Evacuation

Ana Cerdán, Alba Fernández , and Noelia Guerra

Operation Pied Piper

The first official children’s evacuation in Britain began on the first four days of September1939. On Thursday, 31 August, two days before the declaration of war, nearly three million people, mostly children, were transported from towns and cities to safe places in the countryside. It was called operation “Pied Piper”.

There were two more evacuations. The second evacuation started between the German invasion of most of France in June 1940 and the beginning of the Blitz in September of the same year. And the third began in June 1944, when the Germans attacked again by firing V1 and V2 rockets on Britain.

The British Government was worried that a new war might begin when Hitler came to power in 1933. They feared that Germany would attack the most important cities such as London, Coventry Birmingham or Portsmouth.

John Anderson, member of the House of Commons, was the person in charge of managing the evacuation. He was placed in charge of Air Raid Precautions or ARP, which divided the United Kingdom into three areas:

1. Evacuation: areas where heavy bombing was expected.

2. Neutral: areas that would not need to send or receive evacuees.

3. Reception: rural areas where evacuees would be send.

The evacuees were classified into four categories, focused on specific social groups deemed non essential to war work:

1. School–age children

2. The infirm

3. Pregnant women

4. Mothers with babies or pre - school children.

Evacuation was not compulsory, but thanks to the great advertising campaign carried out by the British Government, the majority of families which resided in the cities where bombing was expected decided to send their children to a safe place in the countryside. However, for the parents this meant not knowing where and with whom their children were going to be accommodated.

“My mother didn't accompany me and my sister to the school that Sunday because she knew it would be too painful”. Pam Hobbs.

The evacuees were transferred by train and road. Each child had a luggage label pinned to their coat on which was written their name, school and evacuation authority. They were accompanied on their journey by a small army of guardians, mostly teachers, and Women Voluntary Service WVS personnel.

Children arrived at the countryside tired, hungry and uncertain whether they would ever see their families again. They were taken to the village town where they would be met by billeting officers (people who were in charge of finding them a home). In the village town hall “pick you own evacuee” sessions were celebrated. The host family that would take care of one of these children would receive a salary. They received 10 shillings and sixpence (53p, the equivalent to 26 pounds) for the first unaccompanied child, and 8 shillings and sixpence for any subsequent children.

“…the host families seemed thrilled about taking in a child and the children who were better looking or who could help out with farm work were chosen first” Pam Hobb.

When the war ended, around 12 per cent of those children say they suffered some sort of mental, physical or even sexual abuse.

“…for the first time in my life I knew what it was like to be unwanted…” Pam Hobb.

Fortunately, some of these children have kept a lot of good memories about their host families. This is the case of Sheila Shear.

"When we got to Chesham, we were treated like the closest members of his family. I really appreciated how much our little family had meant to him – and had gone on meaning to him all his life”. Sheila Shear.

The main collateral damage in this Operation Pied Piper was the long separation between parents and children. Although they were grateful to the foster families, they felt that they were missing part of their children's lives.

After the war ended and the evacuated children returned to their families, both of them felt as if they were complete strangers.

“My family all commented on how I talked different, so I had that strange feeling of not quite belonging, yet wanting to be there because they were my family”. Joan Risley.

GOODNIGHT CHILDREN EVERYWHERE (click here to listen to the song)

Autors: Gaby Rogers and Harry Philips (1939) broadcast every night by the BBC.

Sleepy little eyes in a sleepy little head,

Sleepy time is drawing near.

In a little while you’ll be tucked up in your bed,

Here’s a song for baby dear.

Goodnight children everywhere,

Your mummy thinks of you tonight.

Lay your head upon your pillow,

Don’t be a kid or a weeping willow.

Close your eyes and say a prayer,

And surely you can find a kiss to spare.