George
An Evacuee's Story
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George Shephard Johns was born in 1927. His parents were Harold Johns, a pharmacist who worked at a chemist's shop in West Bromwich, and Florence, daughter of George Shephard, the local Professor of Music who taught at the Grammar School. George's younger brother Bill was born in 1930.
In the summer of 1939 there was much talk about war breaking out. George and his family had gone on holiday to Tenby in South Wales. They were due to return on the Saturday, and had to queue to get train tickets home because troops had priority, and of course everyone was trying to get home in a hurry. War was declared on the Sunday 3rd September, by Wednesday 6th George was on his way to Tamworth an evacuee. Find out more about life as an evacuee by clicking on one of the links below:
- Read letters to and from Tamworth
- Look at official evacuation documents
- George's family life during the war
Find out more about Evacuation and World War Two
Page last updated: 25th February 2014