Five Ways evacuation to Monmouth by P.R.Watkins

Part Three

Soon after arrival at the suggestion of J.T.W. James the idea was mooted of acquiring some of the large empty houses in the town and using them as small boarding houses. This was adopted enthusiastically and gradually seven hostels were acquired. In 1941 the Government assumed full responsibility for them. By October 1941 when the last hpstel opened 130 boys were in what amounted to small self-contained boarding houses where they ate, slept and spent their leisure time. The Ministry of Health provided bedsteads, mattresses, sheets and blankets, whilst cutlery, cups and plates, cupboards and armchairs were acquired or improvised.

The first hostel was Inglewood, a summer boarding house belonging to the then Mayor of Monmouth, Councillor Bowen who moved out and lived over his shop in Monnow Street. It opened in September 1939 for 19 boys and was run by H.S.Thompson assisted by R.G.Scudder, the school porter and their wives. Inevitably, with the limited facilities and small rooms it was more a large family than a small school boarding house. Its original occupants were those who had had some difficulty in their billets. They all had bicycles and used to ride in a phalanx along the Old Dixon Road to and from school.

Inglewood was duly camouflaged , the windows were covered with splinter proof paint, wire netting and black out. It was from the top dormitory here that boys on at least one occasion escaped in the Summer after lights out to swim in the Wye near Dixton Road and to take advantage of the orchard of wild plums on the opposite bank.

Weston House in Monk Street was opened by parent Mrs Mason at the same time and held 13 boys. Cae Elga, a large 1920s house overlooking the Monnow valley was opened in January 1940 and was run for four and a half years by Mr and Mrs Frampton for 20 boys. Throughout its life great emphasis was placed on physical fitness. Every boy took an early morning bath at 7.15.

"All the year round the bedroom doors are left wide open through the night, whilst usually just before the boys are asleep, Mr Frampton comes round with a Dettol spray to disinfect our room" (1)

During the summer months all boys were encouraged to take their beds downstairs and sleep in the drive to the astonishment of early passers by. Cae Elga was also noted for the birthday-tea given to each boy. Sandroyd House in Monk Street was opened next for 19 boys and since it had name it adopted the names of its original wardens Mrs Sandey and Mrs Akroyd, two parents from Birmingham. On the ground floor were kitchens and dining-cum-common room and a bedroom for 5 boys. On the first floor a bathroom, two bedrooms each holding five boys and a bedroom shared by Mrs Sandey and Mrs Akroyd. On the second floor two further bedrooms, one for 4 boys and one for Mrs Akroyd's son also shared the sick room.

Leasbrook was the largest hostel, a huge ramshackle three-storied house in 5 acres of ground atDixton, holding 31 boys and opened in March 1940 by J.T.W.James. When he joined the froces, shortly to become Adjutant of the Young Soldiers Battalion of the 70th Welsh Regiment and subsequently Commandant of a Prisoner of War Camp, the Headmaster and Mrs Dobinson moved in. In the grounds were stables and outhouses which provided endless entertainment on Summer evenings and in the gardens a beehive which in 1943 produced 60 lbs of honey and was looked after by W.K.Davies who was a Sixth former who taught younger boys to control it after he left. At the end of each term, there was a breaking up party with charades, singsong and a treasure hunt.

Kingsley House accommodating 17 juniors and Sommerville taking 10 boys completed hostels. A number of the matsers whose wives had stayed in Birmingham were accomodated nearby in the Priory, a clergy house attached to the parish church.

(1) Five Ways Magazine No 74 Summer Term 1942 p. 1184

School Magazine Christmas 1939 - Tea, buns and Girl Guides

By the time the next school magazine was published in the Christmas term of 1939, KEFW school was well and truly ensconsed at Monmouth. The editorial introduction is by none other than headmaster, Charles Henry Dobinson himself:

"What will be the most vivid memories, in manhood's years, of the boys of Five Ways who evacuated in 1939? Will they recall the long trail a-winding, in formation of three's down Broad Street on a dampish grey September morning, everyone loaded like a pack mule, yet with the additional impediments of gas-mask and water-bottle : or the short walk in the scorching sun from Monmouth May Hill Station to the Rolls Hall, where tea, buns and Girl Guides refreshed, regaled and re-guided us? Or will they remember more clearly their life in the billets, St.Mary's spire by moonlight, boating on the Wye, feeding the pigs, shaking down the cider apples, sawing the logs, or eating roast potatoes at the Club?

Whatever their memories, there will be few, if any, who will look back with regret on a great adventure. Education is more than book-lore ; width of experience and change of environment can do more to develop mind and soul than many primers. A knife can not be whetted on clay ; it requires something sterner : nor can a fine character be formed without difficulties to contend with ; it cannot be reared on indulgence. And whilst the kindness of the foster-parents has in most cases been exceeding, the change has brought to every boy difficulties and sacrifices. The manner in which the sacrifices have been borne, and the difficulties surmounted, brings the greatest possible credit to our boys - and their parents. I do not believe that any earlier generation of boys would have responded to the transplantation better - if indeed they would have responded to it as well. There is nothing wrong with the spirit of our youth : if there be weakness, it must be sought further back.

So we have maintained our school life with a number fluctuating about three hundred and sixty, including a Sixth Form of well over fifty, and with the generous provision - an overwhelmingly lavish kindness - of every facility for school work, games and assistance, by the Headmaster and Governors of Monmouth School, we have a good term's work. Few can look back on this term with anything but satisfaction, and those few belong to the faint-hearted to whom, by the nature of things, life must bring a succession of regrets. For most of Five Ways, this has been a term bristling with difficulties which have been squarely faced, fairly overcome, and turned to advantage.

And now we face the rest of the school year - and greet the unseen beyond it - with a cheer!

C.H.D. "

Mr Dobinson was a man after my own heart - why say in two sentences that which can be crafted into a three paragraph treatise on the spirit of youth?

In spite of the upheaval and certain inconvenience of the evacuation, the high standards of the school magazine were upheld and somehow, from the rural isolation of wartime Wales, the editorial team maintained a surprisingly high level of adverts. Percy Wynne, portrait photographer of Broad Street had kept his usual spot alongside Moule & Co the school stationer and S. Metcalfe proudly claiming to be "the oldest established fruit stores near Fve Ways". Bassett-Lowke Ltd were still keen to sell model trains such as the L.M.S. Mogul in Gauge O for just the 3 . 17 . 0

Careers in navigation, 14 carat gold nib fountain pens, school text books and scientific instruments were all for sale and there is a marvelous full page advert for Boy's Own Paper, costing 6d every month, though I wonder if the sales strap-line instilled a sense of home sickness in the hearts of evacuated boys who read the advert:

"Dad! Don't forget - bring home my Boy's Own Paper"

The magazine content starts off with an obituary to former master, Mr Frederick Tyrie Sidney Houghton, a master from 1883 to 1916 and former chair of Birmingham Reference Library. This time there is far greater reference to the wider context of the world at war in the school magazine, starting with an update on the whereabouts and fortunes of four members of Staff who had joined the 34th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Company of the R.A.S.C stationed at Smethwick.

There follows an account of how the school spends its time in evacuation - mornings being spent doing P.T. and in football and Scouts (Mondays and Thursdays), art and music. Boys excused games go to the School Farm at Inglewood. As for evening time activities:

"Evening activities in which our boys take part include the Club, at which we are indebted to Mr Small for a bagatelle table for the juniors (the billiard table being reserved for the seniors!), the International Affairs class at the Institute, the Methodist Young People's Guild and the Confirmation Classes conducted by the Rev. Dawkins, Warden of the School Chapel. Every night the Big School is open for Private Study, for the Five Ways lending library, for reading, and for chess or other quiet games."

The author gives credit to Captain Elstob, Chief Billeting Officer and his Committee for their ceaseless activities for the well-being and happiness of the Five Ways boys.

