Hello Gloria.
Not sure if you're still interested in the South Hallsville bombing story but I have only just found the Forum. I have a little bit more to add to your's and Lia's postings.
Emily Smith and her mother, Mary Croft, were next door neighbours in Martindale Rd, Custom House. They, together with Emily's children- Tommy, Alec, Johnny, Elsie, Sarah, Marigold and Rose Marie ( the baby who your mum held) gathered in the school for safety before being evacuated to Devon. What irony that they and many families gathered for safety.
All the boys, Elsie and Sarah were put on the coach to Devon and their mum said that they were to stay together, look after one another and that she'd see them soon.....
Your mum has told you about the baby, Rose Marie. Rose Marie was my auntie who has sadly just passed away. Thankfully, she found her eldest sister, Elsie, who is my mum. My mum, at only 7 years old, looked after her sister Sarah in Devon. Her brothers stayed elsewhere but always tried to run away!
My grandad was in the merchant navy during and after the war, and didn't have a home for all the children as it was bombed. No Social Services intervention in those days, so my granddad found different homes for them with different families- hence the life long separation. Rose had a happy life, and my mum continues to live happily in Stratford. How awful war is and how it shatters lives.
Thank you for posting the story of your mum- I shall tell my mum later! Thank you!