True to Life
By justabloke
@justabloke (526)
United States
January 3, 2008 3:54pm CST
I read the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrode in school and I have watched various Narnia films and for me, it has a different meaning.
During World War 2, my Mother and her brother were sent from their London suburbs to the Western part of England(Devon)to live with a family that they didn't know. My Mother used to mention to me as I grew up and although, I understood it I really didn't.
The CS Lewis novels and later the films always make me think of the stories my Mother would tell and even though the books and films are not that much about the evacuation from London, it always reminds me how scary that must have been for those young children who were taken away from their families and "adopted" by complete strangers. Add to that, the fear that the bombings continued in London where their parents were still living and working.
2 people like this
3 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
3 Jan 08
Oh yes, even though we drawn into the fantasy part of the movie, it would have been very scary to be sent away from your parents like that. I am sure your Mother has a lot of stories to tell about that time too..
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@justabloke (526)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Thank you for responding. Actually, my grandfather told me more stories about the war time in London, my Mother will, but, she has other more cheerful stories to tell. Not to diverse too much my grandfathers worst/best war memory was about the V1 rockets, aka the Doddle Bugs(?), if you could hear the engines you were okay, if you heard them sputter and stop.....take cover quick.
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@justabloke (526)
• United States
4 Jan 08
thanks for the response. I am originally from the UK and now live in the US, but, about 10 years ago I visited the UK to visit my family and the BBC had a TV film about the life of CS Lewis on. It was very interesting and in it they mentioned his Christian background. Although, others may see it, I have never been able to see the Christian connections in his books.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
14 Jan 08
Hi justabloke,
I really love the Chronicles of Narnia series, and especially The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. You're right, the story doesn't touch much on this dark period in history, but I too, find it fascinating. Your mother and your uncle, must've gone through a lot, and it must be quite informative, to hear these true stories firsthand. We watch an old episode of 'The Waltons' every Christmas, that depicts a brother and sister who were sent from London to the US, during this time. Of course, as the story would have it, they eventually end up staying with The Waltons. I find it very moving actually. Take care.
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@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
14 Jan 08
This is so tragic, that words fail me, when I hear of this. I guess that's why some children ended up as far away as the US, etc. My mom used to tell 'true war stories,' from the perspective of living in Canada, at that time.
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@justabloke (526)
• United States
15 Jan 08
From what I have read and heard since moving to the US is that most Americans do not understand the horrors of war on a civilian population. The States didn't suffer the bombings, the fear, the rationing that most European counties did.
I think if the US had experienced cities being bombed, women, childen and the elderly being killed as in Europe, then the US wouldn't be so keen to rush to war as it has over the past 50-60 years.
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@justabloke (526)
• United States
14 Jan 08
My Mother and her brother were sent away to Exeter in Devon, England there they lived with a family until one night bombs were dropped on countryside towns and some of the evacuee's were killed. Luckily, this was not the town my mother was living in at the time, but, still, it shocked a lot of people as they had believe that sending their children to the county was a way of safe guarding them.
My grandparents(as did others) decided to bring their children back to London.
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