Several new masters are welcomed to the school at the end of 1939 including Mr Wheatcroft, Mr Harrison, Mr M'Grath, Mr Richards, Mr Stilliard, Mr Dawson and Mr Tudor Davies, whilst Mr Frampton is welcomed back from ARP work in Birmingham. Elsewhere, there is a report on the visit to Monmouth of Miss Violet Horsborough, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, who was introduced to a delighted Mayor of Monmouth (Alderman Howard Bowen) in front of the assembled school. Miss Horsborough observed how successful the evacuation had been and complimented the people of Monmouth for helping it to run so smoothly.

Another report describes the visit to Monmouth of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham (Alderman Edwards) who must have cheered the boys greatly when he suggested a celebratory day-off from lessons:

"Then, living up to the Birmingham tradition of generosity to children, he asked the Headmaster to give the school a whole day's holiday."

It is little wonder that the head prefect brought the meeting to a close by calling for cheers for the Lord Mayor!

The magazine continues with a miniature digest of topical utterances, which included this insight into German philosophical thinking of the day:

"It is no use London and Paris trying to beat about the bush. It would be more practicable if they cut out such concepts as humanitarianism, civilization, international law and international confidence from the debate"

Dr Goebbels.

There are several further descriptions of the journey to and subsequent life in Monmouth by various authors. The so-called Great Trek is documented in great detail probably for the first time, including reference to an unfortunate incident at Snow Hill Station:

"There is a short wait while one of the masters separates two first formers who are angrily fighting as to who is the owner of a solitary unclaimed gas mask on the platform. The matter is soon cleared up, however, when the master points out that the one boy has his gas mask hanging on his back".

Some things never change and I am certain that modern day teachers will instantly relate to that description of the typical 11 year old boy.

Another article contains a description of where the school's various masters were at the time they received the S.O.S. to return to school in readiness for evacuation. Mr Christian was in France, reviving his acquaintance with the French language, Mr Berends was also abroad though he was 'resting his nerves' on the advice of his doctor, Mr James was at St Ives, Mr and Mrs Greaves in Truro, Mr Mears at Sca Fell whilst poor Mr and Mrs Thompson were on honeymoon at Eccles.

The author offers reassurance to the unfortunate newly weds:

"We hope that in the near future international conditions will so improve as to allow them to resume their interrupted honeymoon".

The second world war was just under four months old in late December 1939, it would not end until the surrender of Japan in August 1945, nearly six years later. I wonder if Mr and Mrs Thompson ever got to complete their honeymoon?

Prelude to War - The Five Ways Magazine, Spring 1939

The Five Ways Magazine of Spring 1939 gives few explicit clues to the fact that by the end of the summer of that same year, the nation would be at war with Germany and the school would have been evacuated from Birmingham to Monmouth.

The advertising in the magazine is abundant and the style of the adverts as well as some of the products on sale help to date the publication. Young readers are encouraged to purchase (or persuade their parents to purchase more likely) a Len Hutton cricket bat made by Gradidges; a Flobot British built folding boat; a Basset-Lowke gauge 0 scale model railway train; or a carton of Bassett's original liquorice Allsorts ("everyone soon gets my trail" announces Bertie). For the more industrious student there is the Millionaire's Pen from Parker; school stationary from Moule and Co of Broad Street; or selected Scientific Instruments from Philip Harris & Co (also in Birmingham).

We might have expected to find hints about the impending global crisis in the editorial, but instead there is an ink sketch by the artist known as F.F. of a weary master leaning against his desk with the accompanying words:

"In the matter of the Editorial, I regret
I have had no inspiration, as yet
But since the cacoethes scribendi is dead,
Here's a portrait instead.

W.R.S.

The next few pages are taken up by a rich array of poetry, penned without doubt by aspiring young talent from amongst the pupils, followed by short stories and creative writing. One ode goes as follows:

May luck attend the magazine
And all the staff who serve it;
Good luck to all the editors
And surely they deserve it!
Zealously they serve, and well,
It's done with precision;
No magazine in all the world can
Ever equal this 'un.

G.C.B

One imagines the English master might have considered adding the comment "Shows great promise throughout... ending needs more work". Though perhaps the final line tellingly reflects the Brummagem dialect of these particular grammar school boys.

Glancing through these inspiring works of literature, one wonders what became of the authors, how many perfected their craft and became authors, novelists, researchers, journalists or editors?

The first big clue to imminent world events is a public information article from the A.R.P. entitled WHAT EVERY HOUSEHOLDER SHOULD KNOW and starts:

"In the event of an Air Raid, whistles will be blown in the vicinity of explosions as a warning that an air-raid is in progress. If high-explosive bombs are being dropped, Wardens will sound rattles to awaken all householders in the immediate neighbourhood."

The article goes on to describe three different types of bomb which "may be expected" including the Gas Bomb, the Incendiary Bomb and the High-Explosive Bomb and concludes with a resume of precautionary measures.

What is interesting is how this potentially alarming public information notice is slipped in between two short stories authored by pupils, one a ghost story about a deserted house and the second a tale of espionage set in 18th century Boston. The A.R.P announcement has no introduction or preamble, no explanation as to whom might be about to drop high-explosives on the homes of the school boys and their teachers and parents or for what reason. Very factual and understated, almost as if there has been a conscious policy to keep everything low key to avoid panic or a case of, in the words of Basil Fawlty, "don't mention the war".

The second section of the magazine contains reports about school activities, including a detailed review of the school G&S opera The Mikado performed during December 1938:

"It is difficult to avoid an excessive use of superlatives in giving one's impressions of a performance which will long live in the memories of those who were privileged to be present. The writer had the good fortune of being able to attend each evening, and his enjoyment increased in geometrical progression, until the final curtain".

But it is the next report which finally provides some interesting clues to the wider historic context of school boy life in 1939. Astonishingly, in January 1939, nine months before the start of war with Hitler's Germany, a group of boys and masters from Five Ways went on a ski-camp to Kassel and the hills of Sauerland in Germany. Under the stewardship of Dr King and Mr Christian, the group traveled by train and boat, then train again over the German frontier at Aachen and onwards into the very heart of Nazi Germany. The report is adapted from the log of D.Asdell.

An idyllic time was spent skiing, walking and climbing and German hospitality is described in warm and open-hearted terms:

"The young German people already there made us completely at home; our masters were chatting with Herr Schroter about old times; we played games and looked at journals, tentatively tried to sing but soon hushed it up - the Germans sang so well - then went to bed happy."

The report recalls the special warmth shown to the Five Ways group by their hosts, none other than the local branch of the Hitler Youth. Reading that name today, one can be forgiven for feeling a shiver down the spine as images of patriotic young Nazis vaulting and gamboling in front of the Fuhrer in Leni Riefenstahl's epic propaganda films come easily to mind. But in the context of the long, uncertain prelude to war, one can also feel a sense of deep poignancy for what must have been rare times of apparent innocence and optimism, when adolescent young men on both sides were allowed by fate a final opportunity to meet and bond as brothers united by the vigour of youth in the shadow of war:

"Our thanks are due above all to the Gebbietsfuhrer, leader-in-chief of the Kurhessen division of the Hitler Youth. We made our first acquaintance with him at a "Heimabend" in Willengen. In a large hall the Hitler Youth of the district and ourselves were gathered to sing and spend an informal evening. The Gebietsfuhrer had come especially from Kassel and welcomed us in a speech - which Dr King translated. We sang to him - "John Brown's Body", "The Mermaid", "Ten Green Bottles" - and strange to say he liked it! And from this meeting until the time we left Germany, he did all he could to make us feel happy."

The magazine continues with many more reports of school activities such as holidays at the school farm at Evenlode, lectures and school societies. The first meeting of the Foreign Affairs Society on February 15th took the form of a debate on the motion, "That this Society prefers Democracy to Dictatorship" with Mr Swale outlining the evils of Dictatorship whilst Dr King "dwelt on the deficiencies of the democratic electoral system and contrasted the whole social and economic organisation of a democracy with the efficiency of a totalitarian state. He concluded that the practical advantages of Dictatorship outweighed the high-sounding theories of Democracy".

Dr King may well have made a convincing case, but the motion was carried by a majority of 64 votes and we can feel relieved to say that democracy appears to have won the day. However, the antagonists were clearly not about to lie down and the report finishes: "At the next meeting of the Society on March 8th, Herr Heerde will state "The German Point of View" in the form of considered replies to written questions from members on recent happenings in Germany".

