Evacuation Of Children WW2
Uploaded by alexaylen on Oct 29, 2001
During World War 2, many children were moved from areas that were at risk from bombing. The children had to leave their families and go to live with strangers in less dangerous parts of the country.
This was called “evacuation”. Foster parents usually took their children.
However, many discovered that life away from home was no picnic. Some thought it would be fun and exciting, like an adventure. All the younger boys thought it was a holiday, but not sure why the women and girls were crying.
The first school children were evacuated on the 1st September, 1939 - the day Germany invaded Poland.
In the first three days of September 1939, nearly 3,000,000 people were transported to the countryside, these were mostly children. They thought that they would be home before Christmas.
It was usually the poorer children were not used to travelling. The wealthier family children were not upset on a average compared to the others. This was because they were used to travelling and being long distances away. Some parents even visited their children at weekends!
Within a week, a quarter of the population of Britain would have a new addresses.
At the start of the war schools were moved together. The children wore identity labels, gasmasks hanging from their necks and a small suitcase full of clothes and food for the day. They left in the early hours of the morning when it was dark.
The majority were schoolchildren, who had been sent away were labelled like pieces of luggage, separated from their parents and accompanied by new people and teachers. They were just numbers in older peoples view!
Most parents tried not to cry, some parents couldn't let go. Parents gave instructions to their children these were to not complain, Grin and smile however you feel, look after your brother or sister…… and not forgetting to write home.
The teachers or supervisors kept the children happy and told them not to worry. Kids were in good moods……. That was before they left.
Children were transported by trains. These trains were more often than not dirty. The children were all packed together. Most of the kids weren't used to long distances and by the time they got out they were hot, bothered, tired and dirty.
After they had arrived they were promptly sent to village or church hall.
The village or town, officers lined the children up against a wall or on a stage...