POSTCARD MEMORIES: Recognizing British Home Child Day

Postcard Memories is a series of historic views, stories, and photos of Bradford and the area, a trip down memory lane on a Saturday morning.

From the early 1860s up to the 1970s, children who were institutionalized in “homes” across the UK, were sent to countries across the British Empire to be used as indentured farm workers and domestics. The majority of the almost 120,000 British Home Children that were sent to Canada arrived between 1869 and 1939.  Mostly, they ranged in age from four to 15. 

Today there are quite a few descendants that live right here in Innisfil.  

For example, George Mowforth was sent to Canada through the Dr. Barnardo Homes in 1904 at the age of 12 to a farm near Tillsonburg, Ontario.  Like many young men, when the First World War started George signed up, leaving a new wife and child.  George was Killed in Action on April 11, 1917, at VIMY Ridge.

Edward Barrett was two years old when taken off the streets of London and put in Barnardo’s care. When he turned 14 years old he was sent to Canada to work on the farms.   

September 28 is British Home Child Day in Canada. This day is to recognize the contributions, service, hardships, and stigmas that many endured, and to reflect on the importance of remembering the story of the British Home Children for future generations.

For more information on this part of Canadian History please www.britishhomechild.com. 

-Innisfil Historical Society