The local authorities were responsible for organising and coordination the placement of evacuees in their specific Districts.
East Worlington was in the South Molton Rural District and at a meeting of the Council on 13 June 1940 the Clerk, Mr C. B. Willey informed those present that he considered by the time the evacuation of children to rural areas there would not be a single home that does not have an evacuee.
He then went on to report that about 830 evacuees were expected that evening and they would be allocated to the following parishes, Bishops Nympton, 108: East Buckland. 26: West Buckland. 60; Charles. 56; Chittlehampton, 207; Filleigh, 67; North Molton., 174; and Burrington. 133.
In addition, on Friday a further distribution of evacuees would be: Chulmleigh. 286; Chittlehamholt, Satterleigh and Warkleigh, 42, and George Nympton, and on Saturday the allocation would be: Kings Nympton. 113; Witheridge. 148; East Worlington, 56; Rackenford, 67, Rose Ash. 67; Romansleigh. 26; Mariansleigh. 50; Meshaw. 30. Knowstone. East Anstey. 40; West Anstey. 36; Molland, 47; and Twitchen, 24.
The experience of one evacuee recalls her experiences of arriving in East Worlington
‘I were taken with many other children wearing labels to a tiny remote village, East Worlington. There in the two roomed school we awaited selection. No one was prepared to take two young sisters, so we were left discarded like abandoned livestock. Late evening, the billeting officer took us to Grove House a small farm run by Mr and Mrs Burrows and their daughter Mary.’ Read more of her experience. (link to https://ewph.uk/heritage/stories-of-the-community/an-evacuees-story/ )
Evacuee children in the parish attended East Worlington School and the school under the headship of Mrs Harry played an active role in supporting the war effort and offering the children
In August 1940 children at the school including evacuees, gave an enjoyable concert East Worlington Parish Hall, when the sum of £8 was raised for materials with which to make hospital garments for the Red Cross, the work to be done by the schoolgirls as part of their war effort. The programme included a play, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by children from 5 to 9 years of age. Mrs. Harry told the audience that no such school concert had been held in the parish for many years. She thought the standard of attainment was creditable, especially considering that the children were inexperienced and had had under month which to prepare and not a penny had been spent on the production. All the dresses and properties had been borrowed or made from materials that were available.