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City of London Corporation
The London Archives

Evacuation during the Second World War

Research guide
SC_PHL_02_1264_89_186_ children being evacuated

1. About this guide

This guide introduces the main records at The London Archives (TLA) relating to the evacuation of children from the County of London during the Second World War.

The London County Council (LCC) coordinated evacuation arrangements across London. Its records cover the planning and operation of evacuation schemes, the movement of schools and children, and their return to London.

It is important to note the records rarely identify individual evacuees. Some records containing personal information may also have access restrictions. Please contact us if the catalogue indicates that the records you wish to consult are restricted.

2. Evacuation from London

The LCC began planning for the evacuation of schoolchildren before the outbreak of war. More than 600,000 London schoolchildren were evacuated over three days in September 1939, with further evacuations taking place during the war.

Children were usually evacuated in school groups accompanied by teachers, although some returned to London or were evacuated more than once.

3. Tracing an individual evacuee

It can be difficult to trace an individual child because very few surviving records identify evacuees by name. Children did not always travel with their own school and could be moved between different reception areas.

If you know which school a child attended, this is usually the best starting point for your research.

4. LCC evacuation records (LCC/EO/WAR)

The most significant series of LCC records relating to child evacuation is LCC/EO/WAR.

Created by the Education Officer's Department, these records cover the planning and operation of evacuation schemes, and include government circulars, reports, statistics, transport arrangements and material relating to particular groups of evacuees.

Particularly useful records include:

  • Account of evacuation operations: LCC/EO/WAR/01/001
  • Evacuation statistics: LCC/EO/WAR/01/226
  • Records relating to some individual schools: LCC/EO/WAR/04-05
  • Directory of London schools showing the reception-area schools to which they were sent in 1939 and 1940: LCC/EO/WAR/05/005
  • Transport schedules: LCC/EO/WAR/05/007-009 and 023

These records are generally more useful for establishing where schools were evacuated and how evacuation was organised and do not refer to individual children.

5. School records (LCC/EO/DIV01-09)

School log books within LCC/EO/DIV01-09 may record when a school closed or reopened, evacuation arrangements, destinations and the effects of wartime disruption.

Survival varies, and some log books do not cover periods when pupils were evacuated.

Inspectors' reports in LCC/EO/PS/12 may also contain relevant information.

6. LCC committee and policy records (LCC/MIN-1)

Minutes and papers of the LCC and its committees record decisions about evacuation and its administration.

Relevant records include:

  • Council presented papers, 1938 to 1945: LCC/MIN/00398-00403
  • Civil Defence and General Purposes Committee: LCC/MIN/02760-02796
  • Education Committee presented papers: LCC/MIN/02954
  • Education Committee General Sub-committee: LCC/MIN/03388-03401

These records are most useful for researching evacuation policy.

7. Children in residential schools and homes (LCC/CH)

Children living in residential schools, children's homes, approved schools and remand homes were also affected by evacuation.

Relevant records include:

  • Evacuation of children from residential schools and homes, 1938 to 1945: LCC/CH/M/06
  • Return of children from evacuation, 1943 to 1948: LCC/CH/M/07
  • Evacuation proposals for approved schools: LCC/CH/D/02/002
  • Evacuation of approved schools and remand homes: LCC/CH/D/03/002

Records of individual institutions may also contain information about where their children were evacuated.

8. Other LCC records

Other LCC departments also created records relating to evacuation.

The Public Health Department (LCC/PH/WAR) includes records concerning the evacuation of children and treatment centres. The Welfare Department (LCC/WE) includes records relating to returning evacuees and billeting, while the Clerk's Department (LCC/CL/CD) includes evacuation schemes, government leaflets and records concerning the reopening of schools.

9. Other collections at TLA

Evacuation may also be recorded outside the LCC collection.

Parish magazines can contain references to local preparations, registration and evacuation. Records of charities, hospitals and other organisations may also document their work with evacuees or the evacuation of their own institutions.

10. Records held elsewhere

Central government records relating to evacuation are held by The National Archives, including records created by departments responsible for health and education. See their research guide on evacuees.

Records relating to the reception and billeting of London evacuees may also survive in local archives in the areas to which children were evacuated.

11. Further reading

  • M. Brown. Evacuees of the Second World War (2009). Shelf mark: 62.86 BRO
  • R. Samways (ed.), We Think You Ought to Go (1995). Shelf mark: 62.86 COL
  • G. Mawson. Evacuees: children's lives on the WW2 home front (2022). Shelf mark 62.86 MAW
  • B. S. Johnson (ed.), The Evacuees (1968). Shelf mark: 62.86 JOH
  • E. Allen, Wartime Children 1939–1945 (1975). Shelf mark: 62.71 ALL
  • London County Council, A Short Account of the Services of the Council During the War of 1939–1945 (1949). Shelf mark: P18.0 1949