child-evacuation

In this chapter set in Warwickshire during May 1940, Binnie, a gravely ill evacuee child, struggles with severe illness and the emotional trauma of her illegitimacy and lack of a proper name. Eileen, her caretaker, and others around her, including Alf and the vicar, grapple with her physical recovery and the social stigma attached to her identity. Meanwhile, the children face quarantine and boredom, with Alf engaging in imaginative play to cope with the stress of the ongoing war and evacuation efforts.

In this chapter set in London during the September 1940 bombings, Eileen struggles to care for Alf and Binnie, two children she is responsible for, as they endure air raids and seek shelter in an Anderson shelter. After a harrowing night, Eileen attempts to find Polly, her cousin, by taking the children to Oxford Street, where she faces class prejudice and the challenges of navigating a large department store while trying to maintain appearances. The chapter highlights the difficulties of wartime London life, especially for those displaced or of lower social standing.