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The Sisters of Battle Road: The extraordinary true story of six sisters evacuated from wartime London
In 1939 Annie Jarman and her six young daughters were evacuated from their south London home and sent to the Sussex countryside to wait out the war. Refusing to be parted, they faced the unknown together, never imagining just how much their lives would change. From the trials and tribulations of leaving London, the destructive horror of the Blitz and terrible family tragedy to dances, romances and the triumph of making a new life in the country, The Sisters of Battle Road is the compelling true story of six ordinary girls in extraordinary wartime circumstances. Today, the six young girls – Mary, Joan, Sheila, Kathleen, Patricia and Ann – are six remarkable women who have lived to tell their tale of sisterhood and its unbreakable bonds in the shadow of World War Two.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
304 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 14, 2017
When war is declared, Annie Harman and her six daughters are evacuated to the countryside. Despite difficulties in finding them accommodation, Annie refuses to allow her family to be split up. The sisters struggle to adjust to life in the country as it is so different to the life in London they knew. When their beloved mother dies two years into their evacuation, the family are even more determined to stick together and support each other. Through trials at school, making new friends, new loved ones, dances and the hardship of rationing the family support each other showing their amazing bond and the power of family.
The Sisters of Battle Road is a beautifully written, compelling and heartbreaking story which is made all the more so as it is true. I loved the description of the Jarman family. The fact that they were poor and struggled to make ends meet but we're still so high spirited and just got on with things. This despite some of the conditions they had to endure to survive were truly heartbreaking. These are, thankfully, unthinkable now but the Jarman's never let it affect them which was wonderful to read about.
It helps give a fantastic fly-on-the-wall type account of life for ordinary people in the Second World War. It was really interesting to read about how much their life changed and learn more about rationing, the blitz and the land army. The author cleverly includes historical events in between the family memories and this helps the reader to understand more about how the events in the war affected the British population. I hadn't realised, perhaps stupidly, that some of the air combat could be viewed by the people on the ground and you can imagine how that brought the war closer to people.
The striking difference between then and now was also very interesting to read about. The most striking of these is that the Jarman sisters were allowed to live on their own without adult supervision despite the eldest being only 16 which just wouldn't be allowed now.
The ending was incredibly poignant and I found myself tearing up as I read it. They had all changed so much and it was great to see their resilient spirit was still there.
I think this is one of those books that everyone should read as it is just a fantastic story. It is also important to read these stories while this generation is still with us so we can pass them on to future generations. It would particularly suit people who liked the Call the Midwife series.
Huge thanks to Rosie Margesson and Transworld publishing for a proof copy of this book. It is definitely one that will stay with me!
The Sisters of Battle Road is a beautifully written, compelling and heartbreaking story which is made all the more so as it is true. I loved the description of the Jarman family. The fact that they were poor and struggled to make ends meet but we're still so high spirited and just got on with things. This despite some of the conditions they had to endure to survive were truly heartbreaking. These are, thankfully, unthinkable now but the Jarman's never let it affect them which was wonderful to read about.
It helps give a fantastic fly-on-the-wall type account of life for ordinary people in the Second World War. It was really interesting to read about how much their life changed and learn more about rationing, the blitz and the land army. The author cleverly includes historical events in between the family memories and this helps the reader to understand more about how the events in the war affected the British population. I hadn't realised, perhaps stupidly, that some of the air combat could be viewed by the people on the ground and you can imagine how that brought the war closer to people.
The striking difference between then and now was also very interesting to read about. The most striking of these is that the Jarman sisters were allowed to live on their own without adult supervision despite the eldest being only 16 which just wouldn't be allowed now.
The ending was incredibly poignant and I found myself tearing up as I read it. They had all changed so much and it was great to see their resilient spirit was still there.
I think this is one of those books that everyone should read as it is just a fantastic story. It is also important to read these stories while this generation is still with us so we can pass them on to future generations. It would particularly suit people who liked the Call the Midwife series.
Huge thanks to Rosie Margesson and Transworld publishing for a proof copy of this book. It is definitely one that will stay with me!
March 20, 2017
This probably isn’t the type of book that I would have ordinarily read so I am incredibly grateful to Rosie for sending me a copy of this.
