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| Service to mark WWII evacuations | Service to mark WWII evacuations |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A commemorative service has been 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. |
| Four evacuees were due to share their experiences during the service. | |
| Some 2,000 people were expected to attend, but a flypast by an RAF Lancaster bomber had to be cancelled because of high winds. | |
| 'Punch-ups' | 'Punch-ups' |
| Of the 1.5m citizens evacuated as part of Operation Pied Piper, some 750,000 were children on their own. | Of the 1.5m citizens evacuated as part of Operation Pied Piper, some 750,000 were children on their own. |
| It turned out to be one of the greatest adventures of my life Gordon Abbott Child evacuees relive their war | |
| 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. |
| Broadcaster Michael Aspel, who is attending the service, was evacuated from London to Somerset as part of the second wave. | Broadcaster Michael Aspel, who is attending the service, was evacuated from London to Somerset as part of the second wave. |
| As a seven-year-old he was separated from his brother and sister, and they were later stopped from seeing each other because his foster family were "rougher". | As a seven-year-old he was separated from his brother and sister, and they were later stopped from seeing each other because his foster family were "rougher". |
| "I was taken off in a small car and dumped in a parlour of a cottage and there was no-one there," he told the BBC. | "I was taken off in a small car and dumped in a parlour of a cottage and there was no-one there," he told the BBC. |
| "You had a good time, you did haymaking, you mucked around, but at the back of it all was how long am I going to be here?" | "You had a good time, you did haymaking, you mucked around, but at the back of it all was how long am I going to be here?" |
| He was there for four-and-a-half years and can remember "punch-ups" with the local children, "who did not want us there at all". | He was there for four-and-a-half years and can remember "punch-ups" with the local children, "who did not want us there at all". |
| Evacuee Margaret Taylor displays her name label ahead of the service | |
| Indeed many country folk believed urban children were dirty, badly behaved and lice-ridden. | Indeed many country folk believed urban children were dirty, badly behaved and lice-ridden. |
| '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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Evacuees were moved out of towns and cities to safer areas | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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 went to school for three hours a day and willing "worked the four seasons" on his foster parent's farm. | He went to school for three hours a day and willing "worked the four seasons" on his foster parent's farm. |
| His "auntie and uncle" loved and cared for him, and after five years of country living, he found he could not return to London. | His "auntie and uncle" loved and cared for him, 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. |
| 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 |