Whether messrs. King and Christian fostered genuine sympathies for the "German point of view" it is difficult to say conclusively just from this evidence, but as the neutral reader progresses through the pages of the school magazine of early 1939, it is certainly the case that they felt inclined to play devil's advocate on more than one occasion. At a meeting of the Literary and Debating Society in March 1939 the two men gave a joint lecture on "The aims and organization of the German Youth Movement" with Dr King stressing the priority of the Church over Youth Meetings in Germany:

"Another point made clear by Dr King was that there is no military training in the Movement, especially in the use of arms. There is no compulsion to belong to the Movement he added".

At the same meeting, Mr Christian gave a talk on the history of dictators.

"He spent a long time showing the merits and defects of such men as Richelieu and Napoleon. He also showed that the petty dictators of South America and Mexico can cause as violent a repercussion as the more powerful rulers. He ended an interesting lecture by giving the characteristics of the Movement".

Other societies who get a mention in the magazine included the Photographic Society, the Natural History and Scientific Society, the Fencing Club , the Boxing Club and the Chess Team. What is also interesting is that reports and articles from the Old Boys Club are included in the school magazine and just like the Five Ways Old Edwardians Association newsletters of today, there are some great anecdotes, including this light hearted memory from the 'Misty Memories' of old boy Clyde Higgs:

"Another landmark is the occasion when a class-mate fell from the back of an electric tram in Ladywood Road, and was reported fatally injured. For about three days our thoughts were with him - distressing thoughts, moreover - when he suddenly appeared in the class, bright and early one morning, as impudent as ever, none the worse for his mishap, and prepared to revel in the temporary hero-worship which was his due."

The magazine finishes with an article encouraging boys to consider a career in agriculture and some more adverts, two of which reflect the sign of the times in promoting careers in wireless operation and navigation. The very last advert in the magazine provides a lovely piece of miscellany to finish on:

"Giant Moths of the Jungle"
How to obtain and rear them in England
by Pentland Hick

This booklet tells you everything you need to know in order to be able to breed Giant Moths from all over the world, and to rear their very strange caterpillars.

Price 1 shilling - Post Free

Pentland Hick
Athol House, Scarborough

In the anxious build up to global warfare, it is comforting to know that Birmingham school boys were quite possibly preoccupied with breeding giant jungle moths in discarded Bertie Bassett cartons!

Memories of Roy G Griffiths (pupil from 1943-48)

The following article containing Roy's memories is from the Association Newsletter
No 58 December 2004

Yet another former evacuee, Roy was pleased with the photos and articles about Monmouth in the last newsletter. Roy came to the reunion and also brought a pile of books and leaflets relating to Monmouth for our archives, passed on to him by Robert Treppass.

An e-mail arrived after the reunion which said, “Thank you for all the hard work you put into arranging yesterday’s visit to Monmouth – including arranging the excellent weather! Chris and I both found it fascinating to meet others from so far back in time – I even managed to recognise one or two! The day went very well. It was a great pleasure to meet the Headmaster of Monmouth School (and his car) and we thought that he and his wife were marvellous to entertain so many in their house and garden. Similarly, the owners of Leasbrook were exceptional in entertaining so many, but I found it fascinating to revisit the house and garden which had so many memories. It was interesting to hear from the owners’ daughter that her bedroom was the same room that I and 10 other first and second formers occupied – she no doubt has a little more luxury than we did!

One question arises, however, one that no-one that I have talked to can answer – how was it decided who should go to Monmouth and who should stay in Birmingham? Whilst at the time as an 11-year old, I was not too enthusiastic at the thought of going, it soon became “home” and, at the end of that single year, I did not want to return, and indeed did not do so until the last possible moment, before the new September term began for all in Birmingham.

It was good to meet and talk to Gill Leake. She confirmed that her younger brother, Humphrey, was fit and well and told me of his achievements – I had heard nothing of him in newsletters. Recollections of him are of the rota for escorting him back to Leasbrook after morning day-school, and more to the point, forgetting to do so, and having to run back to pick him up and still have time for lunch before retruning to Monmouth for the afternoon session.

One final question arose from our visit – how did CHD travel between Leasbrook and Monmouth School every day that he was there? I have no recollections as to his mode of transport. Little details, but all adding up to an overall picture for the record.”

Rest in Peace Peter Coleman

I am sad to announce that just weeks after I visited Peter Coleman at his home and carried out the interview about his memories which I have been transcribing to this website, Peter became ill and died.

His funeral was at Carrs Lane United Reformed Church on 7th May 2008 and I understand that short excerpts edited from the interview by Peter's son David, were played during the service.

Peter was a lovely, gentle man who lived opposite me and my family with his wife Cicely on Aubrey Road in the Quinton area for many years. It was only recently I learnt he went to KEFW and more recent still that I found out he had been one of the Monmouth boys.

I will miss seeing Peter coming out of his home and I wish to convey my sympathies to Cicely and their children and grand children. I am very pleased to have had the privilege of recording his voice and his memories, both for this project about the Monmouth experience and also as a lasting record for his family.

Memories - Peter Coleman

"I was born in Handsworth and grew up in Wheeler Street in Lozells, a nice little community there but has since beeen more or less demolished. Then I went to an elementary school there, Gower Street and from there I went to Five Ways. Right at the beginning of the War, the day the War broke out, I was called up for Five Ways and kitted out as we had to be and went down to Monmouth"

"We arrived at a little station there, I think that's gone but I think it was called Mitchel Troy or something but it was in Monmouth and then we were taken to the Rolls Hall, Rolls named after the famous flyer and Rolls Royce. And there we were allocated our hosts and hostesses and my first hostess was named Mrs Pembridge (I think her name was) but after a while her daughter fell in love, or the chap fell in love with her ...or mutual, with a post man and she was educated at the girl's High School which was a posh school then, I was with a chap named Brian Clissold ...so we couldn't have the room anymore because she wanted it for her fiance and all that, so we were told to move and we moved up slightly at the edge of the town at an estate called Wyesham Avenue (Wye - the River Wye runs through Monmouth) and when I arrived there Mrs Ledgington, the hostess, was crying bitterly because her husband had been called up for the army and she wondered if he would ever come back you see. And I was crying too because I didn't like being uprooted from Chippenham Gate Street down by Chippenham Park, very nice.

We used to ...the River Wye was there and you could take the stones up and underneath were these gudgeons, these fish, it was a very nice park that was, of course they've driven a motorway right through it, right past a modern school where the students are trying to concentrate, and after that, my father entered the situation and unbeknown to me, without asking me whether I was happy or unhappy he raised some objection to me living at Wyesham Avenue thinking I might get the wrong accent or something, not that his was all that much better, and it was out of my hands... I was moved! Moved away from it, where I was quite happy, because of my father's intervention, all for best intentions I suppose but there we are.

"I was moved down to some digs in Mono Street, to Mrs Meredith at the bottom of Mono Street, it was an unhappy stay there and then I was transferred to Inglewood which was quite good, there were quite a few boys there and we used to sleep on paliasses on the ground and just below there, across the Dixton Road or New Dixton Road, you could run down to the meadow and into the River Wye, which we did, and there was an old church called Old Dixton Church round there".

"I remember one incident, I had been scrumping sweet chestnut trees and I was late, so there if you were late you were given a little job to do, peeling potatos or something like that. And after that I had a friend named Frankie (Francis) Barnett, nothing to do with the motorcycle of that name, and he said that, you see he lived at Mrs Little the butcher's shop in Moor Street, and he said she was looking for people because she'd had a double tragedy in her life, her eldest son joined the navy and he was in the conveying convoys and he was torpedoed and he drowned and that was that. And she also had another son, a smaller one, younger one and he was playing in the back yard of this butcher's shop and for some reason or other he was playing with a gun and the gun was left loaded, and he was playing about with his friends and he got shot ...dead!"

