08-05-2025
The chilling story of Edinburgh evacuee who was sent to Fife to live in an attic
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
An Edinburgh woman who was evacuated from her family during the Second World War is looking back on the experience as we mark Victory in Europe Day.
Doreen Carmichael, 96, was sent from her home in Edinburgh to live with a woman in Cupar when she was 11-years-old. Doreen recalled the woman, Mrs Sarah Bruce, being 'very pernickety' - though doesn't remember having a bath in the three years that she lived there.
Many children across the country were evacuated from cities during Operation Pied Piper in 1939, in a bid to keep them alive and in safer, more rural areas. With these child evacuees now in their '80s and '90s, The Mirror spoke with Doreen - whose memories of the time are as sharp as ever.
For all of the evacuee children, VE Day signalled not only the welcome news of peace but a chance for them to return to their families.
It couldn't have come sooner for Doreen Carmichael, then aged 11, who recalls levels of hygiene would probably involve social services these days. Despite the hygiene issues, she is full of respect for Mrs Sarah Bruce who took her and let her live up in the attic with her sister and four children from another family.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Doreen, now 96, was evacuated from their home in Edinburgh to a town called Cupar, 45 miles away. "Mrs Bruce was a prominent figure in the town and didn't have children of her own, she was very pernickety, she would send somebody out for flowers for the table when we ate.
"She was kind and we were always well fed, although I can only remember eating bread and butter. But the old, cold house only had a cold tap, an outside toilet, an ancient gas cooker and oil lamps for light. I don't remember ever having a bath in the three years I was there. I know I got a dirty head.
"She had an attic room and that's where all the kids were and she had a commode that we all filled and she had a lady in to do things around the house. Lately I wondered what on earth she did with the commode because the stairs to the attic were really steep, so I think she probably opened the window and threw it out.
"I must have been smelly because we did not get proper wash and I remember saying to her one time: 'My Mummy gave us clean clothes every week', so that must have worried me."
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Something else she remembers is when the air sirens went off. She said: "When the siren sounded Mrs Bruce would get us all downstairs then we would put our gas masks on and sit with her on her bed until the all-clear sounded. The masks were so uncomfortable."
Luckily Doreen came out of her experience unscathed and continues to visit Cupar even now. She kept in touch with the lady she was housed with and even invited her to her wedding.
