A past worth respecting
The evacuee suitcase is a reminder of a time in our history when thousands of British children experienced travel, adventure, discovery and growing up. For many kids their case was their only possession apart from the clothes they stood up in. Their life’s most treasured items – clothes, a book or two, some family photos and keepsakes, were packed into the case, and sent with them off an adventure far away from home.
Makes of evacuee suitcase
- Papworth
- Rodney
- Pioneer
From 1939 as many as 3.5 million people were evacuated to the rural “reception” areas of Britain, and some went abroad as far as Canada and Australia, risking extreme danger on their sea journey. For all children it was a bewildering time, full of concern and homesickness, but tinged with some excitement too.
Unforgettable times
Many older people remember their evacuee years as a joyful time. My mother-in-law was evacuated to South Wales, and spent four happy years on a farm being well looked-after, playing in green fields, and discovering how farms and country life worked. She learnt how to milk cows, harvest apples and collect eggs. Unlikely skills for a London schoolgirl!
For many children evacuation was a time of enforced “growing up” and toughening up. Sometimes the new outsiders were bullied at their new schools, placed with families they hated, and generally made to feel unwelcome and burdensome.
Along with the gasmask and identity label, the evacauee suitcase is perhaps the most striking and evocative emblem of those times. It can provide a link to a past we shouldn’t forget. Carrying an evacuee suitcase as you go about your daily business is a kind of dressing-up game, with a slightly serious side. But aside from that, they are super-cool and really incredibly useful and desirable.
Styles and types
Your typical evacuee case is a simple brown leather case of plain, durable and rugged construction. It will have reinforced corner pieces and locking catches. If you buy one make sure the key hasn’t been lost!
Almost invariably the condition bears witness to their interesting history. They tend to be scuffed and marked, with a patina from years of usage or storage. Makes them all the more beautiful and desirable.
The inside is often paper or cardboard-lined and they don’t tend to have masses of compartments for pens and pencils and notebooks like today’s briefcases. If your case happens to have its owner label still intact or a name written inside, treat this as a bonus.
Don’t limit your imagination to using a vintage suitcase as a suitcase! They are frequently used for “shabby chic” storage of linen, sheets or clothes. They can also be upcycled in imaginative ways. Why not install a shelf, and make your suitcase into a bathroom cabinet? Or maybe a fold-down desk, when attached to a wall. They make amazing treasure chests – storage for toys and games. How about using your vintage suitcase to store postcards and birthday cards – or maybe even love letters?
These suitcases are valued today for lots of good reasons. Evacuee suitcases sell from £20 to £100 (average price about £40), depending on quality and condition.
Why we love them
The most obvious use is as a briefcase – perfect for carting about all your office papers and general work stuff. Needless to say they also make superb travel cases. They’re easy to stow in train and aeroplane stowage holders. They look fantastic on train platforms and ship gangways. They generally have comfortable leather handles. Corners are well armoured with tough leather or metal protectors.
Don’t limit your imagination to using a vintage suitcase as a suitcase! They are frequently used for “shabby chic” storage of linen, sheets or clothes. They can also be upcycled in imaginative ways. Why not install a shelf, and make your suitcase into a bathroom cabinet? Or maybe a fold-down desk, when attached to a wall. They make amazing treasure chests – storage for toys and games. How about using your vintage suitcase to store postcards and birthday cards – or maybe even love letters?
These suitcases are valued today for lots of good reasons. Evacuee suitcases sell from £20 to £100 (average price about £40), depending on quality and condition.