"And so, this was Mrs Little, she had a double tragedy and she wanted to fill up her life with something to do so she took four or five boys in to fill the gap and these boys, there was Francis Barnett who was a long-stayer and he told me about it and I got transferred there to my great joy because it was it was a butcher's shop, there was no shortage of meat or other products. In those days the cattle didn't have any offal, they seem to have been produced without any offal. These boys, Francis Barnett, Jammy James and David Jenkins, Gavin Gaves and one chap who became a doctor. Because there were so many of us suddenly we had to sleep in the same beds which was alright providing you got on with your bed fellow. It was very good there, getting towards the end of my stay in Monmouth but it was very good ...she was a good cook and on Sundays the bank manager opposite used to come over with a freshly caught salmon from the River Wye and she had the most wonderful mayonaise which I shall never forget. Her husband Mr Little, the butcher, rather large in size, he used to tease me about a crush I'd got on one of the girls at school and he used to say "what you want to do is to get some goose turd... that would be what she'd like"! I didn't know what he was talking about for quite a while. So, that was very nice there"

Prelude To War - A World Divided

In 1936 Mussolini and Hitler formed the Rome-Berlin Axis

During the early decades of the 20th century the most powerful nations of the world began to divide into three main politcal camps. Firstly there were those nations that were democratic, where the citizens voted their own governments, including Britain, the United States, France and other European countries such as Belgium, Czechhoslovakia and Sweden .

Secondly there were fascist countries such as Germany, Italy Japan and Spain - one-party states ruled by dictators. Thirdly there was the mightly communist state of the Soviet Union, meant to be run by the workers but in reality ruled by the tyrannical authoritarian Josef Stalin. Conflicts between these ideological states concerning territory and economic wealth led to the 2nd world war which broke out in 1939.

The first fascist state in Europe emerged when Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy in 1922. By the 1930s there were fascist style governments in Spain, Portugal, Austria and Romania, but when Hitler's Nazi Party came to power in Germany in 1933 they took fascist ideas to their most extreme. A young Hitler had developed his ideas whilst in prison in 1924 where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle), a book which spelt out his theories that Germany needed strong leadership, a large army and economic self-sufficiency. In Mein Kampf Hitler also stated his more extreme ideas about supressing communism and exterminating the Jewish people.

When Hitler's National Socialist German Worker's Party (the Nazi Party) eventually came to power in 1933, he immediately began to build up the country's military strength and in 1936 he moved these troops into the Rhineland, an industrial area of Germany on the border with France and Belgium that had been designated a military-free zone after World War 1.

In 1938 Hitler expanded his dominion into parts of Austria and Czechoslovakia, thus breaking the Treaty of Versailles which had been signed in 1919 with the intention of preventing Germany from developing it's empire into neighbouring countries. Following these worrying developments along with the expansion of other fascist states, such as Italy's invasion of Ethiopea (Abyssinia) in 1935 and Japan's invasion of China in 1937, Britain and France formed a closer alliance - agreeing to help Poland, Romania and Greece should they be invaded by Germany or Italy.

In 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, a Birmingham MP, was welcomed by the German people to Munich where he signed the Munich Agreement, agreeing to let the Germans lay claim to the Sudeten region of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain insisted that the Agreement would guarantee "peace in our time" and an end to further German expansion.

Six months later, Hitler took over the whole of Czechoslovakia and in 1939 his attentions turned to Poland.

Memories - Gordon Griffin Davis

Gordon Griffin Davis lives in Australia, he went to KEFW between 1939 and 1946 and these memories of Monmouth were published in the FWOE Association Newsletter No.58, December 2004:

' In recently describing my life to a group I now belong to, I remarked on a number of idyllic periods and the 1939-44 slice in Monmouth was pretty prominent. In 1939 I joined the school in form 1A on September 1st, to march down Broad Street with my gas mask and "iron rations" to the train trip among total strangers ending in Monmouth. I was allocated a billet with the Lawis's in Glendower Street; a wonderful family in a great house (and garden backing on to the Chippenham). My new proxy father was Charlie Lewis, one of Monmouth's best-known butchers ("Go to L&C Lewis") who made controller of the slaughterhouse at the outbreak of war. On September 2nd, I had my 12th birthday and of course on the 3rd, we were at war. Mts. Lewis was a wonderful woman who coped with homesickness and tears, and I settled down with her children, John and Barbara, and got to know my fellow pupils. We used a variety of church halls as classrooms, also the famous room behind the 'Geoffrey of Monmouth' window in the old school above the slaughterhouses. I was soon initiated into the process of sticking a pig and bleeding a cow in those subterranean arches alongside the river Monnow. That river had very good eels feeding on the butchered debris.

We learned to swim in the Monmouth School pool. ELO turned up and got us all diving and being athletic. We messed about in the Wye and Monnow, climbed the Kymin and behaved abominably to the poor refugee teachers who joined us from Europe. Mike Forman, John Davies and the Cummings twins, who were at your reunion will recall what I am telling.

As the war progressed, we followed the battles in North Africa on wall maps, putting in little pins. We got used to the sight of British, Indian and finally American troops marching about and joining us on church parades. Cycling around the back roads we would find American ration packs tossed behind the hedgerows, still rich in chewing gum and cigarettes.

And of course there were the girls of the High School, the cinema and that upstairs cafe in Church Street where we chatted them up and spent hours on the crossroads. At some stage, probably 1942, I was hauled up before a "Prefects Court" accused of, I quote, "Walking along the railway with girls". I pleaded ignorance and think I got three whacks. We were well taught by the old hands; Joe Fulford, Tom Bailey, Strago Greaves and a range of new guns like ELO, the blonde who taught us French (?) and a number of other young ones we could relate to. Dobinson was a great leader and led one of the few really successful evacuations. I still recall gargling all the way down the corridor whenever I smell Dettol; it was a prophyylactic against colds and sore throats - no wonder I ended up doing research in Microbiology!! '

Gaudeamus igitur

Whilst every evacuee will no doubt, as shall be seen through this website, have their own unique memories of a sojourn which for some lasted for four whole years of their formative youth, there are a number of key memories which seem to belong to the collective consciousness.

Dobinson in his plus-four country suit, rucksack and megaphone; the serried ranks of boys, masters, wives and the delightfully sounding 'lady helpers' gathered behind the school buidlings prior to departure. The girl guides at Monmouth and assorted locals eagerly awaiting the arrival of a girls school. Did the script writers of Dad's Army never hear this tale ...Mainwaring was bound to have blamed that particular mix-up on the long-suffering Wilson. The apprehensive gathering at the Rolls Hall, waiting to be allocated a half-decent billet, a vaguely prepared foster parent, a piece of furniture resembling a bed and preferably all three. One almost expects to learn it was at this point that Professor McGonnagal appeared from behind a curtain carrying the Sorting Hat!

Above all though, an abiding collective memory is the singing of the anthemesque Gaudeamus by the 350 plus Birmingham boys as they marched down Broad Street just two days before the start of World War 2. Having marched down Broad Street from Five Ways to Centenary Square myself little more than 12 months ago, alongside a couple of thousand boy scouts celebrating their Centenary and St George's Day, I think I can relate to the sense of excitement which, with more than a little similarity to the scouts of 2007, would have been best expressed through the joyous outburst of hearty, youthful voices.

But for those of us brought up on the anthems of Alice Cooper, Johnny Rotten and Oasis, what in heaven's name was Gaudeamus?

Gaudeamus igitur is actually not the name of the song but the opening line by which it is commonly known. The song's title is De Brevitate Vitae, Latin for "on the shortness of life" and Gaudeamus igitur is translated as "Therefore let us rejoice". The song is a popular academic anthem sung at University graduations throughout Europe. The melody comes from a medieval hymn by Strada (1267) but in spite of these dignified origins the song has been altered and adapted down the ages by generations of student and school boy pranksters to the point that in many countries it became a popular beer-drinking song, sung in celebration of the bacchanalian mayhem of student social life.

