On the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, Jackie Macadam learns about the unique bonds forged between Scots and children from the Channel Islands.

DURING the Second World War around 1200 schoolchildren, teachers and helpers were evacuated from Guernsey to Glasgow.

This month, to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the War, there will be a special service to be held at Glasgow Cathedral on and at St Andrews on the Grange in Guernsey on May 9 at 10.30am.

Anne Morris, a member of the congregation of St Andrew’s on the Grange in Guernsey explained: “It was a bit of a culture shock for them.”

She said: “They left Guernsey on the boats that had been diverted after Dunkirk to take them to Glasgow, and arrived at Maryhill Station. Some of them thought they’d gone to Germany, the accent was so different. They were offered porridge – and had no idea what it was.

“Some of the boats they travelled in still had blood from the soldiers rescued from Dunkirk on the decks, it was so soon after the beach evacuation.

“After the long journey to Glasgow, they were taken to reception centres run by a variety of faith groups and from there assigned to families who welcomed them in.

“Since then,” Anne says, “Many of the children who were evacuated have considered themselves honorary Glaswegians and have been proud to be so!”

The Rev Justin Taylor, minister at St Andrew’s on the Grange, takes up the story.

“More than 5,000 schoolchildren were sent away with their teachers and around 500 volunteer mothers acting as helpers. The decision to evacuate was heartbreaking for families – many fathers and older relatives stayed behind to safeguard homes or serve in the forces, while mothers and young ones departed not knowing if or when they would reunite. This mass exodus set the stage for an extraordinary wartime diaspora of Guernsey civilians throughout the British Isles.

“Scottish authorities and volunteers worked to place each child or family group with host families or in vacant housing. The process was not without challenges: some evacuees, still dazed from their sudden uprooting, fell ill or cried with homesickness. Others struggled to communicate due to the unfamiliar accents and dialects they encountered.

“Once placements were arranged, evacuees moved in with their new Scottish hosts or settled into group lodgings. This resettlement phase brought its own trials. Children were separated from siblings in some cases, and mothers with infants had to adjust to living under a stranger’s roof. Moreover, wartime Britain was itself under strain, and the newcomers were arriving just as rationing and air raids were beginning. Despite these difficulties, countless accounts describe the kindness with which Scots welcomed the Channel Islanders.

“The evacuation journey that began in fear and tears gradually turned into a story of shelter and solidarity in Scotland.

“After nearly five years in exile liberation finally arrived. British forces liberated Guernsey and the other Channel Islands. Repatriation began. It was not without difficulties – many youngsters had grown very fond of their foster families and had scant memories of their island home.

“Contemporary newspaper reports in 1945 described heartrending farewells: at railway stations, young evacuees clung to their Scottish or English foster parents, sobbing and refusing to let go.

“Lifelong friendships between Guernsey evacuees and their Scottish hosts became a hallmark of this legacy,” Justin explained.

“Those five years in Scotland and elsewhere left an indelible mark on the evacuees’ lives. Looking back, many describe the experience in a positive light – despite the trauma of separation and war, they gained new families, new perspectives, and an appreciation for the resilience of community.”