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| Service to mark WWII evacuations | Service to mark WWII evacuations |
| (10 minutes 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 Child evacuees relive their war | 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 Child evacuees relive their war |
| 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. | 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 on 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 on 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. They had been checked by doctors on departure and arrival. | |
| Devastated buildings around St Paul's in May 1941 | Devastated buildings around St Paul's in May 1941 |
| "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. |
| 'Like family' | 'Like family' |
| Jim Wright, 76, said every evacuee has a unique story. He was evacuated from London to a mining village in south Wales with his elder brother Jack. | Jim Wright, 76, said every evacuee has a unique story. He was evacuated from London to a mining village in south Wales with his elder brother Jack. |
| A seven-year-old Jim thinks they caught a train from Paddington and that only three people - "the train driver, fireman and guard" - knew where there were going. | A seven-year-old Jim thinks they caught a train from Paddington and that only three people - "the train driver, fireman and guard" - knew where there were going. |
| Mr Wright still considers Wales home | Mr Wright still considers Wales home |
| Unlike some reception areas, as they were known, the billeting officers in Llanhilleth had already organised who was going where. | Unlike some reception areas, as they were known, the billeting officers in Llanhilleth had already organised who was going where. |
| The Carter family, who had children of their own, only wanted one boy but luckily for Jim and Jack, they relented and took both boys. | The Carter family, who had children of their own, only wanted one boy but luckily for Jim and Jack, they relented and took both boys. |
| "The first thing we had to do when we arrived at Caefellan Street was write a postcard to our mum and dad - they had no idea where we were." | "The first thing we had to do when we arrived at Caefellan Street was write a postcard to our mum and dad - they had no idea where we were." |
| Llanhilleth was a mining village and Jim was amazed to find coal came from a "big hole in the ground" and not the scuttle by the fire. | Llanhilleth was a mining village and Jim was amazed to find coal came from a "big hole in the ground" and not the scuttle by the fire. |
| "In London, we had an apartment in a big house and we had gas, electricity and an indoor toilet with a flush. If we wanted a bath in Wales, we had to boil the water in the fire and fill the tin bath," he said. | "In London, we had an apartment in a big house and we had gas, electricity and an indoor toilet with a flush. If we wanted a bath in Wales, we had to boil the water in the fire and fill the tin bath," he said. |
| Mr Wright, who later joined the RAF, said they were considered "part of the family", and when his mother and younger brother came to Wales 18 months later, the Carters also took them in. | Mr Wright, who later joined the RAF, said they were considered "part of the family", and when his mother and younger brother came to Wales 18 months later, the Carters also took them in. |
| Most fictional accounts of the evacuation feature wailing mothers on the train platform but that is not how Mr Wright remembers it. | Most fictional accounts of the evacuation feature wailing mothers on the train platform but that is not how Mr Wright remembers it. |
| "When the family come to visit, I cannot say goodbye," he said. "It's impossible because I never said goodbye to my parents." | "When the family come to visit, I cannot say goodbye," he said. "It's impossible because I never said goodbye to my parents." |
| He does not resent his father's decision to let them go: "It was a case of do you want them to burn in the Blitz or send them to a safe area?" | He does not resent his father's decision to let them go: "It was a case of do you want them to burn in the Blitz or send them to a safe area?" |
| Are you marking the anniversary of World War II? Do you have relatives who were evacuees at the time? You can send us your thoughts and experiences using the form below: | Are you marking the anniversary of World War II? Do you have relatives who were evacuees at the time? You can send us your thoughts and experiences using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |