Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary goal of operation Pied Piper?
What was the primary goal of operation Pied Piper?
Who headed the Anderson Committee that developed the government evacuation plan?
Who headed the Anderson Committee that developed the government evacuation plan?
Which area was categorized as an Evacuation area under the government plan?
Which area was categorized as an Evacuation area under the government plan?
How many children were evacuated during operation Pied Piper within the first three days?
How many children were evacuated during operation Pied Piper within the first three days?
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Which organization played a significant role in comforting evacuated children?
Which organization played a significant role in comforting evacuated children?
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What was included in the kit that children had to carry during evacuation?
What was included in the kit that children had to carry during evacuation?
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Why did some parents choose not to evacuate their children despite government encouragement?
Why did some parents choose not to evacuate their children despite government encouragement?
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What was the purpose of the song 'Goodnight Children Everywhere'?
What was the purpose of the song 'Goodnight Children Everywhere'?
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Which item was NOT mentioned as part of the children's evacuation kit?
Which item was NOT mentioned as part of the children's evacuation kit?
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What did the government do to encourage evacuation among parents?
What did the government do to encourage evacuation among parents?
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Study Notes
Operation Pied Piper Overview
- Initiated at the start of the Second World War to evacuate civilians from bomb-risk areas.
- Plan developed in summer 1938 by the Anderson Committee, led by Sir John Anderson.
- Final version, Government Evacuation Scheme, completed by November 1938.
Area Classifications
- The country was divided into three area types:
- Evacuation Areas: Major cities such as London, Birmingham, and Glasgow.
- Reception Areas: Safer rural regions like Kent, East Anglia, and Wales.
- Neutral Areas: No movement of evacuees in or out.
Evacuation Groups
- Evacuees categorized into four groups:
- School-age children.
- Disabled individuals.
- Pregnant women.
- Mothers with babies or pre-school children.
Logistics of Evacuation
- By summer 1939, London County Council (LCC) arranged transportation and accommodations.
- Operation began on 1 September 1939 with children gathering in schools.
- An extensive logistical undertaking involving thousands of volunteers.
- London had 1,589 assembly points with trains departing every nine minutes for nine hours.
Transportation Methods
- Children evacuated by train and some even by ship from the River Thames to East Anglia.
- Teachers, local authority officials, and 17,000 Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) members provided support.
Evacuation Statistics
- Over three days, 673,000 children relocated, many accompanied by teachers and WVS staff.
- Each child was instructed to carry a kit with essential items, including a gas mask, clothing, sanitary items, and food.
Parental Involvement and Sentiment
- Evacuation was voluntary; some parents opted not to participate despite government messaging.
- Many parents believed the countryside was safer for their children, although separation was distressing.
- To alleviate the pain of separation, the song "Goodnight Children Everywhere" was broadcast nightly by the BBC, written by Gary Rogers and Harry Philips in 1939.
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Description
Explore the details of Operation Pied Piper, the evacuation plan implemented in Britain at the beginning of the Second World War. Learn about the development of this plan, initiated by the Anderson Committee and refined by the London County Council, to protect civilians from the impending bomb threats. Dive into how these efforts were organized and executed in response to the war.
