The children's war: evacuees in the countryside 1939-45
8 September to 22 December, 2009
In September 1939, 1.5 million evacuees were taken from the major cities in Britain to areas of safety to protect them from the expected air attacks. Many of them arrived in rural communities where the way of life was very different from that which they had left. This exhibition looks at the impact these children had on the countryside, and how much the rural life affected their own lives, both at the time and in the future.
Schools
Aimed at schools as well as the general public, the exhibition is curated by Dr Martin Parsons, Director of the Research Centre for Evacuee and War CHild Studies (ResCEW) and Head of History PGCE, Institute of Education, University of Reading.
MERL is offering a new free schools sessions based on the exhibition and evacuee archive held at MERL this Autumn. Visit our schools page for further information.
For information on how you can access the evacuee archive, visit the Reading Room page.
Events programme
Children: The Invisible Victims of War
Research Centre for Evacuees & War Child Studies, Third International Conference
9-11 September, 2009
- Bob Kayley Theatre, Bulmershe Campus, University of Reading
- For further information, contact Dr Carol Fuller
Out of harm's way: collecting and managing the Evacuee and War Child Archive
MERL Lunchtime Network talk
18 November, 1-2pm
- MERL conference room
- Free
- Register
I'll take that one
MERL Seminar
1 December, 4.30pm
- MERL conference room
- Free
- Register
This seminar explores and explodes common misconceptions surrounding the evacuation experience and the impact on individuals and communities.
Visit Talks and Seminars for details and to register