Reginald Walsh was evacuated from Ramsgate at the age of 6 in 1940. He went by train to Stafford Station and from there he was put on a bus to Butterton where the children were allocated billets. At this point he was chosen with one of his sisters by a family, but was separated from another. After 12 months he was also parted from this sister.

During his evacuation in Staffordshire, Reginald had a total of 13 different billets until joining the Royal Air Force at the age of 21. Unfortunately, he and his sisters were never reunited with their parents; his sisters stayed with the Podmores until they married, and he stayed with the Lockers.