Helena Farlow was sent from her home in London to Miss. during the Second World War. brought

In September 1939, German troops invaded Poland, marking the start of World War II in Europe.

In London, Helena Farlow was packing a bag of her belongings to embark on a journey to parts unknown. She was 11 years old and like many other children under the age of 14 in England’s larger cities, she was sent to live with strangers far from the city limits in what was called Operation Pied Piper.

It was the first of her life’s journeys that would eventually take her from Europe to Mississippi.

“I was put on a train and was gone for two years,” she said. “I remember saying to my mother, ‘Should I go? Should I go?’ and she said, ‘Yes, you should.'”

Farlow was born in Margate, a small coastal town about 22 miles north of Dover, where her parents had a small shop. The family moved to Windsor, just outside London, where her grandmother lived, before moving again to London to be closer to her father.

Before Operation Pied Piper was launched, the British government issued an ultimatum to Hitler’s Germany, demanding that the Germans halt their aggressive military operations, but Hitler ignored their demands and forced Britain and France to declare war.

Then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill said Operation Pied Piper was necessary to protect the country’s children. Hundreds of thousands of children of all ages boarded trains and headed to smaller towns, where many found temporary homes with families who opened their doors to take them in. Some children were sent even further from home, to Australia, the United States and wherever else. the children were welcome.

The children were not assigned to families before leaving their homes. Instead, they arrived at their destination and were picked up by people who volunteered to care for them.

Farlow – then Helena Kent – was sent to Cornwall, Wales, where she lived near the airport for a few months, but after the airport was turned into a US military base, she was sent to live with an elderly couple and then to moved to another house. so she could go to school. In total, she lived in three houses for between 11 and 14 years, with no family nearby.

“My mom came down, I think twice,” Farlow said. “It was a different life. I didn’t know anyone.”

Farlow was terrified that she would be separated from her family. She kept asking herself, “Why me?”

“I think it changed me,” she said. “I was very miserable.”

Her father, who had retired from the army, was recalled to active duty. Her brother James, who was three years older than Helena, was also called to serve in the army. Her friends, who had also been sent away, did not return.

“When I got home, Mom and I were the only ones,” she said.

Tragically, James Kent was killed during his first military action. He was on a naval ship when it was torpedoed by the Japanese. He was 18.

“That was the worst,” Helena said. “The telegram boy came with a telegram. It simply said: ‘The Admiralty regrets to inform you that your son is missing.’

The loss of her brother was devastating for Farlow and her parents. It’s something the family struggled with. And it’s still hard for Farlow to talk about it.

“You just stay busy and push everything aside,” Farlow said. “It’s hard to realize it’s been so long.”

At age 14, Farlow got a job, where she worked for two years, and then moved on to another job that was a step up from “stuffing envelopes and licking stamps.” Her new job, where she remained for almost nine years, sent her to school to learn shorthand, and she enjoyed her time there.

The war continued and Farlow, like many other Londoners, became accustomed to the bombings, walking through the rubble on her way to and from work.

Food was in short supply, but Farlow remembers eating “anything we could.” Some supplies were rationed, so they had to extend what supplies they had until the next allocation of rations.

“We ate a lot of Spam, dried eggs, horse meat,” she said. “Mother and I put together our (rations).”

During this time she visited Windsor, where she had an aunt who was almost the same age. The two teenagers went to the dances at nearby Ascot and hung out with American soldiers, one of whom was dating her aunt.

“That took a long time,” she says. “Then I met my husband there.”

Aubrey Farlow was a courier for the United States Air Force Military Police and was thus posted all over Europe, but returned to London to visit Helena whenever he could.

After the war, Farlow returned to Mississippi, but the two remained in touch. Finally, Aubrey Farlow said to Helena, “Either you come here, or I’ll come there.”

She decided to come to the United States and warned Aubrey that she would return to London if they didn’t feel the same way once they were together. But the two were meant to be together.

Aubrey and Helena Farlow were married for 59 years before Aubrey Farlow died in 2011.

Now 96, Farlow still leads an active life, although she recently moved to The Claiborne in Hattiesburg, a retirement community.

“Everyone knows everyone here,” Farlow said.

She doesn’t have much family anymore, but her husband’s two nieces come to visit and help her with the things she needs.

Her son, James Farlow, is a firefighter in Baton Rouge.

The Farlows lived in a sprawling mansion in Oloh, close to Hattiesburg and Columbia, but far enough away to enjoy their peaceful surroundings.

“His father had a big family and they were so good to me,” Helena Farlow said.

The Farlows initially lived in Baton Rouge, where Aubrey Farlow worked. He later decided to become a police officer and worked his way up to captain.

When the couple retired after more than twenty years in Louisiana, they returned to Oloh, where Aubrey built the couple’s new home on land given to them by Aubrey’s father.

The couple visited England several times during their marriage and Helena’s mother, Mavis Kent, visited Baton Rouge and lived there and in Oloh with the couple until her death at the age of 99.

Today, Helena Farlow takes part in the many activities available at The Claiborne and offers English tea and biscuits to her visitors. It’s a practice she’s had since childhood and shares with her priest, Father Tommy Conway of St. Fabian Catholic Church, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland.

“Dad Tommy says to tell him when I’m running low on cookies and he’ll get them for me,” she said.

Hattiesburg resident Mim Adamson contributed to this story.

Do you have a story to share? ContactLici Beveridgebee[email protected]. Follow her furtherX @licibevorFacebookbeefacebook.com/liciveridge.