I had just finished reading a book set in Crete during the Second World War and the fact that this was set in London and subsequently in the English countryside, made it all the more poignant.
This is a lovely, true and often moving account of the Jarman family, Dad Pierce and mum Annie and their 6 daughters as they attempt to live as normal life as possible in London whilst there is the threat of war with Germany.
Annie and the girls are eventually evacuated to the countryside whilst Pierce and the rest of their family remain in London and over the next few years we learn of their struggle to stay together and to adapt to completely new surroundings whilst trying to keep things are ‘normal’ as possible. The closeness of the family is very apparent throughout the book and it made me feel close to them too, in a way.
The girls have to adapt to a completely new way of life from the big city of London where in some instances they aren’t as welcome in this small village way of life and they have to grow up fast.
You feel as though you are growing up with them as they experience first hand instances of the war in the countryside, first love and the uncertainty of if they will ever be able to move back home to London.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a brilliant account of what it was like for the children (and parents) that had to pack up their life and evacuate to somewhere completely unknown to them. I hope this was made a fraction better by the fact that they all remained together.
I had just finished reading a book set in Crete during the Second World War and the fact that this was set in London and subsequently in the English countryside, made it all the more poignant.
This is a lovely, true and often moving account of the Jarman family, Dad Pierce and mum Annie and their 6 daughters as they attempt to live as normal life as possible in London whilst there is the threat of war with Germany.
Annie and the girls are eventually evacuated to the countryside whilst Pierce and the rest of their family remain in London and over the next few years we learn of their struggle to stay together and to adapt to completely new surroundings whilst trying to keep things are ‘normal’ as possible. The closeness of the family is very apparent throughout the book and it made me feel close to them too, in a way.
The girls have to adapt to a completely new way of life from the big city of London where in some instances they aren’t as welcome in this small village way of life and they have to grow up fast.
You feel as though you are growing up with them as they experience first hand instances of the war in the countryside, first love and the uncertainty of if they will ever be able to move back home to London.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a brilliant account of what it was like for the children (and parents) that had to pack up their life and evacuate to somewhere completely unknown to them. I hope this was made a fraction better by the fact that they all remained together.
February 5, 2020
An interesting read. I have often read of the evacuation from the POV of adults who took children in, or who heard the horror stories of children mistreated by host families or abandoned by their London parents to the care of the host family or anyone else who would take them on, but this is the first that presents the children's point of view. The story is told "inside out" as if it were a TV drama--moving back and forth in time. We start with their mother being taken to hospital in about 1941, skip back to the the phoney war of 1939, forward to 1942, then back to 1940...sigh.
The author is the son of one of the Jarman sisters, and there is an after note explaining that he has written other books. This made me wonder what happened in the proofreading process, as he also acknowledges how "wonderful" his editor is. Wonderful they may be, but the proofreaders certainly dropped the ball, particularly in the second half of the book. We are treated to some very odd turns of phrase, mostly deformations of standard English idioms; it's almost like he took dictation and didn't catch what was said. Here's a sampling:
--Something "plays on Pierce's mind" instead of preying on his mind as in correct English
--The girls' Communion dresses are stored "away from harm's reach" instead of the standard out of harm's way
--The older girls "pressurize" their father for something instead of pressuring or pressing him...was he vaccuum packed, then?
--They fear the "forboding presence of their aunts" who don't love them, instead of "forbidding". "Forboding" means fearful of some future event. The girls don't fear them, they just find them cold, selfish and rude--certainly "forbidding", which means "unfriendly, hostile, unwelcoming."
Then we are treated to verbal anachronisms such as a Canadian soldier "hanging out" with a local girl. This sort of linguistic hiccup made the reading judder along in spots and took the fifth star for me. Perhaps it's because I teach English, but I've noticed that many authors today couldn't pass their First Certificate exam for the life of them.
