| Original caption: “A scene at a London railway station showing troops arriving while kiddies who are being evacuated from London leave for the reception area. New York Times Paris Bureau Collection.” United Kingdom Royal Army soldiers wearing forage caps and slinging Brodie steel helmets and duffel bags pass London children being evacuated ahead of the Blitz. The London Evening Gazette of September 1, 1939, reported on the day Germany invaded Poland: “Pathetic Scene — Parents – with the exception of helpers – were not allowed to enter the school premises. As one little girl was leaving, her mother asked pathetically: ‘I wonder if I’ll ever see you again, mummy — here or anywhere else?” The dexterity with which the children were shepherded through the arriving masses of morning workers at Waterloo Station was a perfect piece of organization. They were a very cheerful crowd of youngsters, though. A few had evidently shed tears at parting from their parents. At the station, however, their behavior was just what [Home Secretary] Herbert Morrison [(January 3, 1888 – March 6, 1965)] hoped it would be in his message to them yesterday.” “Brave Little Tots — Parents shouted messages of farewell, little admonitions, and gave other parental advice. Little tots smiled gleefully as they stepped out, getting hold of the hands of the elder children. Boys whistled and exchanged jokes, while one boy, carrying a kit-bag over his shoulder in true military style, kept humming to himself as he marched earnestly and a little self-consciously with the rest. Ealing Broadway station, Great Western, was one of the chief departure points from London, and altogether 50,000 children were expected to leave here today. “Tube train after tube train, fully loaded, began to arrive at the underground station adjoining the Great Western Railway line soon after 0800 Hours. As the children alighted, they marched, four abreast, to their platform. It was orderly, and it was well arranged, but while teachers, nurses, and the special staff on duty kept as cheerful as they could be, it was a pathetic sight.” “Tears Kept Back — Here and there, a little face was set hard in a big effort to be brave, the elder giving a good example in this. There were no tears. One little lad of five had a bucket and a spade with him. Some of the trains were bound for the west country as far distant as Taunton, while others were going to the Banbury district in the South Midlands. The trains averaged about eight an hour.” On June 13, 1940, as the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was returning to England from France after fleeing Dunkirk and other ports, while London’s children continued to be evacuated to the countryside. The Daily Mirror reported on June 14, 1940, “Saw Dad at Station; Little May E. Wright (May 23, 1934 – January 1969), of Peckham, SE, was marching into Waterloo Station yesterday with a party of evacuees from her school just as a company of men on leave from the BEF was alighting from a train. Suddenly, May pointed to one of the soldiers and shouted, ‘There’s my brother Bill.’ Brother [William] “Bill” [Wright (January 16, 1923 – ????)] heard her, and, running across the platform, swept his sister into his arms. They had not met since he was on leave at Christmas. Reunion Brief – Their reunion was brief, for May had to hurry off to rejoin her party. This was one of many touching incidents that marked the beginning of the six-day rail trek to the West Country of 120,000 children from Greater London whose parents had registered them for evacuation.” “Here is another: When troops passed along a platform, the children crowded to the windows, and the station echoed with their cheering. The men laughed with them and gave the thumbs-up sign. But to four of the little evacuees, it meant more than just excitement. Rosemary (April 14, 1929 – ????) and Ronnie Waldon (???? – ????), of Hammersmith, and their two sisters, shouted ‘Daddy’ through the cheers. Among the marching men, they had seen their father. Across the track, the father waved to his children.” “‘There’s Our Daddy’ – ‘That’s my daddy over there,’ Rosemary, aged eleven, explained. ‘He fought in the last war too, and he’s been away in France. When the Germans came, he had to leave, and he came home to see us. But he went away again a week ago, and we didn’t think we’d see him for ages and ages.’” “With bulging new knapsacks slung across their shoulders and carrying spades and buckets, tennis rackets and cricket bats, most of the children were obviously thrilled at the prospect of a new adventure.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii2015.jpg |
| Image Size | 847.19 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2888 x 2264 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1940 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-306-NT-3170V |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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