Evacuees in WW II

[Fozzer]

It's a long time ago now but if I remember correctly they used the constant "All Clear" siren to call out the fire brigade in my home town. Most of the firemen (they were all men in those days) were retained part-timers & it was the most effective way of calling them out before the pager was in general use. I expect they use mobile phones now.

...ours used the slow "Warble" sound for some strange reason, which was, of course, why I found it strange, and worrying at the time!
It could be heard all over the City, and the surrounding area.

Paul.

[Plugpennyshadow]

PS. Just found this. http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/war/evacuation.htm

Thanks for the links.

"Children had labels attached to them, as though they were parcels. They stood at railway stations not knowing where they were going nor if they would be split from brothers and sisters who had gathered with them. They felt scared about being away from their families but also excited about going to a place they had never seen before and only read about in books.
The children arrived in the countryside, tired, hungry and uncertain whether they would ever see their families again."

"They were taken to the village hall, where they would be met by the billeting officer (the person in charge of finding them homes). A 'pick-you-own evacuee' sessions would then take place, where host families (the people they were going to live with) haggled over the most presentable children while the sicklier and grubbier children were left until last."

I had my suspicions... :-/

8-)

Read a book many moons ago about evacuations and large-scale displacement of peoples in several different eras and conflicts.  Always the children got the short end of the nasty stick.

Often seperated from parents or older siblings and sent where they weren't wanted or simply didnt fit in.  And we wont go into what often happened and still happens to girl children and a lesser extent to younger male children during disasters/evacuations.

Dont imagine England's WWII evacuations were much different from the rest.

[Plugpennyshadow]

edit:  "some girl children"

Most people rise to the challenge of taking care of the needy.  Just a very few predators queer it for the rest.

[Hagar]

[quote]edit:

[Plugpennyshadow]

Agree with you that no cases of sexual abuse were found in my research.  Just applying the book's historical perspective to the English esperience during the war as well as my underestanding of "human" nature.

And after reading the documented stories of abuse after recent civil, social and nature events...

Im having a darker view of the human condition these days...Sigh.

[Plugpennyshadow]

Any books to recommend on the experiences of evacs in England during the war?

[Hagar]

Any books to recommend on the experiences of evacs in England during the war?

Not read any books but I highly recommend the TV drama I mentioned earlier in this topic. It's based on a novel. Goodnight Mister Tom

[Plugpennyshadow]

Any books to recommend on the experiences of evacs in England during the war?

Not read any books but I highly recommend the TV drama I mentioned earlier in this topic. It's based on a novel. Goodnight Mister Tom

Damn it!  Its not on NetFlicks.

[DaveT]

Any books to recommend on the experiences of evacs in England during the war?

Not read any books but I highly recommend the TV drama I mentioned earlier in this topic. It's based on a novel. Goodnight Mister Tom

Damn it!

[olderndirt]

Any books to recommend on the experiences of evacs in England during the war?

Not read any books but I highly recommend the TV drama I mentioned earlier in this topic. It's based on a novel. Goodnight Mister Tom

Damn it!

[H]

I've never seen it suggested that any of these evacuee children were sexually abused. That could have happened of course but most people weren't generally aware of it in those days.

Any abuse was more likely mental when they weren't wanted by their surrogate parents. One of my friends was punished for everything his hosts natural son did & his life was made a misery. He still suffers from it now. Other evacuees were extremely happy & stayed in contact for the rest of their lives.

Considering those times (even similar reluctance these days) such incidents may not have even been reported, let alone believed when given by children "not wanting to be where they were at." I've known too many young girls in my life who were sexually abused, howbeit, most by relatives; if boys were, they may well be even more reluctant to tell. It's worse than sad when someone who should, if anything, be your protector is your abuser.

:-/


8-)

[Hagar]

I'm not denying that it might have happened but I don't recall a single case of sexual abuse of English evacuee children being reported or even suggested, until now that is. The problem with so many people nowadays is that they see everything from a modern perspective. Historians are some of the worst offenders. Most people who weren't there at the time don't seem to appreciate that attitudes & morals were very different then.

[H]

I'm not denying that it might have happened but I don't recall a single case of sexual abuse of English evacuee children being reported or even suggested.

Considering circumstances, it's less likely that it would be.

The problem with so many people nowadays is that they see everything from a modern perspective. Historians are some of the worst offenders. Most people who weren't there at the time don't seem to appreciate thatwere very different then.

[color=#003300]Compared to whom? I still reject a sexual relationship outside of marriage and, although they're signing it into law over here, I don't accept same-gender marriage, either, regardless of ages.

[Hagar]

The problem with so many people nowadays is that they see everything from a modern perspective. Historians are some of the worst offenders. Most people who weren't there at the time don't seem to appreciate thatwere very different then.

Compared to whom?

My comparison is between attitudes held by the majority of ordinary English residents during WWII & the present day. You can't deny that there is a vast difference. Your views would be considered quaint & old-fashioned by most people nowadays.

Nevertheless, the attitudes & morals of the time made it even less likely of such reports. Respect of elders was more prevelent, resulting more often in the "put up and shut up" scenario than it does now (which, in the normal course of human reaction, goes way overboard and awry in the change). I'm not intending to overlook that it also means it was much less likely to happen as often for those similar reasons.

There are two lines of thought here. It's like the chicken & egg scenario.