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I read with great interest “Home children: The unspoken story” by Gerry Warner. I, too, am a descendant of the British Home Children that came to Canada through the Barnardo Liverpool Home. When I was younger the relationship that I had with my Grandparents grew from regular visits to their country home in Quebec and family gatherings. At the time I never knew the history that brought them to Canada or the life experiences that they shared. It wasn’t until July 31, 1994 when my Uncle Sarge, my Dad’s brother, wrote about the family in his “Epistle According to Sarge”.
Reading about my grandparents was quite eye opening to say the least. I learned that my Grandfather, Joseph, came to Canada on February 22, 1900 at the age of 12. He was taken to the Liverpool Sheltering Home Branch in Knowlton Quebec and was then traded off to a number of farms where he performed hard labour. Eventually he drifted away. In 1947 it was discovered that my Grandfather didn’t know when he was born or his birth date so he wrote to the Barnardo Sheltering Home to see if they could help him out. He was given a record of birth from the Dr. Barnardo’s Homes of July 1, 1899. Was this coincidence or lack of personal records kept by the Home. Whatever it was, we celebrated my Grandfather’s birthday every year on July 1, Canada Day, with laughter and joy.
My Grandmother, Mary, came to Canada in 1908 at the age of 13 arriving in Quebec City. She could not read or write. When she arrived in Canada she was taken to the Liverpool Sheltering Home in Knowlton, Quebec and there she met up with her brother Sam. He had found her a job. Although it didn’t last long, she was moved from home to home, working, until Dr & Mrs King took my Grandmother in. They treated her well and she was educated and studied music. There she met my Grandfather because my Grandfather was working for the same family as a handy man.
My Grandmother married my Grandfather at the age of 17. Thankfully my Grandparents made their own family of 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. As they grew older, married and had children we all shared many family gatherings and made happy memories of our own. My Grandfather Joseph, died in 1973 and my Grandmother, Mary, died a year later in 1974. I always feel warmth inside when I read their names – Mary and Joseph. The legacy they left behind is a wonderful gift of family that will be continued on for generations. For this I am grateful.
England sentenced one hundred and sixty thousand of their citizens to a life of transportation between Canada and Australia. My Uncle writes that “It was the largest exile of humans into bondage in history, and even far greater than the slave trade in Africa”. Margaret Humphreys wrote Empty Cradles where she speaks of the work she did in Australia as a Social Worker discovering children right up to and including the early 1970’s that were victims of this social exile. The stories go on and on.
Prime Minister Brown’s apology comes a little late for my Grandparents. Yet as a descendant of the Home Children I am proud to be a Canadian knowing that it was grandparents who helped to heal and shape our country I call HOME.
Janyce Bampton
