"Introduction"
Joan with her camera in 1937
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"Introduction"
When Joan was given her first camera in 1937, the year she left school, it was a gift which began a lifelong passion for photography.
As a school teacher she was evacuated twice, along with her class, to the West Country. With her small box camera, she captured the people and places she encountered.
She also took photographs of her friends and family, of her various billets, and of the short breaks and holidays she was occasionally able to take.
Her snapshots provide a glimpse into the ordinary events and people living their lives in wartime Britain.
Like Joan's diaries, not all of her wartime photographs have survived, but those that remain provide faces to the characters she so often mentions in her diaries, and breathe life into her words.
This album displays a selection of her wartime photographs, many accompanied by the relevant extracts from her diaries.
"Douglas and Margaret's wedding"
Margaret and Douglas
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"Douglas and Margaret's Wedding"
February 24th, 1940
"Went down town. Tried unsuccessfully to buy a skirt. Margaret to tea, to discuss wedding, as far as I can see, it's going to cost me a fortune. Freda round. Heard New World Symphony."
March 29th, 1940
"Ma, Pa and I caught the 7am to London Bridge. Went to Enfield and dumped things and back to Euston where they saw me off. Rushed round shops in Birmingham with Pinsons for Bridesmaid's outfit - cost 4 1/2 guineas...! Met Papa and Auntie Pinson."
April 26th, 1940
"Quite a nice day. After much hair-curling by Hilda, I got off at play time and caught the 4:30 from Euston. Found my way to Walsall, where Pa and John met me in the car. Doug and Doc - the best man - came up to the house. Jolly party."
April 27th, 1940
"Threatening at first, brightened later. The wedding went beautifully. Margaret looked lovely - so did we! Didn't feel nervous. Nice service. Topping reception and didn't get drunk! They came back to the house with the guests to go away. Played cards in evening."
April 28th, 1940
Nice day. Just gassed to the family in the morning and afternoon. Had early tea and Karl and John took me to Birmingham - fair journey, complete with new hat and flowers! We didn't like the best man much - an awful flirt. I kissed more people this weekend than ever before! Even Doug and Margaret and Kath!!!
"Evacuated Teachers"
The staff
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June18th, 1940
"Evacuated for 2nd time. School 7:30, then bus to Paddintgton. Long journey to Tiverton, but kids weren't so bad. Thence to Hemyock - miles from anywhere. I'm billeted with Barbara."
October 27th, 1941
"The blow has fallen. Devon have written to say that 1 Edm. teacher must be withdrawn or sent elsewhere in Devon. None of use could make up our minds which wanted to go. I certainly don't want to go elsewhere in Devon."
"Evacuated Children"
My class, 1941
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February 21st, 1941
"30 more evacuees arrived in afternoon from Bristol, with master - married. All billetted safely. Kids very excited, did no work in afternoon. W.I. meeting - did some rather poor folk-dancing."
February 24th, 1941
"Bristol children still giving trouble. They are very discontented and have tried to run away. Felt rather wretched. Afternoon chaotic as nurse came to test eyesight and I had to send a kid home - suspected scarlet. Went to speech and concert party for War Weapons Week - quite a good 3pennyworth!"
"Winter Games"
Winter fun in the playground
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January 15th, 1941
"Freezing cold. Began to snow heavily in afternoon and it is now thick. Hope no kids turn up tomorrow! I quite enjoy taking a class of average children - but I still lose my temper at times. I really must curb it. Washed my hair."
January 14th, 1941
"Friday again, hurrah, hurrah. I got an awful snowball pelting and it hurt my back for ages, the blighters. Went to W.I. party - quite amusing in patches -dances, games, etc. till midnight!"
"Winter Games"
Winter fun in the playground
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February 2nd, 1941
"Woke to find it snowing, and there is now a white world. So few turned up at school that we had to cancel attendance and keep the kids there. Not so many snowballs this time! First aid still pretty futile."
February 5th, 1941
"Snowed all day, so my dinner-duty was pretty hectic as about 60 kids stayed. Still, I'm alive! Began to embroider Hilda's hankies amid great mirth and merriment."
