How do we reflect, commemorate and remember 149 years of British Home Children?
Now I am the first to admit that I tire of all those media created anniversaries, as if we can only truly remember those who participated in the Great War, The Armenian Massacre, or the Holocaust if we tie them to an article headed “on this day”.
That said, the story of British Home Children will soon reach its 150th birthday, and it is perhaps time to think about how that event is marked.
I discovered my BHC only in 2008, and so am a relative newcomer.
But in that time I have seen British Home Children move from a group of people curious to know more about a relative who was migrated to Canada as a child, to a full blown mature area of study, which generates learned books and articles, as well events ranging from exhibitions in museums and to talks in schools, community halls and on the steps of public buildings.
Most of the work to publicise British Home Children has come from Canada, and from a group of people determined to raise the awareness of what happened.
Some of these people I know and now count as friends, and while it might seem unfair to single one person out from so many, I think the work Lori Oschefski deserves mention. Her tireless effort and determination to both inform and research British Home Children while drawing and acknowledging those who went before has been vital in getting the story out.*
There is also Mary Humphries who in the 1980s explored the more recent migration of young people to Australia and there will be others in New Zealand and other former parts of the British Empire starting their own journeys of discover.
But here where it all began, there is surprisingly very little activity.
I know of only one book published in Britain on the subject, two facebook sites, and a few special events designed to commemorate and explore the migration of young people of which those promoted by the Together Trust are the most significant.
Our own facebook site, British Home Children ....... the story from Britain** has only been going since April but has already attracted over a thousand members with the prime purpose of sharing stories and information.
Very early on we took the decision to look outwards, and produced a poster can be downloaded and distributed to friends, heritage centres/libraries & history groups and early in the new year there will be a power point on BHC which people can use.
Tricia Leslie who is the other admin, and I, feel that the next step must be to take the story out across the country, and given that many of our 1,029 members live in Britain it would advance the awareness, if all of them could “post the poster” and identify opportunities in their home town to pass the message on.
Next year there will be some very interesting and exciting events happening across the country, of which more later, but until then, in the words of that great Northern Soul call to arms, “Keep the Faith” and tell everyone about British Home Children.
Location; Britain, Canada and beyond
Pictures; courtesy of the Together Trust, https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/ British Home Children ....... the story from Britain, and the collection of Andrew Simpson
*British Home Children Advocacy and Research, http://www.britishhomechildren.com/
** British Home Children ....... the story from Britain, www.facebook.com/groups/bhchildren/
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| Leaving Manchester for Canada in 1897, on the Town Hall steps |
That said, the story of British Home Children will soon reach its 150th birthday, and it is perhaps time to think about how that event is marked.
I discovered my BHC only in 2008, and so am a relative newcomer.
But in that time I have seen British Home Children move from a group of people curious to know more about a relative who was migrated to Canada as a child, to a full blown mature area of study, which generates learned books and articles, as well events ranging from exhibitions in museums and to talks in schools, community halls and on the steps of public buildings.
 |
| Where my great uncle ended up, 1914 |
Some of these people I know and now count as friends, and while it might seem unfair to single one person out from so many, I think the work Lori Oschefski deserves mention. Her tireless effort and determination to both inform and research British Home Children while drawing and acknowledging those who went before has been vital in getting the story out.*
There is also Mary Humphries who in the 1980s explored the more recent migration of young people to Australia and there will be others in New Zealand and other former parts of the British Empire starting their own journeys of discover.
 |
| Working in the print room, circa 1900 |
I know of only one book published in Britain on the subject, two facebook sites, and a few special events designed to commemorate and explore the migration of young people of which those promoted by the Together Trust are the most significant.
Our own facebook site, British Home Children ....... the story from Britain** has only been going since April but has already attracted over a thousand members with the prime purpose of sharing stories and information.
Very early on we took the decision to look outwards, and produced a poster can be downloaded and distributed to friends, heritage centres/libraries & history groups and early in the new year there will be a power point on BHC which people can use.
 |
| A poster to download |
Next year there will be some very interesting and exciting events happening across the country, of which more later, but until then, in the words of that great Northern Soul call to arms, “Keep the Faith” and tell everyone about British Home Children.
Pictures; courtesy of the Together Trust, https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/ British Home Children ....... the story from Britain, and the collection of Andrew Simpson
*British Home Children Advocacy and Research, http://www.britishhomechildren.com/
** British Home Children ....... the story from Britain, www.facebook.com/groups/bhchildren/
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