17th April, 1941

My mother took 8 evacuees last night...

Moya Woodside

Belfast Blitz writer & birth control campaigner

My mother telephones to say that she took 8 evacuees last night, 2 mothers and 6 children. Says one mother is about to have another baby any minute, but they are all filthy, the smell in the room is terrible, they refuse all food except bread and tea, the children have made puddles all over the floor etc.

She is terribly sorry for them and kindliness itself but finds this revelation of how the other half live rather overpowering.