Through her book, with the clear eyes of a child, Janet recalls events in her war-torn, uprooted childhood such as:
Janet makes first-hand, candid observations on the kaleidoscopic sequence of her ever-changing environment. Her unselfconscious pragmatic resolutions of dangers and difficulties encountered, and her analysis of the changing relationships with parents and family provide a thought-provoking account of development from childhood through adolescence to adulthood.
Believing that this type of memoir is only valuable to the extent that it is frank and truthful, sometimes uncomfortably so, Janet would like to take the opportunity of asking for YOUR help in correcting, corroborating and supplementing her childhood memories, some of them from very early years.
She would particularly welcome input from anyone with information about the following:
Date | Places & Events |
---|---|
1935-40 | International Community at Shioyu (Kobe) Japan, especially 'Rising Sun' (Shell Oil Co) employees. |
Late 1940 | Evacuees from Japan heading for Australia, New Zealand, attacks by German auxiliary cruiser 'Komet'(alias 'Semyon Dezhnev', alias 'Donau' alias 'Manyo Maru') on allied shipping North East of New Guinea, New Britain archipelago. |
1941-42 | Evacuation of war-refugees from Sydney to western New South Wales, possibly Goulburn area. Life on sheep stations, especially that of McGaw family (Three children, daughter Faye or Fay, mid 1930's). Information concerning 'radio school' or 'radio doctor'. |
1942-44 | Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Information about this town at that time especially the teachers training college, the primary school system, any arrangements for the reception of war refugees. |
1945-46 | Darjeeling. St Michaels Diocesan School (Anglican Convent boarding). Budge-Budge on Hooghly River (distributary of the Ganges) near Calcutta. |
1946 | Hallthwaites, near Millom, Cumberland, UK. |
1946-47 | Community of Cherrydale, Arlington, Virginia, USA and its local Grade (primary) schools |
1947-49 | China: Shanghai expat community, especially Shanghai British School, Cercle Sportif Français, Country Club (American). Shell Oil Co. connections, especially compound in Rue Ratard, French Concession, also Peking under siege, 1948. |
1949-52 | Fairfield PNEU School (boarding) Ambleside, Westmorland, also Charlotte Mason College, Ambleside, both now closed. |
1952 – 1956 | Barrow Grammar School for Girls, now closed |