The evacuation of Children from Southend 2nd June, 1940

Southend, as an 'unhealthy' coastal area, is just one of the 120 or so evacuation areas - most of the others being densely-crowded industrial cities and towns. The children, after being marshalled at the school assembly points, arrive at the entraining stations in the charge of their teachers and voluntary escorts. Each child brings spare clothes, gas mask, identity card, ration book, and food for the day; and wears a label. More than a million school children have travelled like this, and thanks to the staffs of the local authorities, the teachers and the voluntary workers, the moves have gone like clockwork.