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Teacher Resources

WW2 Evacuees: Children Leaving Home

Home, separation and displacement

A lesson on the mass evacuation of British children in 1939, using first-hand accounts to explore separation, billeting and return.

Suggested age

9–13

Duration

45 minutes

Type

Lesson pack

Conflict / period

World War II

Subjects

History, English, PSHE

Content note

Some children had happy experiences; others were unhappy or mistreated. Present the range honestly.

Overview

A lesson on the mass evacuation of British children in 1939, using first-hand accounts to explore separation, billeting and return.

Learning objectives

Describe why children were evacuated in 1939.
Explain the range of evacuee experiences.
Reflect on the experience of leaving home as a child.

Materials required

Printed evacuee accounts (three)
Worksheet
Luggage-label template

Historical context

At the start of the Second World War, the British government feared bombing of cities. In September 1939, around three million people, mostly children, were moved from cities to the countryside. Each child carried a label and a small case. Some were welcomed; others were cold, hungry or treated as servants. Most returned home within months; many were evacuated again during the Blitz.

Reading material

Imagine being ten years old, standing on a railway platform with a label tied to your coat, not knowing where you are going or when you will see your parents again. That was the start of the war for millions of British children. Some were billeted with kind families who fed them well. Others were lonely, frightened or worse. The war did not start with a battle for these children. It started with a train journey.

Student worksheet (preview)

1. Why were children evacuated from cities in 1939?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Read the three accounts. Which child had the best experience, and which the worst? Give a reason for each. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Why might two children in the same village have very different memories? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Fill in a luggage label with your name, school and destination (leave blank if unknown).

Discussion questions

What would be hardest about leaving home without your parents?
Why did some evacuees have such different experiences?
Was evacuation a kindness or a cruelty — and can it be both?

Extension task

Write a postcard from an evacuee to their mother, describing the first night in a new home.

Support prompts

Picture the platform and the label.
Ask: what would I want my host family to know about me?
Remember some children were happy, some were not — both are true.

Sources and credits

10 Second War Stories — WW2 channel
Imperial War Museum — Evacuation
The National Archives, UK — evacuee records

Produced by 10 Second War Stories.