Treason: Clifftop Farm in Wartime, #1

By Michael E Wills

 In the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of children were evacuated from British cities and sent to areas of the country where it was regarded that they would be safer from bombing.

This Government operation was named "Pied Piper". The first evacuations were in 1939 and the second wave in 1940, at the time of the Blitz.

Children went to stay with complete strangers, who had been deemed by the authorities to have spare space in their homes. The hosts were obliged to take the children. Many were unenthusiastic about having a young guest staying with them for an unspecified length of time and there were incidences of unkindness and even cruelty.

 

"Treason" is a story about two such city children. Judith is a twelve-year-old girl from London, an only child from a very privileged background.

She finds herself billeted in a farm on the Isle of Wight. The farm is run by Mrs Orton, a widow, who lives with her twelve-year-old son, Jimmy,

and her handicapped brother-in-law. They are joined by another evacuee guest, Alfie, an eleven-year-old boy from a working class family in

Portsmouth.

The story tells how their lives change and how the guests adapt to a very different way of life. Like all children they enjoy adventure, but the

one on which they embark gets them involved in a danger to their lives and leads them to TREASON!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bygone Ages Press
• Release date: Dec 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781739858803

Michael E Wills

Michael E Wills was born on the Isle of Wight, UK, and educated at Carisbrooke Grammar and St Peter's College, Birmingham. After a long career in education, as a teacher, a teacher trainer and textbook writer, in retirement he took up writing historical novels. His first book, Finn's Fate, was followed by a sequel novel, Three Kings – One Throne. In 2015, he started on a quartet of Viking stories for young readers called, Children of the Chieftain. The first book, Betrayed, was described by the Historical Novel Society reviewer as "An absolutely excellent novel which I could not put down" and long-listed for the Historical Novel Society 2016 Indie Prize. The second book in the quartet, Banished, was published in December 2015 followed in 2017 by the third book, Bounty. Bound For Home completed the series in 2019. His book for younger children, Sven and the Purse of Silver, won bronze medal in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. His most recent books are from periods in history with an enormous time span between them. Izar, The Amesbury Archer, (runner-up for indie historical fiction book of the year 2021) is based in the Neolithic period, a Viking story, For the Want of Silver, is based on the message carved on an actual runestone and a series of children's books called The Children of Clifftop Farm, is about WW2. Though a lot of his spare time is spent with grandchildren, he also has a wide range of interests including researching for future books, writing, playing the guitar, carpentry and electronics. You can find out more about Michael E Wills and the books he has written by visiting his website: www.michaelwills.eu

Book preview

Chapter 1 

My name is Judith Neville

Twickenham, London . Tuesday 3rd September 1940 

Monday was a bank holiday, so it was on Tuesday we started back at school after the break, though this year our family holidays were different, we couldn’t go to our summer house in France. It was my first term at the girl’s grammar school in Twickenham. I had a very smart new uniform. A maroon blazer, grey skirt and socks and white blouse, and smartest of all - a maroon and yellow tie. I was so proud and excited, but I was also concerned, not worried really, more a feeling that things were not as they should be. At home, in Redway Drive, there was just Mummy, me and Trudi, our maid. Daddy had re-joined the Army. He had been a soldier before, I think he was a captain or perhaps even higher, anyway he was frightfully important. We didn’t know where he had been sent to.  I could tell that Mummy was not happy about him possibly being in danger. The fact that at the end of August there had been some bombing in London, though far from us, and that sometimes we saw the white trails of planes chasing each other in the sky, made me aware that nasty things were happening. Mummy had a job in the military too, some kind of office work in a place called Whitehall. She worked very long hours and so I spent most of my out of school time with Trudi.

Yes, as I said, it was in September. I had left Nelson Junior School in July and on the first day at my new school, I was given a letter to take home. I gave it to Mummy to open, but she didn’t tell me what it said, at least not then, but next day, some of the girls had been told by parents, and news travelled round the playground fast. Soon everyone knew something about what was going to happen. So, when on Wednesday evening, Mummy told me that she had news to tell me, it was not news to me.

You are going on a holiday, she said.

I suppose she wanted to make what she was going to explain to me sound like good news. But I didn’t want a holiday, I had just had one and now I wanted to go to my new school, dressed in my fine uniform.