But in the context of the high-spirited KEFW pupils leaving behind their families and homes, marching off into the unknown under the growing shadow of what would be the most awesome and destructive war of the 20th century, the words of Gaudeamus seem extremely fitting and it is therefore little wonder that the sense of occasion inspired by it's singing has left such a profound memory for so many. Apart from there being a few lines in the song that Chairman Mao might have been proud to have penned, the overall affect is powerful enough to make my own generation's celebrity army of anthem writers bow their heads in humility. Here is the English translation - I have yet to learn which version(s) were sung by our serried ranks, I will be surprised if there wasn't a risque though creative alternative for verse five:

On the shortness of life

Let us rejoice therefore
While we are young.
After a pleasant youth
After the troubles of old age
The earth will have us.

Where are they
Who were in the world before us?
Go up to heaven
Or cross over into hell
If you wish to see them.

Our life is brief
It will be finished all too soon.
Death comes quickly
We are cruelly snatched away.
No one is spared.

Long live the academy!
Long live the teachers!
Long live each student!
Long live all the students!
May they always flourish!

Long live the virgins
Easy and beautiful!
Long live mature women also,
Tender and lovable
And full of good labor.

Long live the state as well
And he who rules it!
Long live our city
[And] the charity of benefactors
Which protects us here!

Let sadness perish!
Let haters perish!
Let the devil perish!
Let whoever is anti-student
Who laughs at us, perish!

A.A. (Tony) Barter - Mayor of Monmouth!

It is noted in a recent newsletter of the FWOE Association (No.58, September 2004) that one former Five Ways evacuee settled so well into Monmouth life that the locals eventually made him their Mayor. Association secretary Colin Spencer explained how Tony Barter (school years 1938-45) had played a supportive role in the 65th Anniversary Reunion:

' It was thanks to Tony (ex-mayor of Monmouth) that we had publicity about the September reunion in both the local paper and the museum and an eventual write-up in the Monmouth News. Tony and his wife were deighted to see so many old friends turn up. "We did enjoy the tour of Monmouth School and, of course, the tea party afterwards in the Headmaster's garden. How amazing that such a lot of old chums and wives were able to come to Monmouth. If I close my eyes, I can picture everyone, masters and wives, lady helpers, auxilliary staff and boys assembled in "serried ranks" at the rear of the school buildings in Ladywood Road. CHD clad in a heather mixture plus-four country suit with rucksack and old fashioned megaphone giving the order to move off, youngest boys leading, down Broad Street to Snow Hill Station. A fitting prelude to an exciting day."

Tony was also pleased when I sent him photocopies of the missing pages to his Gaudeamus as well as the words of the Founder's Prayer. "I am happy to have all the words to "October" and "Heroes" - both songs only partially in my memory". I think we may well be using you again as our Monmouth agent in 2009. There are quite a number who like the idea of a 70th reunion! '

Colin Spencer

Five Ways Evacuation to Monmouth by P.R.Watkins

Part Two

Throughout the five years the pattern of life remained similar. Schoolwork took place cheifly in the afternoons when the facilities of Monmouth School were placed at our disposal. School began at 2 p.m. with roll call and assembly attended by boys, masters and lady helpers and ended between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. depending on the season and a boy's age. Physical Education, football, art, scouts, music, farm work, cadets, the Air Training Corps, Police Cadets and homework filled the mornings. Premises all over Monmouth were used, the Halls of St Mary's Parish Church, the Methodist, Congregational and Baptist Chapels, the Church of England boy's school in Priory Street as well as private houses. For a time the Congregational pews served a sdesks while boys knelt to work and the basement vestry of the Baptist chapel provided equally uncomfortable conditions. The school library was accomodated first in a cupboard in Monmouth Big School and only in 1942 moved to No. 9 Glendower Street which the school rented and where further classrooms were equipped. A Biology laboratory was improvised first in a greenhouse at Leasbrook and later in a stable on the corner of Dixton Road and Monk Street. Practical work however involved catching your own specimens whether they were flies, butterflies and frog-spawn or plants, leaves and flowers. A lasting memory for many was the Headmaster's lessons on astronomy:

"The clean country air around a relatively small country town during the time of complete blackout gave us a wonderful opportunity to study the constellations and their consituent stars. On a clear winter evening the stars not only of our galaxy, but the Milky Way could be seen in numbers which defied any count" (1)

On Sundays the School attended chapel at 10 a.m. in the Congregational church where a Chapel Committee of senior boys planned the services, Prefects read the lessons and visiting precahers addressed the school. The most memorable of these was aman who subsequently joined the staff and preached regularly, the Rev. W.T. Joseph. Shortly before the war he had left St Margaret's, Ladywood, to become Vicar of Rockfield, a tiny parish outside Monmouth towards Newport. "The Rev. Jo" as he was called by all, became one of the most familiar figures around the school: he took over much of the Divinity teaching and preached once a month "sermons which were adapted to the needs of boys and made Chrsitian faith and life relevant, challenging and inspiring". In addition he was splendid support to all, not least the ladies running the hostels, by his unfailing good cheer and ability to call forth the best in everyone. Some boys would attend other churches: the tiny Dixton church by the River Wye near Inglewood was one, whilst another boy recalls that "there were two of us who regularly cycled out to Rockfield each Sunday to ring a peal on the two bells and pump the organ during the service" (2)

At the beginning most boys, masters and lady helpers were all accomodated in billets: in substantial houses, humble cottages and isolated farms in Monmouth and the surrounding hamlets, sometimes signly but often in groups of 2, 4, or even 8. Foster parents were paid 8/6 per week for each boy by the government as a billeting allowance, a figure which even in those days can scarcely have been adequate to feed a growing boy, let alone entertain his parents on their Sunday visits as some evidently expected. There was one young boy who announced on arrival that he could only sleep at night if he had a bottle of Guinness' Stout, when he went to bed. It is not recorded whether he spent a sleepless evacuation. Despite instructions to the contrary there were some well-off parents who contributed a further £1 on their visits and occasioned thereby some degree of acrimony between foster-parents. Many billets were strikingly successful and many Old Boys still keep in touch with the foster-parents of the war years. Others were less so and one old boy is prepared to admit to having eleven billets in three months.

(1) D.E. Davies
(2) M.J.Plenderleith

Memories - Lawrence Wardle

(L-R): Lawrence, John & Myvanwy, Peter and Roland

This is the first part of a group interview carried out in 2007 with Lawrence Wardle, Peter Hoff, John and Myvanwy Morgan and Roland Wardle. In this first part of the interview, Lawrence introduces his initial experience of the evacuation. My special thanks to the interviewees and also to Sue Smith, a blind person from Sheldon, who has trancsribed the audio tape to text:

“My name is Lawrence Wardle, otherwise known as Wag. My parents lived in Ladywood, Friston Street. My mother went back to Leeds, her home town so I could be born there and be qualified to play cricket for Yorkshire. When my time came, they already had one Wardle, so they didn’t want me, but that’s all by the way.

We moved from Friston Street to Harborne, West Boulevard in 1930 and in 1936, I think it was we moved to Wolverhampton Road South and I lived there for the next few years until the war, when I was evacuated in 1939 and was at school in Monmouth until 1942, after which, I went to Birmingham University. I qualified as a dentist and moved away from Birmingham eventually, but going back to the evacuation, which is what it’s all about, this had a tremendous effect on my life.

I think, to understand the business of evacuation, you’ve got to understand how different things were then. There weren’t the fears I think for young children. We had much more freedom, where our parents didn’t want to know where we were all the time and we wandered off. I was a keen scout and spent a lot of time away from home with that, so when the actual evacuation came and I had to leave home, it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I didn’t know if it was for the rest of my life, or just for a short time.

Going back to the evacuation then, I think we had a preparation for it the year before when leading up to the Munich problem, settled by Neville Chamberlain going to see Hitler, there had been a trial run and I think the idea then was that we would go to the school farm which was at Evenlode in the Cotswolds. When it came to it, presumably they had asked the permission of our parents to take us away from them when war came, I don’t know, but anyway, I think it was a Friday, the 31st of August, we were called to school and we turned up with our gas masks, which we had been provided with. With a change of clothing, I suppose a few pence in pocket money, I don’t know and there we were, divided into teams of sixes in the playground and all the senior boys took charge of a team of six, eventually they were made sub prefects. I don’t know if they have sub prefects at school now and we had to control our six members.

