This powerful photograph captures a poignant moment in Brighton Station during the Second World War, showing the arrival of child evacuees. Crowds of young children, many clutching gas mask cases and small suitcases, gather alongside a Southern Railway train under the station’s grand Victorian iron and glass canopy. The platform is busy with railway guards, officials, and concerned adults, organising the children’s safe movement to their temporary homes.
The first wave of evacuees arrived in Brighton on 1 September 1939, just two days before Britain officially declared war on Germany. These children were sent from major cities like London, seeking safety from the anticipated bombing raids of the Blitz. However, by July 1940, as the threat of invasion loomed and the south coast became a vulnerable target, Brighton itself was deemed unsafe for evacuees. In response, 30,000 children, along with many local Brighton residents, were relocated again – a journey of uncertainty that was repeated for countless families across Britain.
During this period, Brighton Station played a crucial role in wartime operations beyond evacuations. Beneath the station, the Goods Tunnel – originally used for freight transport – was converted into a secret war room, serving as a control centre for railway operations during WWII. This underground hub coordinated train movements, ensuring the efficient transport of troops, supplies, and evacuees while protecting vital communications from potential air raids. The station and its subterranean war rooms exemplify how Britain’s railway network was repurposed to support the war effort, becoming a hidden nerve centre for military logistics and civilian safety.