"Kids at Play"
Hemyock Junior Home Guard
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March 20th, 1941
"Nice and Sunny. Did First Aid in between everything. 1,000 army arrived in village for manoeuvres, therefore children quite out of hand."
"Kids at Play"
Hemyock Junior Home Guard
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March 21st, 1941
"Chilly. Village full of soldiers, tanks, etc. No holding the kids. Mock battles etc. Giggle in evening, good fun. The village now realises that there's a war on."
"Friends"
Mary, Lucy, Mrs. Prowse, me
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"Friends"
Beryl
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"Friends"
Barbara and I
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"Friends"
Me and Hilda
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"Beryl gets married"
September 23rd, 1941
"Down town with Pa and saw no-one. Sunbathed in afternoon. Saw Beryl and went for a long walk - she is probably getting married in November-! I begin to be very much on the shelf. She's very lucky."
October 2nd, 1941
"Down town and wandered. Washed hair in afternoon, out in evening, visited B for a little. Packed. Feel rather sad at leaving B for last time in her unmarried state - she's developing a lot."
"Beryl gets married"
I make the paper!
November 10th, 1941
"Rainy and Galey. P still re-arranges the time table and messes up lessons. Sent off B's wedding present - fish cutlery."
November 21, 1941
"Trained home to Worthing, went to see Beryl and had supper with hordes of relatives. B seems very calm and collected."
November 22nd, 1941
"Fine. Got down to Holy Trinity early, introduced to Rev and practised organ. Beryl was married at 11am, and except for a few mistakes I played respectably well. She looked very nice and terribly happy - I almost wish I were getting wed!"
"Billets"
Mrs. Prowse
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"Billets"
Mr. and Mrs. Lowry
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"Billets"
Cissie, Harold, Mrs. Hall and Joan
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"Billets"
Mrs. Doble and 'Uncle'
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"Summer Holiday"
The farm, Newton Tracey
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August 26th, 1944
"We arose at 7, and left at 8 with no fuss. Paddington was swarming - queues a mile long on 2 sides of Eastbourne Terrace. However, by lunch we got corner seats and arrived at Barnstaple at 4pm. Had car to Newton Tracey and found the farm, which is along a lane in the heart of the country. Mrs. Bellew is very nice and made us comfortable."
"Summer Holiday"
Going exploring
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August 27th, 1944
"Explored up the village, saw the church, circular tower. Enormous dinner and Devonshire cream! Yum yum. Up to Alverdiscott in afternoon and had tea - I'll be fat. Went down another path in evening. To bed tired and happy."
"Summer Holiday"
Bideford
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August 28th, 1944
"Pelted in night, but left off after brekker, so we started out for Bideford - 6 miles each way! Got a lift for last mile or 2. Walked all over the town and ate sandwiches in park, away from wind. Hiked back slowly, with a snooze and making friends with a dog. Didn't 'arf enjoy supper! Congregated in huge kitchen after and laughed with others. Tremendous fireplace - log fire. Mrs. B fun."
"Summer Holiday"
Hilda on the farm
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August 29th, 1944
"Rained all morning so we giggled and did odd jobs and walked to village. Went for a short stroll in between showers in afternoon. In evening we went round farm with Mrs. Bellew. Held a chicken - for 1st time! - by its wings, thought they'd fall off. Collected eggs, saw cows milked and calves suck etc - most interesting. Can I pluck up courage to milk?"
"Summer Holiday"
Hilda paddling at Westward Ho!
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August 30th, 1944
"Walked to Bideford once again via Horwood. Had some lovely views en route. Bused to Westward Ho! and had lunch on the beach. Went for walk along cliffs and came into sight of Clovelly cliffs across Bideford Bay. Too chilly to swim so we paddled our toes in the Atlantic, and scrambled over the rocks. Visited the local for cider and had chicken when we came in."
"Summer Holiday"
Barnstaple
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August 31st, 1944
"Not very auspicious weather for our last day. Caught the market bus to Barnstaple. Explored market-pannier where farmers' wives sit and sell their produce. Went for walk with cat in evening and felt like Dick Whittington. Packed and talked to Mrs. Bellew. They have been nice to us and fed us marvellously - cream every day! Oh God, I don't know that I deserve such a happy holiday."