We then eventually set off marching down Broad Street towards Snow Hill station singing songs from Gaudeamus, or our version of the songs and at Snow Hill station, which was crowded with soldiers and all sorts, we were put on a train and off we went with lots of stops and starts. We had no idea where we were going. All the station names had been blocked out so we didn’t know where we were, but eventually, we finished up at, I think we went to Ross first and then changed from the main steam train on to a little push-pull train that took us to this place that turned out to be Monmouth.

There on the platform were a lot of trestle tables with orange squash and things and buns. We just embarked and helped ourselves from the table. Then lots of lady helpers who were hanging around helped us and the girl guides took us one by one to billets where we were going to live for the next few years. Most of the school had gone and there were about ten of us left and all the ladies were looking a bit desperate, but anyway, they eventually took two of us, Dennis and I and we went to a house in Prior Street opposite the post office in Monmouth.

A little lady came to the door and the lady said "I've brought your evacuees".

She was a bit non-plus and said "I only said I’d take them in an emergency".

They said, "but this is an emergency".

"But I haven’t got a bed for them".

"Oh never mind, we’ll fix that".

So the lady helping, one of the girl guides, took the two of us around to the, was it the Shire Hall or Rolls Hall? There they had a whole stack of furniture and we carried an iron bedstead back and eventually we went back and got a mattress. We went up four flights of stairs to a room at the top that hadn’t been used. There wasn’t any electricity, no water, never mind, we put up the bed and that’s where I slept for the next three years. The lady, Mrs Beal, I was in contact with me until she died a few years ago in her nineties. A lovely lady and I can almost say, it was probably the best years of my life. It certainly formed me in the way I went."

Memories - S.Arnold Ward

Austrian master Mr Kohn - taught economics

and popular cigarette brands

The following excerpt is from a letter from former pupil S.Arnold Ward (school years beginning 1937-43), which was published in the FWOE Association Newsletter No.58, December 2004:

' I was a pupil at Five Ways from 1937 to 1944 whenI left school at Monmouth to enter the RAF. My first two years were spent at Five Ways until that day when we were all shepherded onto the train bound for Monmouth.

My four years at Monmouth bring back mixed feelings as I experienced both good and bad billets. It musy have been difficult for some of the host families to adapt to having children again, or integrating them with their own. The better times are recalled as at the Hardings in Rockfield with Lloyd Arnold and, I believe, the Jenkins brothers (or were they with me at the farm up the Hereford Road, and at Inglewood?) It was there that I won a prize for the garden that I made in the rear of the property.

I joined the Army Cadets and well remember my first parade when I was chided for not having cleaned my buttons and badges. Obviously not a natural soldier or did someone forget to tell me they had to shine brightly? Leading out of that were the shifts standing on the bridge over the river, guarding it with a rifle in hand. Another uniform was that of the PAMS (Police Auxilliary Messenger Service). The intention of that unit was to carry massages by motorcycle in the event of an invasion. We were taught to ride the bikes in a field by a police sergeant and then we got sent off on practice rides. It didn't last long and I can't recall whether I just dropped out or it fell apart.

Anyone who was in the Commercial Sixth will likely remember Mr.Kohn who was an Austrian refugee and taught Economics. He also taught us the different brands of cigarettes that were good to smoke, the room full of smoke as we weighed up the merits of different brands. I was in the Upper Sixth Commerce when I took the Higher Certificate exams.

School finished officially for me in the summer of 1943. Those of us who were leaving were encouraged by Charles Henry Dobinson to volunteer for the armed forces and I decided on the Royal Air Force. I was accepted and was offered a six-month short course at Oxford University as part of my training as a potential officer/navigator. '

Charles Henry Dobinson

C.H.Dobinson M.A. Bsc. 1933-1945

The Headmaster of the school during it's evacuation to Monmouth was Charles Henry Dobinson. In every interview or article appertaining to the evacuation, whether the writer or interviewee be master or pupil, Dobinson's name comes up time and again. His character and influence seems fundamental not just to the story of the evacuation, but to the school's development in the preceding six years from his arrival at KEFW in 1933.

In his book King Edward VI Five Ways School 1883 - 1983, the school's current Headmaster David Wheeldon provides a fascinating and in-depth profile of this greatly respected educational thinker whose 'powerful philiosophy of education was moulded in a love of the countryside':

' Jubilee year was also to see the third Headmaster appointed: Charles Henry Dobinson came to Five Ways from Mill Hill School where had had been a member of the Science staff. A young Oxonian with a clearly thought-out educational philosophy, he seemed a marked contrast to Barker, the self-made man. Their similarities, however, belie their obvious background differences. Both were scientists whose interest spread far beyond their own subject, both loved outdoor life, both were tough disciplinarians whom staff and boys alike found remote and awesome. Like his predecessor, Dobinson was not notable for his sense of humour but both were totally dedicated to the school they served.

At 29, he was one of the youngest Heads to be appointed by the Foundation. Born in 1903 and brought up in London and Kent he went to Wadham College, Oxford to read Mathematics. He was intent on teaching from the start and became fascinated by Science (Geology, Astronomy and Zoology). These Science subjects became the key to his beliefs about education clearly linking past, present and future. He took a second in Mathematics moderations, a first in the Geology section of the Honours School of Natural Science and a London BSc. From Mill Hill, Five Ways was his first application for a Headmastership.

He brought to the office a powerful philosophy of education moulded in a love of the countryside' a belief in the innate goodness of the child which needed to be stimulated and unrtured by the School; a conviction, in common with others who had been brought up during the First World War, of the futility of war and the iniquity of the peace settlement of 1919. Polticially he was left wing from an observation of the blatant inequailities of the social system of the day, and the miseries of unemployment. A keen believer in the League of Nations and appeasement, he believed right up to March 1939 that Germany's aspirations were reasonable.

He preferred to think of a school as a community rather than as an institution. He believed that the life of a school formed the boy, and he never judged his results simply by academic success. In all his work he aimed at producing men who could weight evidence and think for themselves; He tried to free their minds from propaganda and involve them in the community.

His philosophy dominated the School in the pre-war years, especially, but also during the difficult years of evacuation during the Second World War. His dynamism inspired both masters and boys and was translated into an educational programme inside and outside of the classroom which made Five Ways a school well ahead of its time. The older staff felt that he was perhaps idealistic. To men down to earth and a little over-addicted to games, his theories appeared high flown and impracticable. His intense and earnest approach perhaps put a gulf between himself and some of the staff, but the boys were willing to follow his lead and gradually staff were won over. '

Wheeldon, David John / King Edward VI Five Ways School 1883-1983 / The Tudor Press (Redditch) Ltd / pages 55 - 56

Prelude to War - the 1930s

' During 1933 much of the world was preoccupied with the consolidation of Nazi rule in Germany. There was intense curiosity, and even anxiety, about what the new German government really intended. The imposition of domestic tyranny went hand in hand with Germany's repeated public protestations of international peaceful intentions. Yet even as the tyranny within Germany was being directed at those who were considered enemies of the regime, a wave of skilfully organized enthusiasm led to widely reported demand for the carrying out of Nazi ideals. During the first days of May, Nazi students demonstrated against what they called 'non-German culture', demanding an end to what they characterized as alien, and especially socialist and Jewish, influences. Those influences had hitherto been an integral part of German life and culture. On 1 May 1933, the traditional May Day of the working classes, the National Socialist Workers Unions organized a Day of National Work, complete with demonstrations and banners, reminiscent of the great working-class spectacles of earlier years, but with a total hostility to the socialist work ethic and aspirations of the past. The traditional theme of international solidarity was replaced by the call for national renewal. In proclaiming a 'holy day of national labour', Hitler's Minister of Propaganda, Dr Josef Goebels - the leading propagandist of Nazism - declared: 'Germans of all estates, lineages, and professions, join hands! In serried ranks we march into the new age.' '

Martin Gilbert / A History of the Twentieth Century Volume Two: 1933-1951 - page 3 / HarperCollins 1998

65th Anniversary Monmouth Reunion

The following article, written by the secretary of the FWOE Association, Colin Spencer, is from the FWOEA Newsletter (No.58), December 2004:

There had been a lot of early preparation regarding this event. Peter Hoff, who had been instumental in helping organise the last one in 1999, had said to me afterwards that we had better have one in five years time as he thought there may not be many able to make the 70yh in 2009! I sent off circulars to all members whose dates had coincided with the evacuation. The response was tremendous and, on the appointed Sunday, over 50 former evacuess, together with wives, met at 12 noon on the slope of the boathouse at Monmouth. The weather was perfect - in fact it was too hot and many tried to get in the shade as soon as the press photographs had been taken.

