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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Service to mark WWII evacuations | Service to mark WWII evacuations |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A commemorative service is to be held at London's St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of British citizens in World War II. | A commemorative service is to be held at London's St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of British citizens in World War II. |
| The first wave, known as Operation Pied Piper, involved 1.5m people and took place over four days from 1 September 1939, the day the war started. | The first wave, known as Operation Pied Piper, involved 1.5m people and took place over four days from 1 September 1939, the day the war started. |
| Some 3.5 million people, mainly children, were removed from cities and towns to safer areas from 1939 to 1945. | Some 3.5 million people, mainly children, were removed from cities and towns to safer areas from 1939 to 1945. |
| The Evacuees Reunion Association has organised the St Paul's event. | The Evacuees Reunion Association has organised the St Paul's event. |
| It is due to start at 1100 BST and four evacuees are due to share their experiences. | It is due to start at 1100 BST and four evacuees are due to share their experiences. |
| Some 2,000 people are expected to attend and the service at the London landmark will be followed by a flypast by an RAF Lancaster bomber. | Some 2,000 people are expected to attend and the service at the London landmark will be followed by a flypast by an RAF Lancaster bomber. |
| 'Social upheaval' | 'Social upheaval' |
| The Evacuees Reunion Association is the largest organisation serving World War II British evacuees. | The Evacuees Reunion Association is the largest organisation serving World War II British evacuees. |
| The charity aims to educate people about the evacuation, and provide support and counselling for former evacuees. | The charity aims to educate people about the evacuation, and provide support and counselling for former evacuees. |
| I thought it was going to be a great adventure and it turned out to be one of the greatest adventures of my life Gordon Abbott | I thought it was going to be a great adventure and it turned out to be one of the greatest adventures of my life Gordon Abbott |
| Gordon Abbott, one of the trustees, said: "There are many thousands of people who have no knowledge of the civilian evacuation. It was the biggest social upheaval this country has ever seen." | Gordon Abbott, one of the trustees, said: "There are many thousands of people who have no knowledge of the civilian evacuation. It was the biggest social upheaval this country has ever seen." |
| The 76-year-old said in addition to the "forgotten children", the service would also remember the parents left behind and the foster parents who cared for the evacuees. | |
| Of the 1.5m citizens evacuated as part of Pied Piper, some 750,000 were children on their own. | Of the 1.5m citizens evacuated as part of Pied Piper, some 750,000 were children on their own. |
| A year later, just before the Blitz, an estimated 600,000 children were removed from the areas deemed to be most at risk from enemy bombing. | A year later, just before the Blitz, an estimated 600,000 children were removed from the areas deemed to be most at risk from enemy bombing. |
| Mr Abbott was seven when he was evacuated from Battersea in London to Bude in Cornwall in June 1940. | Mr Abbott was seven when he was evacuated from Battersea in London to Bude in Cornwall in June 1940. |
| Train journey | Train journey |
| Carrying his gas mask, a change of clothes and some food, he and his classmates were marched to a station and put a train along with their teachers. | Carrying his gas mask, a change of clothes and some food, he and his classmates were marched to a station and put a train along with their teachers. |
| He had no idea where they were going and when he arrived in Bude, he was "selected" by his new foster parents. | He had no idea where they were going and when he arrived in Bude, he was "selected" by his new foster parents. |
| "Obviously some of the children were upset and crying. I wasn't stressed. I thought it was going to be a great adventure and it turned out to be one of the greatest adventures of my life," he said. | "Obviously some of the children were upset and crying. I wasn't stressed. I thought it was going to be a great adventure and it turned out to be one of the greatest adventures of my life," he said. |
| He was loved and cared for by his "auntie and uncle" and after five years of country living, he found he could not return to London. | He was loved and cared for by his "auntie and uncle" and after five years of country living, he found he could not return to London. |
| For many others, it was a life-enhancing, mind-broadening experience, which forged new families and friendships. | For many others, it was a life-enhancing, mind-broadening experience, which forged new families and friendships. |
| However, a minority were beaten, mistreated and abused by the families they were billeted to. | However, a minority were beaten, mistreated and abused by the families they were billeted to. |