A commemorative service is to be held at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of British citizens in
World War II. The first wave, known as Operation Pied Piper, involved 1.5m people and took place over four days from 1 September 1939, the day the war started. Some 3.5 million people, mainly children, were removed from cities and towns to safer areas from 1939 to 1945. The Evacuees Reunion Association has organised the St Paul’s event. It is due to start at 1100 BST and four evacuees are due to share their experiences. Some 2,000 people are expected to attend and the service at the London landmark will be followed by a flypast by an RAF Lancaster bomber. ‘Social upheaval’
The Evacuees Reunion Association is the largest organisation serving World War II British evacuees.