WW2 Evacuees from London

[Norfolk Nan]

Has anyone attempted to research individual WW2 evacuees from London and if so, did you have any luck?  I hope to make a start but know records are sparse so any advice or useful information would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

[CaroleW]

If you are looking for particular individuals who are now deceased - they should be on the 1939 register.

If it is a project - I would imagine any other records would be closed for 100yrs to protect their privacy. 

My sister was b 1929 & was evacuated but she is still alive so her 1939 entry is still redacted.  My brother was b 1933 & died 2020 so I have now found him on the 1939 register

[Norfolk Nan]

Thanks for that, CaroleW. 

It's a bit more complicated than that - I know who and where but I wanted to know how.  My mum (still alive) was moved from London to Hitchen, then taken back to London, moved to Wales then back to London, to Dorset then back to London and finally to St Albans where she stayed until 1947. 

I'd like to know how these placements were organised - if initially they were arranged by local councils/education departments (as most kids moved en bloc with their schools) but later arranged privately.  Mum was too young to know and there's no one left to ask.  I might not be able to find out anything at all but it is interesting that the county archives that do have evacuee records (more organisational than detailed individuals) do not say 'closed for 100 years'.    I've not tried to see them yet but wondered if anyone else had tried.

[still_looking]

London Metropolitan Archives have a guide including suggested reading
https://search.lma.gov.uk/rg_pdf_creator/index.php?research_guide=56

S_L

[Norfolk Nan]

Thank you ... will follow the link 

[zetlander]

During WW2 my grandparents who live in a small Welsh village took in two sisters from Liverpool as evacuees.
Notice was given in the village what time the train bringing the children would arrive and anyone who could take in children should go to the station.
I don't think there was any vetting and probably only basic records kept - the parents in Liverpool informed of the address where the children were staying.
I never heard any reference to anyone checking on the well-being of the evacuated children so there may not be any records available.
Never heard any reference to payment either - don't think the 'host' family got any money

[Norfolk Nan]

Thanks, Zetlander

I know my mum and gran (plus aunt and cousin) stayed with the aunt's in-laws for a while in Wales but after a while went back to London so I suppose this was an informal arrangement.  The other three placements were strangers so I'd be curious to know how they were arranged.

I read online somewhere that 10s (50p and now equivalent to £26??) was paid for the first child and 8s for every other child.  Not sure if this is accurate but you would think government pay-outs warranted some checking. The government thought it was doing a good thing in evacuating the children but in hindsight it's questionable.

[CaroleW]

I have a hardback book called "The Day They Took The Children" by Ben Wicks.  There are stories from Evacuees about the families they stayed with just taking them in for the extra money they received but using it to feed their own family whilst the evacuee got "the crumbs"

My sister & brother were 10yrs & 6yrs when evacuated but my mother brought them back home after a few weeks as the woman who they were with wasn't feeding them and was neglectful in other ways

[Norfolk Nan]

My mum complained about not getting food and sweets allocated to her and being hungry enough to eat dog biscuits.  There are some terrible tales, that's for sure, but some lovely ones too.  I've read of evacuees who had a great time and didn't want to return home when the war was over.  My own dad left Battersea with his brother and sister and were settled in Buckinghamshire, the boys went to one billet, my aunt to another but in the same village.  Dad had a wonderful time compared to life with his parents in Battersea but my aunt was homesick so they all went home. Dad had such happy memories that he's buried in the village now because I like to remember him in his happy place. 

Mum's memories are muddled now and the info from the 1939 Register confirm bits of what she recalls.  It's probably too late to prove anything now but I thought I'd try.