Notes In 1923, Arthur John Monk, 11, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of 48 children from the Liverpool Sheltering Home en route to Belleville, Ontario, Canada.
Back home at last - The Barnardo Guild Messenger Summer 2002
Arthur Monk left Britian in 1923 on the SS Megantic to start a new life in Canada as a child migrant. Last month he returned to Britain for the first time when his trip was funded through the Child Migrant Travel Fund. Although not cared for by Barnardo's as a child, the charity was responsible for sending Arthur to Quebec when he was 12. Fortunately he went to live with a very caring family where he was totally accepted and had a "very happy experience". Arthur's two brothers had already been sent to Canada when he went and he managed to stay in touch with them as a child, even though they lived in different parts of the country.
Arthur contacted Barnardo's After Care department several years ago to find out more about his earlier life and see his records. In August 2001, social worker Beverly McKenzie-Gayle from After Care's migration team, met up with him at the reunion meeting in Stratford, Ontario.
As a result, two relatives of his in Britain were traced, one who agreed to act as sponsor - so that the migrant found would pay for his journey home.
Arthur said that his visit to England was "very important and extremely worthwhile" - especially being able to visit his mother's grave side on Canadian Mother's Day. Barnardo's social worker Stephen Ross helped organised Arthur's important journey home - picking him up and his nephew up from the airport and taking them to various places, including a family reunion at Eastbourne in Sussex.
Barnardo's also arranged for Arthur to spend a day at Barkingside where he was pictured above with his nephew. He met with staff from After Care as well as the chief executive Roger Singleton.
Contributors Created : 2011-12-27 15:44:04 / From original database Last Updated : 2012-01-01 19:17:30 /
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