primary homework ww2 evacuees

WW2 Evacuation Facts

Here are some facts about the evacuation of children and mothers from cities to the countryside which took place in Britain during World War 2.

• The evacuation of children from cities to the countryside in order to keep them safe from air raids began in September 1939.
• Many of London’s children were sent to Wales, Cornwall or Devon. Children were also evacuated to other rural areas, such as East Anglia.
• The children who were evacuated were known as evacuees and the families they stayed with in the countryside were called host families .
• Several thousand children were evacuated overseas to Canada, Australia and the United States.
• The children travelled on special trains from the city to their host families. Many were too young to understand exactly what was happening and many thought they were going on a holiday. Most of the evacuees were sad to say goodbye to their parents and homes.
• The evacuees were all given a gas mask and they had food for the journey to the countryside. Every child had a label pinned to their clothing. This label stated the child’s name, home address, school and destination.
• Although some evacuees didn’t enjoy their evacuation, many of the children adapted really well to country life. They became friends with the local children and, in many cases, stayed in touch with their host family after the end of World War 2.
• It wasn’t just children who were evacuated. Mothers of very young children, pregnant women, disabled people and some teachers were evacuated. The evacuated teachers stayed in the same village as their evacuated classes.
• Efforts were made to keep evacuated brothers and sisters together, but this wasn’t always possible.
• Evacuees and their parents would keep in touch by writing letters to each other.
• Many of the children who were evacuated in 1939 returned home by 1940 because Britain wasn’t heavily bombed by the Germans in the first months of WW2. When t he Blitz began children were sent back to the countryside.
• It is estimated that over 3 million people (mostly children) were evacuated during World War 2.
• The official in charge of finding a home for the evacuees was called the Billeting Officer.

What next? Discover more World War 2 facts , learn about how those who remained in Britain’s cities sheltered during air raids , or find out about the Battle of Britain .

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Children on the Move

A lasting record of wartime evacuation, lessons and activities.

These resources are designed to make the work of the Children on the Move project more accessible for primary school children, particularly Key Stage 2.  They give pupils the opportunity to learn about World War II evacuation from the first-hand accounts of the people who actually experienced it.

Technical Note

The audio clips will only play within lesson presentations if you are using Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 and above. If you are having problems playing the audio clips or are using an older version of PowerPoint, the audio clips for all presentations can be downloaded separately here . They can then be played manually outside PowerPoint using Windows Media Player or equivalent.

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Evacuees lesson; World War II

Subject: History

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

22 May 2014

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Zaracrawford22

great resource, could you advise what BBC link you have used for this?

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

great for using with my year 2s, thanks.

ProfSnape934

Great activity, excellent resources. My class will love this

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How do we know what it was like to be evacuated?

Learning objectives

• To understand how the experience for evacuees differed.
• To challenge the view given at the time by the government that evacuation was a positive experience.

Possible teaching objectives

Starter (initial stimulus material) - using a government leaflet "Evacuation; how and why" from 1939

• Display the government leaflet "Evacuation", how and why" listed in the resources column. This is read to the class. Key passages can then be underlined either by the pupils or by the teacher for the purpose of class discussion. Key passages such as ‘much safer and happier' should be drawn out. Do they agree with this statement?

Interview with an ‘evacuee'

• Explain that a lot of people recorded their experiences both officially and in diary form. Explain that the next task will involve using original documents to devise interviews that the pupils will then act out. The task is demonstrated by the teacher and another adult. If another adult is not available then a G&T pupil well primed will do just as well. Ideally they should be dressed in the appropriate 1940s clothes and speak with accents.

Can't see the video? Download it here

• After the demonstration is finished, take the pupils through the process by showing them the original source material and how questions and responses were taken from it. This can be difficult particularly for the less able so it is a good idea to spend some time on this. Draw up a list of common questions that could be asked. The pupils should also be able to underline key passages on the sources to help them in this.
• In pairs pupils write their own interviews. Again it is important to differentiate here. Some of the sources are more easily accessible than others so should be given out with this in mind. Spend time drawing out key passages that you will refer to later in discussion.
• Pupils can perform their interviews.

Lead a class discussion on what it was like to be evacuated. Was it the same for all? If not then why not? From this and the interviews lead the pupils to come up with a list of questions they would like to ask a real evacuee. Clearly this task necessitates having an evacuee available. This will not always be possible but where it is it proves an excellent learning experience for the pupils. If possible the next session would consist of an interview with an evacuee. This can then be used to feedback on and inform the extended writing task.