As you know, we are in a fight with Germany about them being beastly to the Polish people. So, we, and other countries in Europe, have decided that we must teach the Germans to be reasonable.

Will it take very long? I asked.

No, Daddy and his men will teach Herr Hitler a lesson. But you know that enemy planes have dropped a few bombs on some parts of London.

I've heard some.

Yes, well we fear that the cowardly Germans might try to frighten us by dropping many more, in particular on London. So, the government, the people who decide about these things, has made a plan for all the children who live in this and some other cities, to take a holiday in the country, where it is much, much safer.

But I don’t want to have a holiday. Can’t I stay at school?

I am afraid not, darling; the school will probably be closed. You’ll have lessons in another school in the country.

Where in the country?

I knew that Mummy was getting upset explaining all this to me and she was being very brave, but this question really was too awkward for her and she turned away from me as she wiped her eyes.

Turning back and looking at me, she said,. I don't know, dear, but it will be somewhere very nice, I'm sure.

Can't I stay and have lessons with Trudi, she's teaching me German? I paused and asked, Where is she? I haven't seen her today.

I'm afraid that she had to leave this morning. She has been taken to stay with other Germans who are living in this country.

Who took her away?

It was a very friendly policeman. I'm sure they will find a nice place for her to live.

But surely she would have preferred to return to her home in Bavaria.

I'm afraid that she couldn't do that.

But why not? She has her mother and father there.

Mummy paused as she chose her words carefully.

You see, darling, Trudi has a different religion than we do. People with her religion are being dealt with frightfully by the German government. In fact, the way they are being treated is really unspeakably spiteful. It might have been dangerous for Trudi to go home.

Mummy turned away again. She was always very strong and courageous; I had never before seen her so upset. I decided that it was best to stop arguing.

I sulked for a while and then asked, Why must I go?

I’ve already explained and besides, since I have to work every day and Trudi is no longer with us, if you didn’t take this opportunity, you would have to go to live with Granny.

That settled it. I was definitely not going to live in that big gloomy house, have seven o’clock bedtime and my manners corrected every mealtime.

When must I go?

The day after tomorrow, Friday.

But I'll miss my riding lesson on Saturday!

I’m afraid it can’t be helped, Judith. I promise that you will have extra sessions when you return.

"With Snowy?

The instructress will decide which pony you have. Now look, you have to take this form to the school tomorrow and we have lots to do. The letter gives a list of things we must pack for you to take with you. Also, in the morning your teacher will give you a cardboard box , which will contain your gas mask. It is on a strap; you must carry it with you all the time.

Why, why must I have it?

Well, the  government thinks that Mr Hitler might be really mean and send bombs, which smell awful. The mask will make sure that the air you breathe is clean.

The letter says that you must pack all your things in a rucksack. I think that Daddy’s rucksack will be too big for you. I’ll see if I can borrow one from Dolly Barrington Smythe, her boys are always off on adventure thingies, I’m sure she will have one to lend us."

I don’t want to have someone else’s, they are probably messy, you know how boys are.

Mother took a deep breath and then said, All right, I’ll phone Harrods and see if they are still running a delivery service.

So, what are the things on the list?

She passed the paper to me and I looked at the items. It looked very much like the packing list when we went on holiday each year, though that there was only one change of underwear, but six handkerchiefs, seemed peculiar.

It says a blouse and a cardigan.

Yes, you will be wearing your school uniform, so we should pack another of your school blouses.

I am definitely not taking the cardigan that Grandmother knitted for me, the one with rabbits and toadstools on the front.

What about the nice one we bought in Selfridges last year?

It’s red, it would clash with my school uniform.

What about taking a jumper instead, you have a nice warm blue one.

Mother was on the edge of getting annoyed, I could sense it, so I said, Yes, that would be fine.

I'll get it out for you, darling.

It was while we were having dinner that it suddenly occurred to me that we didn't have the faintest idea where I would be going on Friday.

But, Mummy, how will I know where to go?

Don’t worry, dear, transport will be arranged for you by the school.

I was silent for a while. I was beginning to get excited about this adventure, but I was also apprehensive.

But how will you know where I will be living?

Mummy laughed and said, It will be up to you to reveal that mystery.

How do you mean?

"Well,