Children at War

…And the kids did their bit too!

Cartoon figure of Artie beside the words ‘Artie says…’

Many people think of children during WW2 as just evacuees. True, many children were evacuated, taken from their homes in the cities to ‘safer’ parts of the country, but we want to tell you about the much less known contributions made by children during the Second World War in Britain, mainland Europe and also the Far East.

In Britain:-

At the beginning of WW2 the British Government supported existing groups, such as the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts to help with the war effort. Whilst the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides had been around for many years, the Government also set up the Youth Service Movement at the beginning of the war; this was open to those aged 14 upwards.

At the time of WW2 most young people left school at the age of 14. Some went on to gain apprenticeships, enabling them to assist with maintaining aircraft. Those who weren’t old enough to leave school or chose to stay in education, also ‘did their bit’. Each school had their own garden plot to grow vegetables; sewing classes were given to encourage ‘make do and mend’ and cooking classes also took place – a useful way to gain new ideas with rationing underway!

Most of the children who lived in rural areas – or who were evacuated to the countryside – worked on farms, helping with the harvest and raising livestock, all very essential jobs as Britain needed to be as self-sufficient as possible, because we never knew when more food would arrive from overseas.

In Britain Scouts and Guides were often used to relay messages for the Civil Defence Units and also assisted with the evacuation of children from the cities.

Bob Frost tells about his life as a teenager growing up in London in WW2. When he was old enough Bob joined the RAF. His plane got shot down and he was helped to get back home by members of the Comete Line.

Another way children became involved in the war effort was through enrolment in the Junior Service Corps, which helped many to prepare for entrance into the armed services.

Boys were able to enrol in the:

Air Training Corps (usually between 15 & 18)
Army Cadet Force (From the age of 12)
Sea Cadet Corps (from 9 – 18)

Girls between the ages of 14 & 18 were able to train for the Women’s Auxiliary Services.

In Europe:-

Life was different however for their counterparts on the continent; Girl Guides in Poland were known to have worked as nurses during the war, whilst others on mainland Europe worked as intelligence gatherers for the Resistance. One Girl Guide even tried to help POWs escape from a prison camp, but was caught and killed by the Germans.

ELMS member Rev. George Wood recalls how a brave Boy Scout helped him during his evasion in occupied France during 1943:

“Lucien Marzin was 8 years old when he was suddenly confronted by me, a 21 year old Pilot. I recognised a badge on his jacket, the head of a wolf cub. This was worn in defiance of the German Forces who had banned the Boy Scout Movement. Boys of 8 – 12 were known as Wolf Cubs and were junior members of the Scouts. Lucien proudly showed that he was a Wolf Cub, in spite of the enemy decree! I knew that members of the Boy Scout Movement shake hands with each other using their left hand and when I did this on meeting Lucien, his eyes lit up with great delight.”

Fortunately for George, Lucien’s family were able to help him by hiding him until he could be moved to safety. So George stayed with the family for a while.

George continues:

“Lucien, despite his tender age, kept it a secret from his school friends that he had pillow fights with the British Pilot that the Germans were looking for; he did not say a word. Before doing his homework he went on ‘guard duty’ loitering outside his home. If danger approached he would whistle loudly the popular song “Frere Jacques”.”

Martine Holvoet talks about her childhood growing up in occupied Belgium.
Martine is the daughter of Jacques Le Grelle
[Alias ‘Jerome’ a helper on the Comete Escape Line], who was unable to tell his family about the secret work that he was involved in to help the Allies.

In the Far East:-

The Girl Guide movement was also playing its part in the Far East. In a Japanese concentration camp a group of Brownies were credited with raising morale, and providing purpose and structure to all those who were held as prisoners. The Brownies also helped by giving instruction in ‘how to survive’ by demonstrating the skills that they had been taught.