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Evacuation

 Large panelled hall containing rows of desks at which students sit studying, some desks unoccupiedBristol University Great Hall in use as the King’s College Library, 1940The First World War left King's relatively unscathed, but the outbreak of war in September 1939 brought with it the threat of civilian bombing raids.

As a precaution the arts and science students of the College were evacuated to Bristol University, with medical students being sent to Glasgow.

The logistics of student accommodation proved a serious headache; worse still was the Bristol bombing raid of November 1940 that destroyed 7000 King's books temporarily stored there.

On a more positive note, evacuees were praised by the local authorities for their help in fire watching and acting as stretcher-bearers.

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