The first evacuation of the war took place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the first, second and third of September, 1939.
The first problems were caused by the total number of evacuees being less than the number the authorities expected. In Glasgow, about 20% of those who registered did not report for evacuation.
In some places organisers were tempted to interfere with the special train timetables because of the smaller numbers and so there was some confusion. It also turned out that not enough thought had been given to what children need to be kept comfortable and clean on long train journeys.