Evacuation wouldn’t happen now would it?

[Bellavida99]

Just watching about evacuation. I initially thought that definitely wouldn’t happen now. But then I remembered how we all did as we were told during Covid even when it meant not visiting relatives etc and I wonder if it could happen

I agree

I watched Threads by Mick Jackson towards the end of last year and it was grim but eerily interesting. There’s a great interview with him on BBC iPlayer currently.

My mum remembered a little girl who was evacuated to an elderly couple in her village at a very young age. By the end of the war she had lived with them longer than her parents and they absolutely adored her. She never went back to her birth family.

I don't know how I feel about evacuation.

My mum was evacuated from London age 3. It wasn't official but one of the families taking her school age brother offered and my Nan thought she was doing the right thing.

She's 86 now and the impact on her has been lifelong and trickled down to me (her severe separation anxiety massively impacted decisions I made in my teens and early twenties).

I can't imagine how it would work these days.

I think that there were a lot of runaways

If you look at the states, they have major city evacuations every year because of adverse weather events. Inevitably most people follow instructions, some stay behind to loot and some think they will somehow be safe anyway.

It's possible that something could happen in the UK to require evacuation, and I think it would play out in a similar way.

Why do I always think about it? Anxiety i suppose

Totally different threats today. There would be no warning. People in cities would be dead instantly. People in other places would die slowly afterwards, either of radiation poisoning, or in the violent breakdown of civilisation.

I could foresee a situation whereby people were evacuating in to cities to be sure of a swift and painless end.

Think about getting some help, this is no way to live 🌷

Now I've got myself into a state and am crying 😄😄😄

Yes, imagining war is no way to live, usually i avoid the topic but the news re India and Pakistan got to me

I'm leaving the thread to get a grip 😄🥰

I live rurally, so this would not apply to us. Rather, we might take evacuees. We could (and I would) offer our guest room, to a mother and child/ren perhaps? I would take just children,ĺ
if it were really necessary, but would much rather have children with their mummy. I attachment parent and would just feel sorry for poor wee children away from their parents that I don't think it would be good for them.

Please don't be hard on yourself. The last few years have been particular grim news-wise with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and with what's going on in Gaza. It's no surprise that people get distressed by the prospect of war, because war is such an awful thing.

Look after yourself, you are always welcome to PM me.

Even at the time, not all parents allowed it. My grandmother refused to let her children go as nobody was stealing her children from her.

I suspect she regretted it when a bomb landed on her house and the only reasons my mother survived were a) because the house was massive and b) the bedroom door blew off its hinges and landed on top of her cot. But they moved to a very nice requisitioned property on the very edges of farmland instead, so she didn't see any need to change her mind afterwards.

When the Ukraine war started and there was a lot of worry whether Russia would target us, DC asked what we’d do as we live in London. Without hesitation I said if there was any credible threat, we’d all (including the cat) go to the in laws in Cornwall. I’d certainly want DC out of London if it was an option.

Crikey, what a lucky escape!

Wouldn't happen. Given the fact very few people today, particularly on MN, answer their phone or answer their door without three months' written notice, who the hell would let a strange child in their house.

I would be sad to not be with all my children if the Bomb fell. But they would all be with their families so that would have to do.

How long everything takes nowadays we would either be annihilated or the war would be over by the time it was organised

I saw an interview with a lady who had been an evacuee on breakfast tv in the week. She had been fostered by a wonderful family, with the mum becoming her second mum and still in touch with her 'siblings'. But her brother had been picked by a farmer wanting a boy who could labour and he had a hard time (just 8 years old and picked to be a labourer 😢). The evacuees had a reunion many years later and many spoke of physical and sexual abuse and she felt guilty for having had the life of Riley (her words). Made me incredibly sad to think of all those little kids and their parents thinking they were doing the right thing for them.

My Mum had evacuees come to stay them when she was young, she hated them😟, I think it was difficult from both sides, obviously being away from everything you know and not used to "country life" but also shortages and rationing and finding extra for more ppl, not just food but clothes, school stuff, space etc.

My grandparents lived in London. Father, uncle and aunt all evacuated. Father went to a farm in Cheshire. He was homesick but they were very kind. It left him with a lifelong love of the countryside.

Meanwhile in London granny did nursing, grandpa dug people out of bombed buildings. It was a mad time for them.

https://timewitnesses.org/evacuees/~sheelagh.html

There are countless stories of neglect and abuse. Many of the families took the children in for the financial support and many were malnourished, along with mental and physical abuse being common.

I haven't read the news today. Am genuinely worried now due to this thread and feel I should watch the news but too anxious too now... Can someone please tell me what is happening?

Don't stress! People are watching the VE Day celebration on BBC One and lots of former evacuee children have been on to share their stories.