What Were The Differing Reactions In Britain To The Policy Of Evacuating Children During The Second World War?

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What Were The Differing Reactions In Britain To The Policy Of Evacuating Children During The Second World War?

        During the Second World War people’s attitudes and reactions towards evacuation changed. There were both positive and negative experiences for the three main groups I am going to discuss, the evacuated children, their parents and their foster parents.  

        For the children at the beginning of the Second World War, Evacuation was looked upon as one big adventure, and the children treated it rather like a childish game. Their opinions however began to chance, for on the 3rd September many children were evacuated, most were sent to the countryside in the hope that they would be safe from the expected bombs and gas attacks. The evacuation was arranged via the schools and whole classes, even whole schools were evacuated together. Many of the children evacuated really did believe it was an exciting adventure and good to get out of the city and see parts of Britain that they would never normally get the chance to see and explore.

“  My young sister and I were evacuated to Ipswich on the first of September 1939. I can’t really remember the preparations but I do remember being on the train at Ilford Station and arriving in Ipswich. We were actually quite excited, I can remember my sister saying she was desperate to explore and see more of our country. We were taken to a church hall I think and then were allowed to have some of the goodies out of the bag we had all been given!! (I remember there were custard cream biscuits and a tin of corned beef and I think some chocolate but what else I’ve forgotten although I do remember the brown paper carrier bag it was in!) It was all made out to be rather exhilarating and as if it was just a day out, that would last a few weeks…. Really the evacuation as far as we were concerned was just a long holiday interspersed with lessons which weren’t difficult to handle, and new friends and a completely different environment from that which we had been in before… “

This extract taken from a former evacuees diary, Barbara Nicholls, shows the excitement and also very little knowledge about the evacuation process and what was expected before they reached the foster parents home.

 When the evacuees finally reached their destinations and were sent to their designated foster parents this is where the children’s different reactions to evacuation really started to become clear. Some absolutely loved it, as they were treated very nicely and were given treats and niceties unlike they would have been at home. Some loved the open space of the countryside rather than the busy city. Also they had certain luxuries they were unable to have at home such as hot water. Some children loved their foster homes so much due to the luxuries and better environment they begged their foster parents to adopt them so they could live the countryside life forever.

We went to Felixstowe Road in a car (we weren’t used to cars and were a bit afraid). The lady’s name was Mrs Chipperfield and she had a husband, a daughter and a son. The daughter (Violet known as Auntie Vi to us) was staying with her at the time on holiday from Wirral in Cheshire where she lived with her husband. The son (Uncle Fred to us) lived a few doors away from Mr & Mrs Chipperfield with his wife Evelyn. Fred was a grocer and a part time Special Constable. He was quite chubby, has a big moustache and was great fun. Auntie Vi was beautiful and took great care of us whilst she was there. Aunty and Uncle Chips (as we called Mr & Mrs Chipperfield ) looked after us very well; quite differently from how we were used to…. We found it peculiar at first as we had constant attention, which we weren’t used to coming from a big family, but soon settled down. No tantrums allowed there but no clips round the ear either. Food was regulated to times and amounts but very varied and nutritious even if rationing was on. Aunty Chips made cakes every week and we were allowed to choose one sort each ( she baked several – all large cakes to be sliced in portions ). We ate in the garden whenever possible. Uncle Chips used to take us on long walks by the River Orwell and told us about the birds and animals around and the flowers. We used to love it…. Christmas came and Auntie Vi came back and her husband (Uncle Jim) came for the actual holiday days. He brought us a large box of Terry’s All Gold chocolates – what a treat – and we were allowed two each day and were allowed to give the others one each and no more. Auntie said normally we were to share things but as sweets were rare and we had never had such a treat before we were to be allowed to keep them for ourselves. We savoured those chocolates and, of course, they lasted a long time. We had lots of presents, not in the league of today’s children at Christmas but many more than we were used to, so we had some on Christmas Day and some on Boxing Day…. a couple of times we were taken to the pictures, queue up for an hour then front row ninepenny seats. We had to crane our necks upwards to see but it was lovely - Gracie Fields in Singing Sally and Sing As We Go. We never went to the pictures at home!

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We kept in touch with Aunty and Uncle Chips and they came to our weddings although poor Uncle Chips went blind. They are all gone now but we shall never forget them. ”

        But however, for most evacuees life was not so sweet. As time elapsed some started to hate it because they were becoming home sick and also due to there no action happening at home then this made them want to return home to the place they knew and loved. Some children were very poorly treated. Their foster parents saw them as slaves and many were made to ...

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