I was told that my father was anxiously waiting for my arrival as he had to go early for the Bastille Day Parade. I was given three names: Georgette from my father's younger brother Georges , Gabrielle Marie my two grandmothers. My parents moved to Versailles as my father had to resign from his job at the hospital in Lille because the Council did not allow him to have two jobs he was in an orchestra in the evenings and weekends for six months of the year.
The first thing I really remember was in My father was doing a one year period of military service near Arras, so mother and I went to Lambersart to stay with my Demolin grandparents. When the Germans entered France we all four went to some friends who kept a pub in Lille, so there were deep cellars in which to shelter. I remember candles stuck on the beer barrels. As things quietened down we went back to Lambersart and my grandfather went on with his job of typesetting for a newspaper.
Of course, I went to school whilst in Lambersart, and my three cousins were there too. Then we were told to billet a German soldier. He was, as many others, not anxious to fight and told me in bad French that my father must put his name on his front and back and "Richar not do poum poum on him". We usually had one German billet, but occasionally two. They were no trouble to us. My mother made an application to the Kommandatur for our repatriation to Paris.
Some people went from time to time, but towards the end of the war - early , food was getting scarce so all left on the list were told to assemble. We were taken to Tourcoing for three weeks. This town was chosen as there were no German troops there. We lodged with the inhabitants, and once again the children attended school.
We were told that we could only take personal jewellery, and that it must be worn. My grandmother had given mother her earings. Mother's ears had been pierced years ago, but the holes had closed. They had to be reopened a knitting needle and a cork was the way. As we were not allowed to have lists of names and addresses, we used to learn them every night myself included and we remembered them all when we reached Paris.
