 Chatwin 's early years were spent moving regularly with his mother while his father was at sea . Prior to his birth , Chatwin 's parents had lived at <unk> Green , Worcestershire , but Margharita moved to her parents ' house in Dronfield , near Sheffield shortly before giving birth . Mother and son remained there for only a few weeks . Worried about Nazi bombs , she sought a safer place to stay . Margharita took her son with her as they travelled to stay with various relatives during the war . They would remain in one place until either Margharita decided to move out of concern for their safety , or because of friction among family members . Later in life Chatwin recalled of the war , " Home , if we had one , was a solid black suitcase called the Rev @-@ Robe , in which there was a corner for my clothes and my Mickey Mouse gas mask . " 
