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Record #14618
Name :
: Albert Edward BANCE (1914 - 2006)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 2 Dec 1914

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 29 Apr 2006
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, London, Wandsworth
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Cowansville
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 26 May 1929
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Regina

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Waifs & Strays
NotesA birth registration was found for Albert E Bance: Mother's Maiden Name: Ratcliff; Date: Oct-Nov-Dec 1914; District: Wandsworth; County: London; Volume: 1d; Page: 1387. Parents: Albert Bance and Caroline Ratcliff, married 1911 in Richmond, Surrey, England. Other children born to this marriage were Frances born 1912 and Daisy M born 1913.

On 20th August 1914, Albert Bance enlisted in the Army at Kingston, Surrey, his wife Caroline's address was recorded as c/o Mrs Ratcliff, 11 Worple Ways, Sheen Road, Richmond, he declared that they had three children. On 26th November 1917, Albert was marked as missing in action, in 1918, his papers show that his wife sent numerous letters to the Army asking if they had any news for her. It was noted that on 7 January 1919, his medals were sent to her.

In 1929, Albert Edward Bance, 14, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of children from the Church of England Waifs & Strays. He declared that he was born in Putney; that his intended occupation was farming; that he was en route to the Gibbs Home, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; and that his next of kin was The Secretary, Waifs & Strays Society, Kennington.

Albert's mother Caroline remarried on Dec 15 1926 aged 35 to a Sydney Thurbon and died in 1947 in Little Abington, Cambridgeshire

Albert Edward Bance, farmhand, married Evelyn Grace Cote on March 17, 1939, at Stukely-Sud (Anglican Church), Qu?bec, Canada.

In an undated article written about 1998, it was reported:

"Reunited After 78 Years
They Meet Again For New Year

(CBS) Until this week, Albert Bance had not seen his sister for almost 80 years. Orphaned during World War I, Bance and his two sisters were part of a British program that sent children who had lost their parents to foster homes all over the world.

At the age of seven, Bance was sent to work on a farm in Canada. For years, he tried to locate his sisters, but he had no success. His family says the British government withheld the information they needed to find them.

Two years ago, Bance's grandson Todd Goyette began a search of his own. Goyette sought his great-aunts via the Internet, and also sent out hundreds of letters.

"I guess I just put myself in his shoes," Goyette told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in a recent interview. "If it was my brother or sister, I'd want to know what happened."

At last, one letter reached the right person. In November, Goyette learned that Daisy Bance was alive and living in England.

During the holiday season, Albert, 84, was reunited with his older sister, Daisy, who is 85.

"It's so lovely to see you, Albert," she told her brother. "I don't want to let you go anymore."

For Albert, finding his sister was the "best Christmas present I ever had," he said.

Daisy plans to stay in Montreal with Albert's family for the week of New Year's. Next year, Albert's family will fly to England for Christmas with Daisy."

The Seattle Times from Tuesday, December 29, 1998, reported:

"Siblings Orphaned During World War I Reunite After 80 Years

AP/MONTREAL - A brother and sister from England who were separated 80 years ago after being orphaned during World War I were reunited yesterday.

Daisy Bance, 85, hugged her younger brother Albert, 84, in a reunion arranged by their children and grandchildren.

"I don't want to let you go any more," Daisy Bance said yesterday as she held on to her brother, who was 4 when they were placed in separate orphanages in England.

"Here I am," said Albert. "I'm your brother. I've been waiting a lifetime."

They were split up after their parents died during World War I. Albert Bance was shipped to Canada when he was 14 to work on an Eastern Townships farm.

He was one of the so-called Home Children who were sent to Canada, supposedly for a better life.

Arriving in 1929, he worked on a farm, got married, then served as fire and police chief of a small town. His wife died three years ago, but he has five children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One more is on the way.

His children and grandchildren were responsible for bringing the two together.

They checked English birth records, searched the Internet, and sent letters to possible relatives in England.

They finally found Daisy Bance about six weeks ago.

Then one of Bance's daughters won a Montreal radio-station contest to bring family home for the holidays.

They gave the contest prize to their long-lost aunt.

