, but on the other hand I was fortunate to be living with people who were extremely kind and generous and I shall be forever grateful to them. The knowledge they gave me about farming and animals has enriched my life, I can still sing some hymns in the Welsh language, and the religious upbringing I had in those early years remains with me. Narberth and its people during those war years fill a special place in my heart.

JOHN DORKING