Learning outcomes

• Using original source material pupils produce interviews.
• Record views on the relative positive or negative experiences and discuss why this may be the case.
• Participate in class discussion of what it was like to be evacuated.

Attached files:

• evacuees_resource_2.pdf 885.8 KB PDF document
• evacuees_resource_3.pdf 27.8 KB PDF document
• evacuees_resource_4.pdf 43.9 KB PDF document

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• World War 2 Evacuees And The Home Front Ks1 2 Drama And History Resource

World War 2: Evacuees and the Home Front – KS1/2 Drama and History Resource

13-page PDF

Fitting National Curriculum drama requirements into English time can be a problem, but Alison Chaplin has an exciting solution: why not develop children’s drama skills at the same time as you deepen their understanding of another curriculum area?

This resource offers examples of drama activities that have been used to explore the historical area of Britain since 1930 – specifically the home front.

Alison Chaplin is a drama teacher and writer living in the North West. She has over 30 years’ experience in youth theatre and drama teaching.

Check out more of her resources on her TES page  Arts on the Move  and on her website  artsonthemove.co.uk .

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• Evacuation in WW2

The evacuation of Britain’s children out of British cities during World War Two remains the biggest mass movement of people the nation has ever seen. Within only four days, nearly 3,000,000 people were moved from the cities to the countryside to keep them safe from German air raids. Most of these evacuees were schoolchildren, but some mothers accompanied them, as well as a 100,000 teachers.

The order to evacuate came at 11.07am on 31 August 1939, and within a week a quarter of Britain’s population had a new address. Evacuees left their homes and parents to live with host families in new homes, called ‘billets’. Some children returned home within a few weeks after there had been little sign of bombing, but many were again evacuated in the summer of 1940 at the start of the Blitz. For the majority, these ‘billets’ would become their home for the duration of the war.

Moving millions of people out of towns and cities was a logistical nightmare, and at the outbreak of war it became obvious that the Government’s plan for this mass evacuation were deeply flawed. For one, it had grossly overestimated the intensity of aerial bombing and number of casualties. This resulted in propaganda that scared the population, leading to panic when it came time to evacuate. What’s more, the man in charge of evacuation, Sir John Anderson, was a cold character with little empathy for the parents or children separated by the evacuations.

Despite this, Londoners adopted a spirit of patriotism and optimism on the first day of evacuations. Many evacuees remember singing as they marched to the train stations with their classmates. Every evacuee also had to carry a gas mask, food for the journey and a small case with toiletries and clothes. Pinned to their coats were labels with their names, home address, school and destination.

For many of the city children, living in the countryside felt like an adventure. Many of the evacuees were hosted by kind families who treated them like one of their own, but for others it was a difficult time. While they represent a minority, abuse and mistreatment was still a reality for some evacuees.

The greatest culture clashes often came when the evacuees mixed with local children at school. ALthough many became firm friends, there were clear differences between the ‘townies’ and the locals.

Doreen Foreman was evacuated from Margate to Rugeley. Here she explains some of the differences between home and life in a mining community.

‘I went from a very ordinary church-going family to live with a mining family in Rugeley and where we used to spend... all day on Sunday at church here, I spent it in the pub or the club or whatever, you know. At Christmas, our Christmases were quite different because there again, we’d go to the pub and whereas here it was always in church and so... there was a vast difference.’

See also: Evacuation and Education

MLA Citation/Reference

"Evacuation in WW2". HistoryLearning.com. 2024. Web.

Related Pages

• The Blitz of Belfast 1941
• The Bombing of Coventry in 1940
• Evacuation and Education
• The Blitz and World War Two
• The Impact of the Blitz on London
• Memories of the Blitz
• The 1942 Bombing of York
• The Baedeker Raids of 1942
• The Battle of Graveney Marsh

