Many returned home as they realised that the expected bombs did not materialise this is known as the phoney war. The phoney war was when war was declared on Britain the British civilians believed that the Germans would drop bombs immediately on the United Kingdom but that was not the case. Early planning was vital because it got people out as quickly as possible and so there were fewer casualties to deal with, but it was not vital in the way that the bombings did not happen for another year and so the children could have been with their families and not with the foster families that did not want them.
At the start of the war schools were evacuated together, children had to wear identity labels. They had to wear their gasmasks hanging from their necks and carried a small suitcase full of clothes and food for the day. They had to leave in the early hours of the morning, when it was still dark. They were labelled like pieces of luggage. Teachers and people they did not know looked after them for a while whilst this was happening.
Mothers told them three instructions, which were not to complain, grin and smile however you feel, look after your brother/s or sister/s and also not forgetting to write home.
Trains, which were often dirty, transported them and all the children were all packed in like a tin of sardines.
Most poor children were not used to long distances, being away from home and travelling and by the time they got of the trains they were hot, bothered, tired, upset and dirty. They were all then taken to a church, village or school hall, then lined up against the wall or on the stage and the foster families would just pick whom they preferred. They did not pick the poorer scruffier children unless they had to.
The foster families reactions to the evacuees were mixed but they mainly disliked them as they were seen as vermin as they were dirty and did not how to use certain things, as they did not have or use it in the cities.
Also most of the foster families found that the children had poor health and would wet the bed during the night. Some of the foster families mistreated the children evacuees whereas others didn’t. Everyone had mixed emotions.
To get mothers realise how much danger their children were if they left them in the cities they used a lot of propaganda like posters etc.
They basically told mothers don’t leave your children in danger send them away and keep them safe and they also brought out notices telling mothers that the government will let them know how and where their child is /children are. they also re-assured the mothers by telling them that they will be fine and the children will enjoy and should be back around Christmas time.
People thought that the war would only last until Christmas, so they did not mind their children going away in most cases, but in a few cases they did not want to let them go. The Blitz lasted from September 1940-June 1941. The Second World War carried on for another 4 years after this as it ended in 1945. People also only thought that evacuation was going to last until Christmas aswel.
The government gave financial help to the foster families for taking the evacuees in as they felt they needed to reward kind souls for taking in someone else’s child/children.
Yes the government was right to set up evacuation because it protected children from the bombings and, in a sense, preserved the lives of a future generation; especially if a future prospect of war was to ever happen.
No the government was not right to set up evacuation because it separated mothers, children and entire families, as well as creating problems for those trying to track down missing family members. It had effects on those who were evacuated because they were constantly worried about loved ones who were still in the cities.
Yes it was successful because as explained, fewer lives of children were lost and they were safe in the rural areas, whereas it was not as successful because many families refused to be separated and more lives were therefore lost.
