Left home at 12?

DorothyCoe · Post by **DorothyCoe** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:11 pm

Hi again

As usual I'm always trying to think of the story behind the facts that I find out.

I've found a letter dated 1948 in which the writer, Chrissie Bennet says she has not seen her youngest son Roy since he was 12 and he is now 22. She also says he was in the forces during the war. She and her husband were living in Istanbul, Turkey. She gives no further detail!

Might he have been evacuated at the age of 12 in 1938? I wonder why they wouldn't have seen him again though? Any ideas? How could I possibly find this out?

Cheers
Dorothy

Post by **AndrewP** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:30 pm

Hi Dorothy,

One possibility to offer. He could have been left in the care of a friend or relative until he was old enough to make his own way in life.

As far as I know evacuation didn't happen until after the war had started, so if I am right 1938 was too early for that.

All the best,

AndrewP

margarita · Post by **margarita** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:24 pm

Dorothy,

Could he have been sent to a boarding school so as not to interrupt his education when his parents were abroad?

It doesn't account for all the time until he was 22 - maybe he went on to University.

If this was the case, it does seem strange that they didn't see him during his school holidays.

Just a thought.

Regards,

maggie

Muriel · Post by **Muriel** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:36 pm

In those days the only way for a child to get to Istanbul would have been in the care of an adult (no easy flights for unaccompanied minors). So if he was sent back to boarding schoold he would have been stuck, unless they knew of someone going from the UK to Turkey at the right time. Also as the main means of travel would have been by ship, there might not have been enough time to get there & back & have sufficient time there to make the expense worthwhile.

The father of a friend of mine was sent "home" from India to school at the age of 8. He never went back & didn't see his parents again until after he had left school and they retired.

Muriel

DorothyCoe · Post by **DorothyCoe** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:16 pm

Thanks for those interesting replies folks.

I don't know where he went, and I don't suppose I have any way of finding out

I suppose the school scenario is the most likely.

Maggie, I'm in Peebles and if I can do anything for you here just let me know!

Cheers
Dorothy

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:19 pm

If he had been sent home for his schooling at the age of 12, by the time he finished there the war would have been in full swing.
Then no doubt he either, joined up, or was called up for national service before there was any chance of travel between the UK and Turkey.
The Forces not being over-inclined to give long vacations!

It's very sad when you think of the families that war separated for such long periods of time.

DorothyCoe · Post by **DorothyCoe** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:34 am

That's a sobering thought Wilma. It's strange that she doesn't say anything more about it, in the way of I miss him, or I know he's OK because... or he writes to us...a mystery.

Post by **joette** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:19 pm

The most likely scenario is that he was sent home for schooling or sent to live in the care of a relative.He may have seen his parents if they returned on leave or he may have visited in hols.
I'm not sure how safe "Brits" felt in Istanbul in 1938-I'm sure they must have felt the winds of war more keenly there not being "at home" & they may have sent him home for that reason.
My Aunt & Uncle lived in Singapore my cousins were born there.My Uncle used to save his leave & return to Scotland for a minimum of six months up to a year at a time.Until my cousins were around 7 & 11 they remained in Singapore in the care of family & their Nanny.

margarita · Post by **margarita** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:15 pm

DorothyCoe wrote: Maggie, I'm in Peebles and if I can do anything for you here just let me know!

Dorothy

Dorothy,

Thank you so much for your offer.

The 'Peebles lot' are in my husband's family - Lockies and Gibsons. I am currently checking through his tree to see where my gaps are, so I may well take you up on your offer.

I see you have Gibsons, too, so maybe we will find a link.

Regards,

magie

DorothyCoe · Post by **DorothyCoe** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:45 pm

Joette: I think in Istanbul/Constantinople, the Brits were pretty used to uprisings, violence and "religious" and political toing and froing. At least that's the impression I get from reading reports and letters from different times there.

Mine were involved in commerce, tobacco and salt, and in money. They seem to have integrated to some degree in that many of them spoke Turkish, French and some Greek, and they seem to have come into contact with many different nationalities there. Their letters sound as if they feel quite "at home" there.

Maggie: My Gibsons are from Portadown, N Ireland. My Thomas Gibson married Ann Jane Collins there and one of their daughters Mary Ann married George Porter, a riveter/welder in Glasgow in 1890. They had Sarah Jane (1891) and Mary Glassey (1893) known as May, in Glasgow, and Christina (1895) in Portadown. No connection with Peebles that I know of. Very happy to give you any inside info about Peebles though.