The Wartime Memories Project - Evacuees during the Second World War -

Homefront Index This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.     Site Home     WW2 Home     Add Stories     WW2 Search     Library     Help & FAQs   WW2 Features     Airfields     Allied Army     Allied Air Forces     Allied Navy     Axis Forces     Home Front     Battles     Prisoners of War     Allied Ships     Women at War     Those Who Served     Day-by-Day     Library     The Great War   Submissions     Add Stories     Time Capsule     TWMP on Facebook     Childrens Bookshop   FAQ's     Help & FAQs     Glossary     Volunteering     Contact us     News     Bookshop     About Advertisements var uri = 'https://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(img)g(21328318)a(2412718)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(' '); World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945 Evacuees    The first wave of Second World War evacuees in Britain left their urban homes on the 1st of September 1939, before Britain had declared war with Germany, the fear that cities would be bombed prompted many parents to enrol their children in the voluntary scheme to remove them from danger. Much of the organisation was done through the school system, with whole schools, complete with teachers, relocating to the countryside, though some families made private arrangements. Some children were sent across the Atlantic or to relatives as far away as Australia, though this practice largely ending with the sinking of the City of Benares in the Atlantic. The Children's Overseas Reception Board evacuated 2 664 children, 1 532 to Canada, 576 to Australia, 353 to South Africa and 203 to New Zealand and it is believed that another 11,000 children went by private arrangement, over 6 000 to Canada and the remainder to the United States. Children from Europe were also evacuated, some Jewish children were evacuated from Germany to protect them from the rising threat in the years before the outbreak of war either privately or via the Kindertransport, but for many this was not an option. The arrival of large numbers of evacuees had a huge impact on rural life, schooling was much restricted, many village schools having two sets of pupils attending half days or alternate days to cope with the influx. Mothers of very young children were evacuated with their offspring, but most children went with school friends and siblings, a small comfort amongst the dramatic change in lifestyle. Finding themselves living with strangers was not always a happy experience, especially if their hosts were unwilling, but many evacuees settled quickly and remember the experience fondly, many staying in touch with their new families long after the conflict ended.   4th Sep 1939   Great Kindness 7th Sep 1939   Fewer than Expected 8th Sep 1939   Accompanied Evacuees 22nd Jun 1940   Evacuation Schemes   London Evacuee in Cambridgeshire Those known to have been Evacuated during the Second World War 1939-1945. Derek Bech . John Baker . Sonia Bech . Fairhead. Barbara Ruth . (d.18th Sep 1940) Irving. Joan Anne Florence. (d.18th Sep 1940) Taylor. June Margaret . (d.18th Sep 1940) Allen. Patricia . (d.18th Sep 1940) Angell-Baker Rodney. Ansell John Clive. Armstrong Edna. Baker J.. Baker Jean. Baker Reggie. Baker. Robert . (d.18th Sep 1940) Barrett. Kathleen Beatrice . (d.18th Sep 1940) Barron Grace. Bech Barbara . Beesley. Edna Doreen . (d.18th Sep 1940) Beesley. Phyllis Eileen . (d.18th Sep 1940) Beesley. Vera Ellen D.. (d.18th Sep 1940) Bennathan Robert. Betty Janes. Brakey Brian. Brooker. Michael John . (d.18th Sep 1940) Burns Daphne. Burton George. Butlin. Enid Evelyn . (d.18th Sep 1940) Came. James Reginald . (d.18th Sep 1940) Came. Lewis Victor . (d.18th Sep 1940) Capel Alan . (d.18th Sep 1940) Capel Derek . Carr. Beryl Irene . (d.18th Sep 1940) Carr. Derek Stanley . (d.18th Sep 1940) Carson Thomas. Caswell Ian. Chapman Sybil. Chase. Michael John . (d.18th Sep 1940) Chase. Sheila Astrid . (d.18th Sep 1940) Church-Davidson Marie. Clark Ron. Clissold Sylvia. Collins Anne. Coombes Derek. Cox Arthur. Crawford. George Geoffrey . (d.18th Sep 1940) Crawley. Pauline Mary . (d.18th Sep 1940) Crawley. Sheila Anne . (d.18th Sep 1940) Croasdaile. John Lawrence . (d.18th Sep 1940) Croasdaile. Patricia Joan . (d.18th Sep 1940) Cruickshank Joan. Cummings Elizabeth May . Dadds Robert David. Dadds. Vivian