#WW2 Evacuation From Towns & Cities

S.S City of Benares

Evacuation from Britain's major towns and cities was undertaken in the first 4 days of the war, nearly 3 million civilians uprooted from their homes and taken into less populated areas, even abroad.
Not everyone was lucky enough to have a good host family, some were abused. Michael Caine spoke about his experiences on Radio 4, Michael and his brother were evacuated from London, for misbehaving they were locked in a small cupboard. When his Mother found out, she assaulted the offending woman for abusing her boys, I'm sure she took them home but I can't find any evidence to support this.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9931161/Sir-Michael-Caine-I-distrust-everyone-after-I-was-locked-in-a-cupboard-as-a-child.html

There is no doubt that evacuation affected many people for the rest of their lives, but also saved many. Evacuation abroad ceased when U-boats sank a liner carrying evacuees to the United States on the S.S City of Benares. Only 13 children survived from 90 who had set out on the voyage.

Survivors in a lifeboat from the S.S City of Benares http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/10/article-2112768-1213E80E000005DC-307_306x446.jpg