Wigan Album

My mother told me that during the First World War, as a girl of 12, her school was turned out to line Market Street in Hindley and wave little Union Jacks as a convoy of Belgian refugees went past on their way to be billeted at Hindley Hall on arriving in England. E.T.

Does anyone know if any of the refugees were in fact adopted by Wigan people? Did anyone know any of these refugees?

Hi Ron,many Jersey children were sent to the UK prior to the occupation of the Channel Isles.I recall one local chap saying how well they were treated in Lancashire and on one occassion having a ten shilling note pushed into his hand by a complete sranger.My Dads sister worked with a refugee from Guernsey at Risley munitions factory.

Mentioned in Wigan Almanac/Wigan Observer May 18th 1940 that Dutch and Belgium Refugees were expected in Wigan and stating arrangements for accommodation. May 22nd 1940 171 Dutch and Jewish war Refugees arrived in Wigan.

Past Forward issue no.42 April July 2006 pages 13 and 14 gives details of arrangements and some addresses of where the children/refugees stayed in Wigan. Great deal also about evacuees from Guernsey. Quite interesting reading.

I was really interested to find this pae - for over two years I have been studying the experience of the Guernsey evacuees who came to the North West in 1940 until 1945, but you can find out more via my blog at:-
http://guernseyevacuees.wordpress.com/
Best wishes,
Gillian Mawson - evacuee researcher, University of Manchester - email: gillianmawson@btinternet.com