Figure 1.--This is another picture of our group at Wellesley College. I think the boys parents would have been very relieved to see their happy faces. You can tell we have just arrived because we are still wearing our English short trousers ans knee socks. We quickly found American boys were not to impressed with our English outfits.

After arriving in Montreal we were taken by train to Boston. We arrived in Boston on August 24, 1940. We were billetted at Wellesley College until allocated to local families (figure 1). Wellesley College is a one of the best knon women's liberal arts college in America, one of the notable Seven Sisters. It is located, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, founded in 1875. A heated political debate was in progress in America at the time over aid to Britain. between the isolationists desiring to keep America from supporting Britain and President Roosevelt'd Administration which was determined to aid Britain. I am not sure how Wellesley fit in to this debate, but many important colleges and universites with traditions and ties to Britain were important supporters of the Administration. It might have been Quaker connections. Quite a number of Quakers attended Wellesley College and the Quakers played a major role in the American Committee which took responsibility for our welfare. In my communication with the archivist at Wellesley College in 2008 here is an extract from one of her eMails, "The files have a few items that indicate Wellesley College was approached about this enterprise early in the summer of 1940, and clearly at some point the Boston Chapter of the United States Committee for the Care of European Children was involved. The Transcript covered part of Wellesley's expenses." The Transcript reffered to is the Boston Transcript newspaper. I think it was the Transcript who arrange our accommodation with Wellesley College, as they were our sponsors and responsible for the physical arrangements. The Welfare aspect was the American Committes responsibility. Many of Wellesley students returned early to College to look after us. Local children also used to come and play with us. I learned to ride a bike round the quad at Wellesley thanks to one boy. We couldn't have been made more welcome.

Arrival

Our ship docked at Montreal. America was neutral at the time and neutrality laws restricted trade with Britain. President Roosevely was actively working to change the laws, but the isolationists in Congress were slowing the process. So we had to come through Canada. After arriving in Montreal we were taken by train to Boston. We arrived in Boston on August 24, 1940. We arrived in Boston after dusk, tired but excited. The reception at Wellesley was most welcoming. Many of the students had returned to College to look after us.

Wellesly College

We were billetted at Wellesley College until allocated to local families (figure 1). Wellesley College is one of the best known women's liberal arts college in America, one of the notable Seven Sisters. It is located, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, founded in 1875. A heated political debate was in progress in America at the time over aid to Britain. between the isolationists desiring to keep America from supporting Britain and President Roosevelt'd Administration which was determined to aid Britain. I am not sure how Wellesley fit in to this debate, but many important colleges and universites with traditions and ties to Britain were important supporters of the Administration. It might have been Quaker connections. Quite a number of Quakers attended Wellesley College and the Quakers played a major role in the American Committee which took responsibility for our welfare. In my communication with the archivist at Wellesley College in 2008 here is an extract from one of her eMails, "The files have a few items that indicate Wellesley College was approached about this enterprise early in the summer of 1940, and clearly at some point the Boston Chapter of the United States Committee for the Care of European Children was involved. The Transcript covered part of Wellesley's expenses." Many of Wellesley students returned early to College to look after us. Local children also used to come and play with us. I learned to ride a bike round the quad at Wellesley thanks to one boy. We couldn't have been made more welcome.

Sponsors

The Transcript reffered to is the Boston Transcript newspaper. I think it was the Transcript who arrange our accommodation with Wellesley College, as they were our sponsors and responsible for the physical arrangements. I found a copy of a letter from Miss McAffee Principal of Wellesley, to the Board of Trustees for the American Committee. In it she tells them that 74 children arrived on Campus on August 26, 1940. She says that the expenses will be borne by The Boston Transcript, but in any event she is using Volunteer labour to keep costs to a minimum. The Welfare aspect was the American Committes responsibility.

Processing

I do not know a lot about the processing process, only thst we were made welcome while at Wellesly. One of the girls in our group, Clare, was asked what she wanted in her new home, she knew precisely what she wanted--a cat abd a piano. I don't remember anything as vidid as Clare. I recall going into the Principal's office and seeing her and two smiling faces. Religion did come into it. Clare told me that she and John were some of the last to be allocated to a family as they were Roman Catholic. (There were a lot of Catholics in the Boston area, but they were primarily Irish Catholics and unlikely to take in English refugree children.) I don't think we were whisked off straght-away. When the moment came we collected our clobber and were bundled into a Ford Station Wagon. I remeber it had maroon paintword and wooden doceor on the body. These pannel station wagonsre now consudered classic cars in America. We were excited to find the house right by the sea.