‘Vital service’ for WWII evacuees appeals for funds to avoid closure

A LACK of funding is threatening the survival of a group representing Britain’s Second World War evacuees.

Running since 1996, the British Evacuees Association has told and recorded the stories of those who were sent away from their homes and families during the war through its magazine,the Evacuee.

Organisers say the experience of writing and sharing experiences – some traumatic – has proved wonderfully cathartic.

But membership has fallen from more than 2,000 10 years ago, to around 600 today, and the charity needs £21,000 to survive another year.

Without it, it will close in June.

In 1939, two days before war was declared on Germany, the UK government initiated Operation Pied Piper.

The country was classified into zones, as either “evacuation”, “neutral”, or “reception”. The vast operation saw the evacuation of more than 1.5 million, including 800,000 children, from urban to rural areas.

In most cases they did not know where they were going, who they were living with or how long they would be required to stay in their new home.

High profile evacuees include Sheila Hancock and Michael Caine.

The experiences of those who were sent away were hugely varied.

Some found it an adventure while others felt abandoned or unwelcome in their new home. For some the legacy of their experience was felt for many years.

The association’s organisers argue it serves an important role in providing a lifeline for the people who went through that unique experience.

Karen Follows, manager/editor of The Evacuee, said: “Our members have a unique bond, having encountered and survived the war together as children.

“They are a strong, independent and resilient group and are virtually the last link to the Secondworldwar.

“We provide a vital service to a group of people that can feel alone.

“We provide these people with a voice and a sense of togetherness.

“They write their stories for publication, and read those of others, and realise that they were not alone in their experiences.

“We encourage our members to tell their story and the cathartic aspect helps them come to terms with their past experiences, many of which are still felt today.

“It helps people who were traumatised by their experiences.

“We have successfully reunited former evacuees and recently reintroduced four people who had not seen each other for over 80 years.

“It would be terribly sad if we have to close.we have an archive of stories – and hundreds more that have not been told.”

The association reunited old friends Jean and Joyce from Essex, who met in their evacuee days.

Joyce’s son said the reunion “has given his mum a new lease of life”.

“Ann” also wrote in the magazine, revealing she was evacuated aged just five, and lived in seven different places.

When she returned she found it difficult to make friends, and on reflection thinks her time moving around has affected her ability to form relationships.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson recently asked the Government if it would support the organisation, but drew a blank.

‘A lot were traumatised’