MEMORIES have been well and truly stirred by the piece we published a fortnight ago on Weymouth's warm welcome to French soldiers who were evacuated to the town during the Second World War.

Roger Lane of West Stafford reminded us how Weymouth accommodated the Poilus, who had been sent west after the Dunkirk evacuation.

Bob Fox got in touch to say he remembers the French soldiers well.

He said: "Nearly every house in Chapel Lane, Upwey, had French soldiers billeted on them for a while - ours were named Emile and Willie, and I often wonder what became of them and whether they made it through the war.

"They were absolutely shattered when they arrived and slept the clock round.

" I had just started to learn French at school, so was able to understand a few words, and we tried to teach them a bit of English.

"They only had the clothes that they were dressed in so my mum found some of my Dad's old clothes, which didn't really fit, but enabled her to wash their clothes.

"No washing machines in those days, of course, all done by hand in the kitchen sink! I don't know how she managed with food, I suppose they must have been given temporary ration books.

"Think they were only with us for a week or two, maybe less. I was only 12 at the time."

Thanks also to one of our online readers 'Hodder', who remembers having two French soldiers billeted with the family who did not speak English - and no French was spoken in the family.

Hodder said: "It was a standing joke in the family for many years that when one required the toilet he undid his belt and started to lower his trousers, my mother "got the message" rather rapidly.

"My parents kept in contact with them for many years. Wyke Regis Church of England school was cleared of desks and straw spread on the floor for them to sleep at one point. Those were the days when if there was a raid and we had to go into the shelters at school lessons were continued while the raid went on

My Grandmother also "put up" some French soldiers over in Westham - I wasn't there obviously - but the stories handed down indicated the soldiers were very grateful and did their best to help out and "make do" .

Hodder said that Weymouth's response shows how humans will rally round in a crisis.

Thanks also to Jean Matthews of Dorchester who wrote to the Looking Back pages.

She said: "I was born in 1930 and was 10 years old when the French soldiers were brought to Weymouth after Dunkirk in 1940 – I remember it so well.

"The first indication for us children was that when we went to school – which was St Mary’s Girls, St George Street – there was a notice on the gates telling us 'no school until further notice' – what a joy that was! When we looked through the gate of the playground we could see the soldiers.

"When we arrived home, I lived at 2 Upper St Alban Street, we realised that the Alexandra Gardens, our playground, was also full, very full, of French soldiers looking worn out, some half-dressed – draped in blankets – a very sorry sight.

"My parents took them cigarettes and food and realised that those lads wanted to let their families know they were safe, so we went home for paper and pencils (no biros then) and my parents wrote some of the messages – we couldn’t post them because they had to be censored.

"Our own soldiers were able to go back to their units or homes - these French soldiers of course had to be relocated until they could go back to fight again to free their country.

"The Red Cross and WVS (Women’s Voluntary Service) were marvellous."

Thanks to our readers for their memories of when the people of Weymouth helped the French soldiers.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830973

e: joanna.davis

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoJo