June 2025
- Phil Hadley
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
One of the highlights for me of the recent VE80 Celebrations was the opportunity to speak with several evacuees, or with the children of evacuees, who visited the exhibition of my photographs of Cornwall in World War Two hosted by Haven Church in Gorran Haven. Indeed, two sisters whose mother had been evacuated to Gorran Haven with her school, the Priory from Hayling Island, came and stayed in the village so they could attend the events and see the photos on display of their mother and her school. Although their mother’s experience wasn’t always enjoyable – she had spoken of being bullied and of a shortage of food – she maintained a love for the village, its beach and harbour, and had brought her family back to visit it in later years.
I also spoke to two evacuees who were evacuated with their mothers and siblings and both families never left the village. They decided their life in Cornwall was much better and so stayed. I also spoke with the son of another evacuee who stayed, but then had to move away for work, but as soon as he could brought the family back again and they still live in the area.
Many evacuees were welcomed, well-fed and looked after, and left with a positive view of their experience despite the incredible upheaval and heartache at being separated from their parents at such a young age.
However, there were many for whom the experience was a nightmare. Ill-fed, not cared for, ending up with conditions like scabies or clothing infested with fleas, beaten, unfairly punished, cruelly treated, many evacuees were scarred for a lifetime.
One case in west Cornwall not only ended up in the West Penwith Police Court but made the front page of the Daily Mirror in February 1941. Six year old Albert White and his older brother from Stepney in London were evacuated to Cornwall. They were placed in June 1940 by the billeting authorities with John and Lilian Trembath at Springs Farm, Pendeen, in West Penwith. John was a diary farmer, while his adult son was a tin miner. The evacuees were left in the care of housewife Lilian Trembath and her 16 year old daughter Gladys who helped out around the house and farmyard. John and Lilian also had two younger children. Because of the space in the farmhouse, a third evacuee was billeted at Springs Farm in July 1940, a twelve year old girl.
It was claimed the Londoners did not adapt well to life in the countryside with young Albert being blamed for much of the trouble, such as emptying a sack of turnips into a trough and then the claim that on 15th July he killed six ducks. His older brother told the court the number was two or three. According to the two older evacuees Albert was on several occasions thrashed with a dog whip, usually by Gladys.
The court heard of two incidents involving the well at the farm which was about 20 yards from the back door of the farmhouse. It had a single strand of wire around it and was about 25 feet deep. In August 1940 Albert was taken to the well by Gladys who tied a rope round his waist, secured it to two posts near the well, and lowered the screaming boy down into the well. He was lowered to the 12 foot stage where there was a ledge and then the top of the well was covered by a piece of corrugated iron and Albert left to dangle.
The second incident occurred towards the end of September when he was taken to the well again by Gladys and lowered screaming into the well until his feet touched the water. The court heard how on this occasion after a while Lilian called out from a window ‘That is enough!’
Eventually the evacuees, who had been threatened they would get in trouble with their local Catholic priest (the White boys were from a Catholic family) and with the police if they spoke up, told another woman of life at Springs Farm. The police and the NSPCC were informed and visited the farm to investigate and remove all three children to a safer, better billet. However, on the morning of their visit Albert was kicked down the stairs by Gladys and left covered in bruises.
Both defendants had denied in statements to PC Nicholls putting the boy down the well, but during his visit with NSPCC Inspector H Fletcher from Truro Lilian Trembath had shouted at the inspector objecting to his interference. “Why should we have these damn kids? These Londoners! I would not have that boy back if he had not another place in the world to go to. He was a cunning, impudent monkey. Why should we have these people foisted on us?” Her daughter admitted in court she had lied about not putting Albert down the well.
Both mother and daughter were charged with ill-treating Albert in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to his health. Lilian Trembath was also charged with causing the child to be ill-treated. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The magistrates found them both guilty of the charges they faced, but decided not to send them to prison, but fined Mrs Trembath £7.00 and her daughter £5.00 which was seen as a heavy punishment in 1941.
Today Springs Farm House stands deserted and derelict – perhaps a fitting postscript given the cruelty metered out to the young guests staying there in 1940-41. Neither Mrs Lilian Trembath nor Miss Gladys Trembath showed any hint of remorse or regret and did not take ownership of and responsibility for their actions based on the reports of their appearance in court. I know nothing of what became of Albert and his brother or of their fellow evacuee once they were removed from Springs Farm. One can only hope they found genuine love and care and that their next billet helped the healing process to begin.
Until next month. Shalom.
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