Cynthia . (d.18th Sep 1940) Dixon. Maureen Margaret . (d.18th Sep 1940) Draper Mike. Dukes Iris. Dutt Ronald. Eldridge Mary Ambrosine. Encell Ronnie . Evans Bertie. Ferris Patricia. Flynn Arthur. Flynn Jesse. Forster. Jean . (d.18th Sep 1940) Foster John . Frost Joyce. Frost Louise. Galliard. Dorothy . (d.18th Sep 1940) Gen Annabell. Gollop Ronald Frederick. Goodfellow Ralph J.. Goodfellow. Christopher Robin . (d.18th Sep 1940) Goodfellow. Derek Charles . (d.18th Sep 1940) Grimmond. Augusta E . (d.18th Sep 1940) Grimmond. Constance J . (d.18th Sep 1940) Grimmond. Edward . (d.18th Sep 1940) Grimmond. Leonard A . (d.18th Sep 1940) Grimmond. Violet C . (d.18th Sep 1940) Harrington. James Wilfred . (d.18th Sep 1940) Harrington. Patricia Doreen . (d.18th Sep 1940) Hastings Pat. Higgins Michael. Hilliard John. Hillyard. Bruce John . (d.18th Sep 1940) Hillyard. Jeffrey . (d.18th Sep 1940) Holmes Terence Brian . (d.18th Sep 1940) Hughes Celia. Irvine Betty. Irvine Betty. J Chris. Jessup Constance Helen. Jones Iris. Jones Olive. Julier Betty. Keeley Jack . Keeley. Joyce Mary . (d.18th Sep 1940) Kelly Maureen. Kelly Noel. Kevern Patricia Yeo. Korson Sue. Lamb Vera. Leigh. Derek . (d.18th Sep 1940) Little Archibald James. Lloyd. Margaret Eleanor . (d.18th Sep 1940) Lloyd. Nesta . (d.18th Sep 1940) Lynne Audrey. Lynne Daphne. Mansfield. Audrey . (d.18th Sep 1940) Mashiter Pat. McArdle Fred. McLoughlin James Sinclair. Miller. Robin . (d.18th Sep 1940) Mollard. Philip Langford . (d.18th Sep 1940) Moon. William Robert Bobby. (d.18th Sep 1940) Moss. Aileen Sybil . (d.18th Sep 1940) Moss. Marion Audrey . (d.18th Sep 1940) Moss. Rita Ann . (d.18th Sep 1940) Muncey. Audrey . (d.18th Sep 1940) Murphy. Ailsa Burgess . (d.18th Sep 1940) Myatt. Beryl . (d.18th Sep 1940 ) Nicholls Barbara. Nichols Laura. Nolan. Dorothy Sheila . (d.18th Sep 1940) Nolan. Patricia . (d.18th Sep 1940) Ord Ian Lovat. Paris Henry Walter. Pegg Owen. Pemberton. John . (d.18th Sep 1940) Phillips Brian. Phillips Suzanne. Pine. Diana . (d.18th Sep 1940) Piper Joan. Poole. Rodger James . (d.18th Sep 1940) Porteous Chris. Porter Jim. Porter Joyce. Potten George. Pugh. Charles Horace . (d.18th Sep 1940) Pugh. Donald James . (d.18th Sep 1940) Pugh. John Albert . (d.18th Sep 1940) Rees. Anita Mary . (d.18th Sep 1940) Rees. William Eric . (d.18th Sep 1940) Roberts Eileen. Roberts Joan. Roberts John. Roberts Leslie. Roberts Margaret. Rodda. Colenso Mackenzie . (d.18th Sep 1940) Ryman. Layton George . (d.18th Sep 1940) Salton Helen Miller Robertson. Samit Thea. Scott Leslie. Sellors Enid. Shearing Paul . Short Billy . Short. Peter . (d.18th Sep 1940) Smith Edith . (d.18th Sep 1940) Smith Irene . (d.18th Sep 1940) Smoolovitch Henry . (d.18th Sep 1940) Sparks Ken . Spencer-Davies. John Onslow . (d.18th Sep 1940) Spencer-Davies. Rosemary Winifred . (d.18th Sep 1940) Spencer. James Thomas . (d.18th Sep 1940) Spencer. Joan Margaret . (d.18th Sep 1940) Steels Fred . Stevens David Owen. Stevens Dorothy. Stinton Richard. Taylor. Anthony Ralph . (d.18th Sep 1940) Thorne Rex . Thorne. Marion Winifred . (d.18th Sep 1940) Unwin. Betty . (d.18th Sep 1940) Walder Bess . Walder Louis . Walsh. Gordon . (d.18th Sep 1940) Ward Brenda. Warden Frank. Warden Frank. Ware Richard. Watkins Gerald John. Watson Pat. Watson. Ann Jordeson . (d.18th Sep 1940) Watson. Thomas William . (d.18th Sep 1940) Weeks G. L.. Weeks John. Weeks John. Wells Brigid. Wilkins Don. Williams Beth . Willis Paul Ian. Willis-LLoyd. Peter John . (d.18th Sep 1940) Wood. Dorothy Gertrude . (d.18th Sep 1940) Woolley Reg. Woolley Walter. Wright Eleoner . The names on this list have been submitted by those listed, relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List //courtesy of BoogieJack.com function killCopy(e){ return false } function reEnable(){ return true } document.onselectstart=new Function ("return false") if (window.sidebar){ document.onmousedown=killCopy document.onclick=reEnable } The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. Announcements The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web. 19th March 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263730 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible. Looking for help with Family History Research?   Please read our Family History FAQ's The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

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