We were honoured to have the present Headmaster and his wife, David and Janet Wheeldon (complete with ice-creams!) who were with us for the rest of the day. I was also delighted to see Gill Leake and her husband there too. Gill, the daughter of C.H. Dobinson, Headmaster during the evacuation, met up with many faces from the past. It was great to see ELO there too and I was pleased that I had arranged transport to Monmouth and back to Barnstable and to have a wheelchair available for him for the whole of the day. Ossie had been appointed by Dobinson in 1940.

Former Five Ways boys had travelled many miles to be there for the day. Some had made a weekend of it, others had travelled by coach from Birmingham for the day. Roger De Gobeo had surprised everyone, including me, by coming all the way from Manitoba, Canada. There was also a lady who had worked as a nurse in the local hospital during the war who was trying to locate a Five Ways boy who had been admitted for an operation but I don't think she managed to find him after all these years.

Most of those attending managed to visit the local museum where a small display had been set up especially for the event. I have left all the comments from those who wrote to me afterwards, to individual names until later in this newsletter. This is one of the reasons that we have such a bumper issue this time.

I had arranged with the present Head of Monmouth School, Mr Tim Haynes, that he would open up part of the school to allow those present to look around their old haunts as well as newer additions. He was very proud to show us the theatre which had been recently built and was being used by the residents of Monmouth as well as the school. Afterwards we were all royally entertained to afternoon tea by the Headmaster and his wife in the back garden of their house. A large number then went on to Leasbrook to relive memories of the past. The present owners were given a school shield with a brass plate suitably engraved by Paul Ennis. This was presented by Gill Leake. More food and drink was consumed here, photographs taken and many former residents were allowed to roam around the grounds.

All in all, it was a memorable day. I think, from the reaction of many who came - and some who were unable to do so - that we may well have a further reunion in September 2009.

Memories - Michael Plenderleith

Neville Chamberlain - "Peace in our time"

Michael Plenderleith was a pupil at Five Ways when the school was evacuated, he now lives in Gloucestershire and was inspired by Colin Spencer's editorial in the FWOEA Newsletter 64 to send us a few short memories, describing his email, "...a few memories from one who stayed the pace". Michael has promised to expand, but here are a few recollections to begin with:

"It all started 12 months earlier when Dobinson had us all assembled in the School Hall for evacuation to Evenlode, but Chamberlain came back waving his paper 'Peace in our Time', a great disappointment to us all!

Why on 1st September did we all have to walk to Snow Hill Station, singing 'With a 100 Pipers' and other Gaudeamus tunes, to our own words, when George Dixon's were taken by bus to Five Ways Station?

Then our paper bag of emergency rations - chocolate was greedily consumed on the train journey to Monmouth, and the GWR brown carriages turned white from the tins of condensed milk, pierced and held out of the train windows.

On arrival the streets to Rolls Hall lined with Girl Guides as a girls school was expected. The problem of getting the townsfolk to accept boys! Four of us were billeted in the house immediately below Monmouth Girls School - owned by a maiden aunt, with her maid, and during term time two nieces from Amersham who attended that school.

Our luck was in, two twin bedded rooms on the third floor - I believe the house is now the home of Monmouth Boys School headmaster.

Sadly it didn't last, the next day all four of us were up in front of Dobinson for getting chocolate on the sheets and crumbs in our beds! Two of us survived for a year until School Houses were set up when we moved down the road to 'Sanroyd House' so named by two mothers - Mrs Sandey & Mrs Ackroyd - who didn't realise what they were taking on!"

Aha Michael! So you were the source of that story in Mr Watkins' book!

Eigor Osmend comes to town

The incredible ELO - photo taken 2007

Eigor Osmend (ELO) is possibly the school's longest serving teacher throughout it's history. Born in Wales himself, ELO joined the school while it was evacuated in Monmouth. Fresh from University, young Eigor was not much older than the school's sixth formers. Here is a transcribed extract from an interview conducted with ELO at his home in Barnstable in 2007:

ELO: I joined the school in Monmouth because when the war started in 39 I was just finishing university so I went to the Rose Hall and volunteered for the RAF. But they looked at me and said “Aah polio…bumph… nothing” but I’m still alright up here and I could still write and I could take somebody off a desk, you know? However, they wouldn’t have it, they wouldn’t have it at all, so er, I joined the Home Guard.

(chuckles)

Joined the Home Guard and I was there a week and I was made the platoon commander. I eventually became the platoon commander of the… oh, now what do they call it? It was a reserve platoon that would go wherever there was trouble I was called to go out to it, so I had a very busy time because Monmouth in those days was, er, a whole host of evacuees were there, from London as well, and Peter Gilbert, you remember Peter Gilbert? He was the biology master at school then, he and I were digging with Miss Hill and when the war was over he went to South Africa and there was trouble in South Africa so he went to Rhodesia and he taught in a Rhodesian school out there.

He was a great friend of mine, yes I missed him when he went. But there we are. That’s life isn’t it?

PJM: Yes people come and go don’t they?

ELO: That’s right

PJM: So were you living in Monmouth?

ELO: Well, he and I were digging with Miss Hill, now it was near the post office, by the post office there was a driveway going down to the Hill’s, where we were, but now of course it’s a garage, that driveway to a garage and the house has become … well there’s no one living there now, it’s been knocked down and the garage built there, so some of my memories have gone now, disappeared.

PJM: So what was the connection with the school and how did you come to join up with it? Was that while the school was actually evacuated?

ELO: Yes, after I graduated as I said, I tried to join the RAF but they wouldn’t have me because of my polio and so I joined the school and went to Monmouth with them and was there for four years. Four years we were in Monmouth. Then when we were coming back to Birmingham, I went to the headmaster, Dobinson then, and asked him for a reference and he said to me:

“What do you want a reference for?”

“Well” I said “You’re going back to Birmingham, I don’t know anybody there, so I’ve got nowhere to live, so I’ll go back home and teach in a school down in South Wales”

“Yeah” he said “Hold onto your application” he said “Hold onto it until Thursday and I’ll have a word with you on Thursday”

So I said “alright”. I held onto my application form, didn’t send it away and he came to me and he said:

“I’ve been to see the Governors and they have offered you £200 extra a year if you’ll stay with us”

And £200 then was a lot of money, you know? So I thought to myself, I must mean something to somebody! (chuckles) Oh dear me.

PJM: Absolutely. And that was 1945 was it?

ELO: That was forty… I went there in forty one, but the money came in forty four.

PJM: That’s when the school moved back to Five Ways in Edgbaston?

ELO: That’s right, yeah. So… it’s an experience. You wouldn’t believe it.

PJM: And how many years of teaching did you do?

ELO: Forty years at the same school. Five Ways. When I came up to forty years and I was what? Sixty two then, I handed in my resignation and he accepted it this time, the headmaster, Burgess, accepted it. So, off I went and I was on my own.

I’ve had a good life, had lots of experiences, met lots of lovely people and er… I can’t grumble. You know, not really. Yeah.

Business as usual in December 1939

Monmouth School Crest

Serve and Obey

The following article first appeared in the School magazine for the Christmas term 1939 and was repeated in the Five Ways Old Edwardians Association Newsletter in July 2004 to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the school's evacuation:

School periods are held in the buildings of Monmouth School and, for the junior forms, in the buildings of Monmouth Non-Provided School in the afternoon, and begin with Assembly and Roll Call at 2pm. This assembly is attended by the Lady Helpers who are thus able to keep in daily contact with their groups of boys and who meet the Headmaster and Mr James to discuss all health cases and any other matters of importance immediately after the assembly is over. School lasted til 6.15 in the early Autumn, later to 6.05 and now during the Winter months ends at 5.50 for seniors and 5pm for juniors.