The author is the son of one of the Jarman sisters, and there is an after note explaining that he has written other books. This made me wonder what happened in the proofreading process, as he also acknowledges how "wonderful" his editor is. Wonderful they may be, but the proofreaders certainly dropped the ball, particularly in the second half of the book. We are treated to some very odd turns of phrase, mostly deformations of standard English idioms; it's almost like he took dictation and didn't catch what was said. Here's a sampling:
--Something "plays on Pierce's mind" instead of preying on his mind as in correct English
--The girls' Communion dresses are stored "away from harm's reach" instead of the standard out of harm's way
--The older girls "pressurize" their father for something instead of pressuring or pressing him...was he vaccuum packed, then?
--They fear the "forboding presence of their aunts" who don't love them, instead of "forbidding". "Forboding" means fearful of some future event. The girls don't fear them, they just find them cold, selfish and rude--certainly "forbidding", which means "unfriendly, hostile, unwelcoming."
Then we are treated to verbal anachronisms such as a Canadian soldier "hanging out" with a local girl. This sort of linguistic hiccup made the reading judder along in spots and took the fifth star for me. Perhaps it's because I teach English, but I've noticed that many authors today couldn't pass their First Certificate exam for the life of them.
February 12, 2020
Ive always said to my mum she should have written down her war time memories, she was 6 when war broker out, broke her arm when the bomb shelter she , her sisters and mum tried to get into and they were turned away when it was full..her mum took them to shelter in what we call in scotland a close and the air shed took a direct direct killing all in the shelter and blowing my mum, aunts and gran from one end of the close to the other! She talked about how the sky turned red as Clydebank burned. BUT sadly she hasnt written anything down and now sadly has dementia.
My daughter is fascinated by the stories her gran would tell her and she has promised me she will write it down to pass to her own children one day
I digress , this book was quick paced following 6 sisters and their parents when evacuated from London to Sussex countryside. I really enjoyed the book and would highly recommend
My daughter is fascinated by the stories her gran would tell her and she has promised me she will write it down to pass to her own children one day
I digress , this book was quick paced following 6 sisters and their parents when evacuated from London to Sussex countryside. I really enjoyed the book and would highly recommend
May 2, 2020
Enjoyed reading about this family and getting an insight into this period of British life especially at this time as were all in lockdown. Interesting to read how city kids were treated and viewed by country people and wonder how much has changed. Just wished I knew what happened post 1945 - another boom perhaps ?
December 29, 2018
In 1939 when so many evacuations were taking place to ensure the safety of children in the UK during WW2, Annie Jarman was one of the lucky mums that got to accompany her 6 daughters (as the youngest daughter Ann was under 2).
Through sheer determination she makes sure that her family aren't split up. Cramped in a small house Annie and her 6 girls try to settle into a country living (although it could not be more different than their bustling city life).
Not long into their stay Annie gets the blow that her home back in London has been bombed: she now has no home to return to and her husband has to go and live with his aloof sisters to continue his work in the Big Smoke.
The 6 girls (Mary, Joan, Sheila, Kath, Patricia and little Ann) are dealt with an even more devastating blow; the death of their beloved mother. The older girls have to go out to work and look after their younger siblings whilst still trying to cope with their own grief and trauma of living in a time of war.
I adored this book. I'm a huge fan of any WW2 story and this true account really depicted the hardships endured by all. The Jarmans were not wealthy. They had to scrimp and save on every little thing (made especially hard during strict rationing).
It wasn't an easy transition getting into country living. They were all teased at school for their accents and the fact that their learning was behind all of their class mates.
Its stories like these that make you so incredibly grateful for all you have and it's certainly very humbling to learn how resilient the brits were under duress.
A 4 star read for me.
I would like to thank Rosie Margesson for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Through sheer determination she makes sure that her family aren't split up. Cramped in a small house Annie and her 6 girls try to settle into a country living (although it could not be more different than their bustling city life).
Not long into their stay Annie gets the blow that her home back in London has been bombed: she now has no home to return to and her husband has to go and live with his aloof sisters to continue his work in the Big Smoke.
The 6 girls (Mary, Joan, Sheila, Kath, Patricia and little Ann) are dealt with an even more devastating blow; the death of their beloved mother. The older girls have to go out to work and look after their younger siblings whilst still trying to cope with their own grief and trauma of living in a time of war.
I adored this book. I'm a huge fan of any WW2 story and this true account really depicted the hardships endured by all. The Jarmans were not wealthy. They had to scrimp and save on every little thing (made especially hard during strict rationing).
