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37
toothers in charge of children or unaccompanied school children. As
a result, the Department was busily engaged from February until May
in the preparation of a detailed scheme for this movement, based upon
the number of persons known to have been evacuated during 1944.
The summons to bring this scheme into action was received on
the 2nd May, but in point of fact the first train-load of returning
evacuees did not arrive until the beginning of June. What with this
interval and with the fact that in the meantime the long-range rockets
had ceased their activity, it was found in practice that many families
had already returned to their homes privately.
The following, however, availed themselves of the official arrangements
and it is pleasing to record that they were all returned home
without a single mishap:—
Mothers with children 115
Unaccompained school-children 110
The Department desires to express thanks to the school-teachers,
members of the W.V.S. and all other persons who so readily
volunteered to act as stewards, escorts, etc.; as also to those ladies who
thoughtfully invited escorts for a much needed night's rest before
embarking upon their return journey.