Thanks to Suzanne Whitewood for this latest report. In her own words. Ed
Children from Primary Schools across the Island enjoyed going back in time to 1940 recently.
With activities organised by the Heritage Education Office, IW Heritage Service based at Carisbrooke Castle Museum this annual event lets today’s children understand just how things were in 1940 and how war time life was much different than now.
Mock evacuation
Based at Havenstreet Railway Station children were “evacuated” from their families and in readiness of perhaps several years of living away from parents were prepared for their new lives away from home.
Activities included playing with toys from the 1940s and before, having a lesson in a war-time class room, learning about rationing and shortage of food and tasting food such as fish paste, carrot spread and egg-less cake.
Off to the steam railway
To enable the evacuation to take place a trip on the train from Havenstreet was also undertaken.
Staff from the Primary Schools taking part had prepared the children well for this experience and most children and adults were dressed in 1940’s fashions.
Home Guard sergeant answered questions
To help the children understand this period in history a Home Guard sergeant and a land army girl were on hand to explain to the children what life was going to be like in the village and just what to do with a gas mask on your way to the air-raid shelter.
Lessons were undertaken in the class room and the food tasting sessions showed today’s children that despite rationing there was interesting food to be had which included a few treats.