It wasn't an easy transition getting into country living. They were all teased at school for their accents and the fact that their learning was behind all of their class mates.
Its stories like these that make you so incredibly grateful for all you have and it's certainly very humbling to learn how resilient the brits were under duress.
A 4 star read for me.
I would like to thank Rosie Margesson for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
June 11, 2018
Lovely story. I come from Eastbourne which is 15 minutes away from Hailsham, where the book is set. It was lovely to read the story of the evacuees and of places that still exist today. These types of stories need to be kept alive for future generations to appreciate what life was like for people not just those who gave up their lives to protect us in the war.
August 1, 2018
audio book -Just so so.... Since it is a true story it was more interesting, but rather slow and a bit boring...
April 9, 2019
Great book
Reading this book brought back memories of the stories my !I'm went through during the war, she was born in 1931 so really did grow up through the war years, but up in the Scottish Highlands, all the same they had it hard and it was just as enlightening, I kept telling her to write her memoirs and she just never got round to it, so sad as she passed 2 hrs ago, this book really brought to light with what she and her Mother, Father, 2 Sisters &3Brothers endured, waving to the pilots as they flew so low, to the Yanks passing candy & him through the fence from their hastily built camp, they may have lived in the Highlands but it aS no less scary with Invergordon a very close & nerve wracking neighbour to have, where the battleships & merchant naval staff came in & out for refueling, to the children passing the sentry asking '' Friend or Foe'' & the children shouting For & running like Billio.. My Darling Mum being the instigator where Nana MacLennan got such a fright she dropped the bagged l potatoes, for them to have a reasonable dinner the next again day My Pop had to go down the pitch black& very lonely road with aforementioned instigator to try & find the potatoes in the pitch dark, the potatoes were found (well somebody's were - a beautiful meal was made from next to nothing rationing, but the book enjoy & remember you didn't need to live in the UK Capital to have suffered& endured the was years
Reading this book brought back memories of the stories my !I'm went through during the war, she was born in 1931 so really did grow up through the war years, but up in the Scottish Highlands, all the same they had it hard and it was just as enlightening, I kept telling her to write her memoirs and she just never got round to it, so sad as she passed 2 hrs ago, this book really brought to light with what she and her Mother, Father, 2 Sisters &3Brothers endured, waving to the pilots as they flew so low, to the Yanks passing candy & him through the fence from their hastily built camp, they may have lived in the Highlands but it aS no less scary with Invergordon a very close & nerve wracking neighbour to have, where the battleships & merchant naval staff came in & out for refueling, to the children passing the sentry asking '' Friend or Foe'' & the children shouting For & running like Billio.. My Darling Mum being the instigator where Nana MacLennan got such a fright she dropped the bagged l potatoes, for them to have a reasonable dinner the next again day My Pop had to go down the pitch black& very lonely road with aforementioned instigator to try & find the potatoes in the pitch dark, the potatoes were found (well somebody's were - a beautiful meal was made from next to nothing rationing, but the book enjoy & remember you didn't need to live in the UK Capital to have suffered& endured the was years
August 4, 2020
This is actually a true story, written by one of the descendents of a family who were evacuated from Bermondsey, London to the countryside. The mother, Annie, was an original Cockney, with her six daughters. The story tells of their trials, fitting into country life; their financial struggles as the family try to make ends meet; their loneliness, missing their friends and family and also their misfortunes and tribulations. And their triumphs, the girls' excitement at meeting Canadian soldiers, their innocence and their joy. And how their Cockney strength and eye for the main chance ensures they survive.
It is well written, and the reader feels sympathy and pleasure at seeing how they deal with all that life and war heaps onto them.
A lovely read, capturing life in a different age.
It is well written, and the reader feels sympathy and pleasure at seeing how they deal with all that life and war heaps onto them.
A lovely read, capturing life in a different age.
July 17, 2022
The six Jarman sisters and their mother Annie are evacuated from Bermondsey to Hailsham in Surrey for the duration of the war and, when their mother dies from TB in 1941, spend the remaining time pretty much looking after themselves in Battle Road. The author sets their memories against events in the war, which, for readers interested in how people coped during that period, seemed rather laboured. Whilst appreciating that the ordinary lives of people during the war was often rather humdrum, despite the epic world events going on around them, I could not warm to any of the family members and therefore did not feel any emotional attachment to what was happening to them. So, for me, this account did not live up to the “extraordinary” of the title.
