Bringing to light British Home Children’s stories

Between the 1920s and the 1970s, thousands of poor British children were sent to Australia as it was believed that they would be given a fresh start, and receive work and educational opportunities not available to them at home.

This term refers to a boy raised in a Barnardo's care home. Established by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, the organisation cared for over 8,500 children in 96 locations across England by the early 20th century.

Around 30,000 children were sent from Barnardo's homes to Commonwealth countries between the 1860s and the 1970s. From Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to British Colombia, Home Children were placed in homes and agricultural jobs up and down the country.

Early in his career, Dr Thomas John Barnardo pled guilty to falsifying photographs of children to make their 'rescue' by his organisation appear more dramatic. He was also taken to court over 80 times, mostly on charges of kidnapping and neglect. He pled guilty to kidnapping, and admitted to what he described as 'philanthropic abduction'.

The last migrations that took place under the child migration programme were as late as 1970. Although the scheme had been mostly discontinued in the 1930s, it was not terminated until as late as 40 years later. The last 'Barnardo boy' migration took place in 1967, to Australia.

Around four million people worldwide - and around 10% of Canada's population - are descended from a British Home Child. Their stories make up a crucial yet relatively unrecognised part of Canadian history.

In addition to orphanages and children's homes, a number of church organisations were involved in the British Home Child programme between the 1860s and the 1970s. Protestant churches and Catholic religious orders across the Commonwealth countries sent and received children as part of the migration scheme.