Figure 1.--Here we see a camp set up in England for rvacuee children at the beginning of World War II. The press caption read, "At England's First National Evcuation Camp for Children: Children walking down a path between the wooden camp buildingsin Britains first national evacuation camp for children from London. The camp, in the Home Counties, is situated in an isolated spot, sheltered by a wood from possible observation by eneny bombers. The camp had accomodations for 200 children." The photograph was dated December 5, 1939.

The British evacuation of children from the cities was massive. There was no way that camps could be built for the 3 million children that the Government estimated could be evacuated. Nor was it delt that that caring for the children in a massive camp sysyem was best for the children. Thus the approach was for families outside of the cities to care for the children. And as part of the program, teachers and support staff were sent along with the children to make sure they were being properly cared for by the families and single individuals that took them in to their homes. Some of the children were billited in schools. And there were camps built, but not very many. The vast majority of the evacuees were cared for in homes. Most volunteered. In some cases pressure had to be applied, but most Brits saw it as their patriotic duty and humane Chtisin responsibility. We do not know how many camps were actully built, but as far as we can tell not very many.

Created: 9:30 PM 12/15/2017
Last updated: 9:30 PM 12/15/2017