September 23, 2018
I loved this book a true story of Annie,Pierce and their six girls during the war years.The onset of war makes pierce send his wife Annie and their six daughters away from Bermondsey for safety as they know London will be a target for german bombs.Over the course of time they settle in at Battle Road all being a part of a loving family.I won't spoil this by giving the plot away so i will say read this book it's brilliant.5*
March 12, 2021
Such a riveting book about a time period that, though wretched in many ways, there were families who held hope and made the best of life. To have six daughters under the age of 13, one child being only a baby, a sickly mother, and a father who worked in the city through the week, living in a strange place in the country must have been daunting. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in families during World War 2 and the circumstances that brought out the best in them.
March 13, 2019
A lovely story about second world war evacuees, who were placed near the coast and could see the German planes flying right above them! Their case is unusual as all the sibling plus their mother were able to stay together, something very rare at the time. Loved reading their experiences of growing up during war time Britain.
June 24, 2018
Battle road
I really enjoyed this book. Real life journey through the trials of the war. Being evacuated from your home and having to start again in a new place and how that change affected the close family.
I really enjoyed this book. Real life journey through the trials of the war. Being evacuated from your home and having to start again in a new place and how that change affected the close family.
September 28, 2018
Enjoyable
This book is a real insight into how families coped with sending their children to the country side to be safe. My own mum never said much about it. I only know she ran back home. So I've enjoyed this true story. Lovely story. A must read for all that love war stories.
This book is a real insight into how families coped with sending their children to the country side to be safe. My own mum never said much about it. I only know she ran back home. So I've enjoyed this true story. Lovely story. A must read for all that love war stories.
February 4, 2020
An Excellent Read
Lovely story of a bygone era, would be nice to bring out a second book of the family to see what their journey through life was after the war. I would reccomend this to anyone interested in the war years.
Lovely story of a bygone era, would be nice to bring out a second book of the family to see what their journey through life was after the war. I would reccomend this to anyone interested in the war years.
September 5, 2017
Gives you a good idea of the living conditions of the poor in London in the 1940s. Reads very much like a biography though. Not really polished for entertainment like a work of fiction.
November 18, 2017
Lovely easy read. Would like another book to see how they all grew up and if Mary lived in Canada
June 30, 2018
Lovely book. Very interesting to read about a family growing up in the war. And how they coped with life. Well worth reading.
July 7, 2018
Family
Lovely easy reading about family and their struggles would have been nice to have known how they got on in later life and what happens in Canada
Lovely easy reading about family and their struggles would have been nice to have known how they got on in later life and what happens in Canada
August 14, 2018
such an enjoyable read and loved the photos showing on each chapter. a heartbreaking story of all these sisters. i loved every bit
August 23, 2018
What a wonderful story, you feel you are there during wartime. I wish there was a sequel. Great story.
October 16, 2018
Excellent read felt you were with them every step of their journey.
February 12, 2019
My review.
Enjoy this book. A touching account of a families struggle to stay together against appalling odds. Not only a world war, but the death of a dearly loved mother
Enjoy this book. A touching account of a families struggle to stay together against appalling odds. Not only a world war, but the death of a dearly loved mother
March 14, 2019
The Sisters of battle road
A fantastic read wish there was a follow up to see what happens next as Margaret of to Canada 😀
A fantastic read wish there was a follow up to see what happens next as Margaret of to Canada 😀
August 5, 2019
loved this story of hardship goodtimes loves and loss
September 3, 2019
Beautiful read
Read it in a day heartwarming sad funny. I felt I was living with the family brilliant book poor Annie
Read it in a day heartwarming sad funny. I felt I was living with the family brilliant book poor Annie
January 5, 2020
Very good read about the old days .
December 29, 2020
My parents moved to Hailsham after my father was made redundant at GEC, and they opened Collings Hardware store in the town. My sister moved to the town too, so we had lots of visits and holidays there, so I could really relate to this delightful book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews