North Queensferry School – WWII

School Evacuation?

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1939

MAY BE EVACUATED
CHILDREN IN NORTH AND SOUTH QUEENSFERRY

(From Our Lobby Correspondent)

Children in North and South Queensferry areas may be evacuated immediately, as a result of yesterday’s raid.  Mr W. Gallacher, M.P. for West Fife, is having an interview with Mr John Colville, the Secretary for Scotland, on the matter tonight.

Mr Gallacher received today two telegrams.  One from the North Queensferry Development Association, read: “Press evacuation.  Absolutely necessary.”

The other telegram which was signed by Captain Lyle, read: “Re children at North Queensferry, will you please investigate question of evacuation of these children at once.”

Mr Gallacher went to the Home Office by he was referred to the Scottish Secretary, with whom he is to have an interview this evening.

An evacuation plan was speedily enacted, with registration opening on October 23rd

THE COURIER AND ADVERTISER, MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1939

NEXT FIFE EVACUEES REGISTER TO-DAY
At Inverkeithing and North Queensferry

Registration of Inverkeithing and North Queensferry school children for evacuation purposes will take place today and tomorrow at their schools between 2 and 5 p.m.

Parents only should attend.  The children should be registered either at Inverkeithing or North Queensferry School, according to the area in which they reside no matter whether they attend a school outside those areas.

Later it may be possible to arrange for the evacuation of further classes such as blind persons and expectant mothers.

 The topic was discussed in Parliament on 24th October 1939

Mr. Mathers asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the experience of the air-raid in the Forth area has caused the Government to examine afresh the question of classifying the burgh of South Queensferry as an evacuation area as urged by the town council; and whether he is in a position to make a statement there anent?

Mr. Colville

I have decided that in view of the special position of South Queensferry, North Queensferry and Inverkeithing they should be treated as sending areas under the Government evacuation scheme. Parents of school children have been given information about the arrangements and the registration of children whose parents desire them to be evacuated began yesterday.

Mr. Mathers

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to what areas these children are to be evacuated, and whether it will be easy for their parents to visit them?

Mr. Colville

I would rather not say the exact district, but it will not be very far away from their present homes.

Mr. Woodburn

Will the right hon. Gentleman include other places on the Firth of Forth, such as Alloa and Kincardine, or at least stop sending children to those places which are within a bomb’s throw of the Forth Bridge?

Mr. Colville

The hon. Member will recollect that in a relatively small country no place can be declared to be completely safe. I shall be glad to consider any specific proposals, but there is only a limited amount of accommodation in the areas to which the children can be sent.

Mr. Woodburn

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Firth of Forth is definitely a dangerous area and that bombs dropped from 20,000 feet might conceivably land in Alloa or Kincardine, which at the moment are reception areas?

Mr. Colville

Those places are much farther away than the Queensferry area, which I have agreed to evacuate.

Mr. Gallacher

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an inquiry into the position with regard to other villages right on the edge of the area which are affected in just the same way?