Between 1869 and the 1940s, about 100,000 impoverished children from Britain were sent to overseas colonies including Canada as part of the British Home Children child migration programme. Among them were 10-year-old Rose Shapcott and her brother Fred, 14, who were orphaned in 1891 and placed into a Barnardo’s children’s home before being separated and sent thousands of miles across the Atlantic.
According to Malcolm Farrow, the siblings were sent away.
Did You Know? Rose Shapcott and her brother Fred were admitted to a Barnardo’s children’s home in 1891 after being orphaned, before being separated by the child migration programme that relocated roughly 100,000 children from Britain to colonies like Canada between 1869 and the 1940s.
The Impact of the British Child Migration Programme
Additional historical context provided by Lori Oschefski, President of Home Children Canada, indicates that approximately 75 percent of the children placed through these migration programs endured hardship, exploitation, and abuse. Many young migrants were separated from their siblings, forced to cover their own travel costs, and subjected to severe neglect and sexual abuse in isolated settings while mostly being denied an education.
Reflecting on the psychological and physical toll of the system, Farrow explained that Rose eventually married in Canada, but Fred later intervened and brought her back to England out of deep concern for her well-being. Once back in England, Rose gave birth to a baby boy out of wedlock, but the child was placed into care because he had a disability. Farrow added that Rose later struggled with her mental health and was admitted to the Colney Hatch Asylum in London in 1911 at about age 30, before eventually returning to her husband in Canada without her son, where she died in 1916.
Advocates document sites and press for memorials
Efforts to preserve the history of these young migrants continue through organizations like Home Children Canada, which documents burial sites across Canada, including a mass grave of 76 British Home Children in Etobicoke, Ontario, and erects monuments in their honour. Descendants and advocates, such as Simon Roberts and Sheila Dodd, have also pressed for public memorials in departure cities like Liverpool—whence an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the children originated—to properly commemorate the journeys of young migrants who faced severe hardships.
While the British government issued a formal apology to former child migrants in 2010 for the severe hardships they endured, no such apology has been issued by the Canadian government. Meanwhile, local commemorations continue, such as exhibitions at the Annandale National Historic Site in Tillsonburg and online archives provided by Oxford County, offering descendants and the public a chance to examine the virtual exhibits and reflect on the historical stigma that kept many experiences hidden for generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were Rose Shapcott and her brother Fred placed into a children’s home?
Rose and Fred were orphaned and admitted to a Barnardo’s children’s home in 1891 when Rose was 10 years old and Fred was 14.
How many children were sent abroad through the British Home Children programme?
Between 1869 and the 1940s, approximately 100,000 impoverished children from Britain were sent to overseas colonies, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
How do modern historical exhibitions and archival projects change the public understanding of institutional child migration programs from the 19th and 20th centuries?