Daisy Bance never married after growing up in nine homes for orphans in England. She spent her life working as live-in help for wealthy people, said friend April Monk, who accompanied Daisy on the trip.

The hunt is still on for another sister, though there have been rumors she died as a young adult."

Albert Edward Bance died April 29, 2006, in Cowansville, Quebec, Canada. His wife, Evelyn G. Cote Bance died June 12, 1999, in Cowansville, Quebec, Canada. They are both buried at South Stukely Cemetery, South Stukely, Quebec, Canada. Plot: Range 5 Lot 20 No. 1. 
ContributorsCreated : 2011-05-22 10:26:43 / From original database

Last Updated : 2011-05-22 10:40:56 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  40 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3123 ACKERMAN, Arthur Edward1877ENG, LND, Wandsworth Jun 1888 : Parisian CAN Louisa Birt  
3124 ACKERMAN, George Abraham1875ENG, LND, Wandsworth Jun 1888 : Parisian CAN Louisa Birt  
14618 BANCE, Albert Edward1914ENG, LND, Wandsworth May 1929 : Regina CAN Waifs & Strays  
8267 BARRETT, Frank1915ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Apr 1928 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
9249 BEARE, Joseph George1893ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
7581 BISSELL, Albert Victor1897ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Oct 1908 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
9917 BISSELL, Frederick William1899ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Oct 1908 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
13497 BOOTY, Clifton1877ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Apr 1891 : Parisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
13498 BOOTY, Ernest1875ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Apr 1887 : Circassian CAN MacPherson Homes  
9672 BURDIS, Clement1898ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jul 1908 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
6331 BURDIS, John1896ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jul 1908 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
9673 BURDIS, Louisa1900ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jun 1909 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
8802 CAMPION, Archibald1897ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jun 1908 : Corsican CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
3974 CHAMBERS, Nellie Jane1897ENG, SRY, Wandsworth May 1907 : Tunisian CAN Waifs & Strays  
3975 CHAMBERS, Rose Margaret1895ENG, SRY, Wandsworth May 1907 : Tunisian CAN Waifs & Strays  
14125 CONWAY, Emily Alice1884ENG, LND, Wandsworth Jul 1899 : Lake Huron CAN Barnardos  
9897 COXEN, Charles1899ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Mar 1908 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
9611 CRIBB, Thomas1897ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jul 1908 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home  
12878 DAWES, Albert1894ENG, LND, Wandsworth Oct 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
12671 DEFFETT, Edith1892ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Aug 1904 : Bavarian CAN Waifs & Strays  
8682 EADES, Francis J1896ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Apr 1909 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
8681 EADES, William Harold1899ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Apr 1909 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
9900 GOMER, Annie1897ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Mar 1909 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
7700 HAMP, Cyril Frederick1909ENG, LND, Wandsworth Mar 1924 : Lancastria CAN National Childrens Home  
16436 HAWKINS, Frederick Gordon1905ENG, LND, Wandsworth Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
8256 HERRIDGE, Bessie 1881ENG, LND, Wandsworth Mar 1892 : Mongolian CAN Maria Rye  
8257 HERRIDGE, Gertrude 1884ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Mar 1892 : Mongolian CAN Maria Rye  
8437 LANGBRIDGE, Ernest1899ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Apr 1912 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
8442 LANGBRIDGE, Phyllis Louise1905ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Mar 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
22451 MARTIN, Stanley Herbert1906ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jun 1920 : Melita CAN Waifs & Strays  
10207 MEDLAM, Edward1891ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
2779 NEWLAND, Catherine1865ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Sep 1882 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
11148 OYLER, Edward1905ENG, SRY, Wandsworth May 1923 : Montcalm CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
14797 SINK, Ada Isabel V.1880ENG, LND, Wandsworth Jun 1884 : Parisian CAN Middlemore  
9844 STIFF, Arthur Thomas1901ENG, LND, Wandsworth Mar 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
13187 URQUHART, Jessie1881ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Jul 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
4993 WHITE, Edward1911ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
11839 WHITEHART, David1892ENG, SRY, Wandsworth May 1907 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
18366 WOOLNER, Henry Thomas1889ENG, LND, Wandsworth Sep 1899 : Arawa CAN Barnardos  
15199 WRATTON, Edwin1895ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Mar 1907 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  40 Entries