The Evacuation of All Children From Britain's Large Cities

The Evacuation of All Children From Britain's Large Cities

In 1939 the Second World War broke out. The government made plans for

the evacuation of all children from Britain's large cities. Sir john

Anderson, who was placed in charge of the scheme, decided to divide

the country into three areas: evacuation (people living in urban

districts where heavy bombing raids could be expected); neutral (areas

that would neither send nor take evacuees) and reception (rural areas

where evacuees would be sent).

This would change many people's lives, especially children. They were

made to evacuate the city or town they live in, leaving behind their

home and family. However, it was not just children who where

evacuated, teachers where as well. They were to accompany the

children. There where also handicapped people. Some people were

reluctant to move and only 47 per cent of the schoolchildren, and

about one third of the mothers went to the designated areas. This

included 827,000 schoolchildren, 524,000 mothers and children under

school age, 13,000 expectant mothers, 103,000 teachers and 7,000

handicapped people. This was alot of people to evacuate, as they

needed volunteers who could foster them. It shows this in source D. It

shows two children smiling happily and underneath it says in big bold

letters, "Thank you, foster parents . . .. We want more like you" this

is a very good propaganda stunt as it looks like that's what the

children are saying but also asking for volunteers for fostering.

On the bases of what I have seen in photographs & films, it shows that

a lot about the evacuations and what it was like. However, it only

shows people who are happy and laughing in the photographs & films.

This was not all true as there were many cases of the children not

wanting to leave there home and family, so when they went away they

where crying and upset. Source B tells us about a teacher who

remembers about being evacuated. She talks about how the children only

muttered, as they were too frightened to talk.