Siegfried und Gertrude Bauer wanted to go to the USA and found a cousin in California who issued the necessary guarantee for them. He owned a barrel factory and sent along an employment contract for Lila's father. They were now on the waiting list for immigration and had to wait another year.
The parents decided to spend this time in England. On March 2, 1939, Lila said goodbye to her grandparents. She was never to see them again. They went by train to Holland and from there by ferry to England.