Mornings are occupied in Preparation in Big school for VIs, Vs and IVs, in PT periods for all senior forms, and in Football, Scouts (Mondays and Thursdays), Cadet Corps and Art periods for all forms. In addition there is Music for junior forms with Mr Mears and Mrs James in the Methodist Room. Boys who are excused games, and all others who wish to assist in free time go to the School Farm at Inglewood, while those who are having lessons in piano or violin put in their hours of practice.

These morning arrangements have been made possible by the kindness of the Headmaster of Monmouth School, Mr W.R. Lewin, of Archdeacon Monahan, for the use of St. Mary's Parish Room, of Rev. Williams, for the use of the Methodist Room, of Rev. Sayers, for the use of the Congregational Room and of Miss MacDonald, Headmistress of Monmouth School for Girls, for the use of the pianoforte practice rooms. On Tuesdays violinists and our cellist play in the orchestra at the Girls' School.

Evening activities in which our boys take part include the Club, at which we are indebted to Mr. Small for a bagatelle table for the juniors (the billiard table being reserved for the seniors!), the International Affairs class at the Insititute, the Methodist Young people's Guild and the Confirmation Classses conducted by the Rev. Dawkins, Warden of the School Chapel.

Every night, the Big School is open for Private Study, for the Five Ways lending library, for reading and for chess and other quiet games.

On Sundays there is Chapel at 9.45am, or services at 11am for those who are attached to other churches; reading and writing rooms, or Mr. Harrision's Musical Appreciation Group at 2.30, and the contests of the Basketball League.

When the Spring comes and the various firms who have boats for hire re-open business, there will be this additional opportunity for the sixty good swimmers who obtained river permits in September.

No account of our activities should close without reference to our great indebtedness, for their ceaseless activities for the well-being and happiness of our boys to Captain Elstop, Chief Billeting Officer and his Committee.

Five Ways Evacuation to Monmouth 1939-1944 by P.R.Watkins

An extract from Five Ways Evacuation to Monmouth a history written by a former KEFW headmaster Mr P.R.Watkins:

C.H. Dobinson's headmastership had so far been dominated by two leading themes: the quest for peace and international understanding and a belief in the contribution of country life to a town boy's education expressed most completely in the Evenlode scheme. It is ironical that the war, which so shattered the first, should have led to the unforeseen fulfillment of the second in the evacuation of the school to Monmouth. Monmouth is a small market town of 6000 people 70 miles from Birmingham, situated on the nbeck of land where the Monnow, rising on the eastern slopes of the Black Mountains, flows into the Wye whose source lies far away on Plynimon. It has a castle, the 13th Century Monnow bridge gate house, an 18th Century shire hall, a wide main street and a maze of narrow alleys, a girls' and boys' public school and a Rugby ground.

There could scarcely be a better place for a town school to live in wartime. The Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean, the undulating and sparsely populated hill sides of Herefordshire, the lanes, villages and castles of the border country, provide a unique setting. For five years Birmingham was home but for many boys at least, Monmouth was an adopted paradise in which the tempo of life slowed down and the realities of war were forgotten. For masters and their wives and for parents, whose family life was disruptedwhen they came down to help in hostels, they were years of ceaseless strain and long hours. Staff of all kinds recognised that in return for freedom from aerial bombing and from the exposure of the armed services they would serve without stint and with no form of financial reward.

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In May 1939 the Foundation already knew that when war came all its schools would be in the evacuation area and that five Ways was to go to Monmouth. In August, meetings were held at school, parents recruited as helpers and instructions were issued. The SOS broadcast to all teachers in evacuation areas found the staff scattered for the Summer holidays: A.J.Mears in Eskdale, P.A.Christian in France, H.S.Thompson on honeymoon at Eccles, and the Headmaster with a working party at Evenlode. J.T.W.James was at St. Ives in Cornwall and motored via South Wales to Birmingham arriving at 8 a.m. having driven through the night. He went straight to school and was given the job of organising the evacuation.

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What the school magazine described as "The Great Trek" took place on Friday 1st September (1). Earlier in the week each boy had received a blue card containing the word Evacuation and the date. At 10.30, 350 boys assembled in their form rooms with rucksacks, gas masks and water bottles. Each boy was given a brown paper carrier bag of "iron rations"- hard biscuits, a block of chocolate and a tin of condensed milk. It was a day etched into the memory of all participants:

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"Surely even those boys cursed with the weakest mental facilities will not fail to recapture the playground scene of our departure: the harassed section-leaders checking, re-checking and (just in case) again checking the numbers of our charges. Last minute instuctions were through the megaphone and, patience rewarded, marching off to the strains of the pre-arranged Gaudeamus song, whilst the rear of the column, 'tis said, managed quite well to the strain of a modern dance tune" (2).

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So the procession of boys, nearly 20 masters and 10 lady helpers marched three abreast singing "Wi' a 100 pipers a' and a' " into Ladywood Road Road, down Broad Street and Edmund Street to Snow Hill. Hours later they arrived at May Hill Station, Monmouth, formed up once more and the "seemingly never-ending column" crossed the Wye Bridge, gazed admiringly at the wooded slopes and were welcomed in the Rolls Hall with buns, cups of tea and iron rations.

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The authorities at Monmouth were expecting a girl's school and the route from the station had been appropriately lined by a detachment of the local Guides. Residents had offered billets for girls too, as one boy recalls:

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"Four of us were taken to a large house in the shadow of Monmouth Girls School, in which resided a middle aged spinster, her elderly mother, a maid and during the term two nieces from Amersham who attended the Girls School". (3)

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Like so many other wartime crises this one was quickly surmounted and billeting proceeded, supervised on the Monmouth side by Captain N.C. Elstob, the Second Master of Monmouth School and on the Five Ways side by J.T.W. James. That evening saw the black and white ringed caps of the "Birmingham Boys" for the first time. By 7 p.m,. a veritable Five Ways regatta was in full swing on the river (the only time boys rowed without a swimming permit), whilst others were exploring Monnow Street and Hereford Road, names which were to become as well known as Broad Street and New Street to the peace time school boy.

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Two days later came the declaration of war but even the most politically minded boy can scarecely have visualised a sojourn of more than a few months. There were of course problems: the town was used to the presence of Monmouth School whose boarders were frequently to be seen dressed in their light grey suits, white shorts, red ties and straw boaters. C.H. Dobinson insisted that Five Ways dress should be functional - in the summer months shorts and open-neck shirts, in which he himself set the example. This was not at first quite understood in this small country town and there were Five Ways Prefects too who dissented from it and felt that the formalities should be insisted upon.

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In general however the relationship between town and school was of the happiest. Almost five years later on 26th July 1944 there took place in the same Rolls Hall a presentation to the town of Monmouth by Five Ways parents of a memorial plaque to mark the end of the longest and most successful evacuation of any Birmingham school. (4)

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1939-1944

From the parents of the boys of King Edward VI Grammar School, Five Ways, Birmingham. As a token of admiration for the high public spirit shown by the residents of Monmouth and district and in gratitude for the hospitality extended to the boys lodged in this friendly twon and its beautiful surroundings.

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Presented by Mr Cyril Glover, Chairman of the Parents Committee in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Alderman D.G.H. Aldridge J.P. and the Deputy Bailiff Councillor W.T. Wiggins-Davies J.P.

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For five years, between 360 and 190 boys lived and worked in Monmouth. In scholarship they were successful years, in music a golden age and in games and out of school activity, years which saw the flourishing, which is only possible in a boarding school. These were certainly the crowning years of Dobinson's headmastership.

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(1) Five Ways Magazine Christmas term 1939 p.852

(2) Five Ways Magazine Summer term 1945 p.1496-7

(3) M J Plonderleith

(4) Five Ways Magazine No.77 Summer Term 1944 p.1369-1371