Evacuation to Devon
The arrival of evacuess from London, Plymouth, Bristol, Exeter brought the war to our door. Billeting officers came round to see what rooms we had. On arrival children with some mothers and teachers were taken to the parish hall to await allocation. The locals too were somewhat apprehensive but most people on both sides tried hard to make the best of a bad job. Happy and lasting relationships developed between evacuees and host families. Many evacuees loved life in rural Devon and stayed for years, or even the rest of their lives
Why were children evacuated?
People expected cities to be bombed, as enemy planes tried to destroy factories. But bombs would hit homes and schools too, so children would be in danger. The government tried at the start of the war to 'empty the cities' of children and mothers, This was 'evacuation', to protect them from air raids.
Where did they go?
Children were sent from cities to places where there was less risk of air raids. Many London children went to Devon, Cornwall and Wales. Other children moved to villages in the North, East Anglia and Scotland.
Evacuees went to live with host families. Their new homes were called 'billets'. 'Billeting officers' arranged for people to look after the children. Things did not always go to plan. Some children ended up in the wrong places. Sometimes evacuees just stood in a line, and local people picked which children to take.
Evacuees went to live with host families. Their new homes were called 'billets'. 'Billeting officers' arranged for people to look after the children. Things did not always go to plan. Some children ended up in the wrong places. Sometimes evacuees just stood in a line, and local people picked which children to take.
Contributed by Ipswich Museum
Henry Edward Roberts.WW2-
I was eleven. My parents took me to Waterloo with my little suitcase. Saying goodbye was unreal, we knew the bombers would come, I would never see them again. The train full of children and teachers took fourteen hours to get to Seaton junction in Devon. I spent most of that time in the lavatory being sick.
Some of us were taken in a bus to Beer where we were herded into the village school to wait for someone to collect us. That was the hardest part. I was the last to be collected, obviously no-one wanted me, why should they?
After that things got better, my foster parents, a childless couple, were kindness itself. I grew to love Devon and my parents survived.
Some of us were taken in a bus to Beer where we were herded into the village school to wait for someone to collect us. That was the hardest part. I was the last to be collected, obviously no-one wanted me, why should they?
After that things got better, my foster parents, a childless couple, were kindness itself. I grew to love Devon and my parents survived.
One determined lad liked life in Silverton so much that when his school returned to London he found his way back to the village and worked on a farm!
Bideford
The first in 1940 itself by Evacuees and the second in 1943 by American Troops. Large numbers of Army personnel began to arrive in the town then and they were far more popular. Many officers lived with Bideford families, who very much appreciated the food they brought with them in those days of rationing. Lasting friendships were forged, a number of marriages were celebrated and even local facilities for the troops established, such as the American Red Cross Club at Upover, East the Water.
'WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar'