HOME      FORUM      HELP      SEARCH      
News : The Surname Interests Table (SIT), the Database for Special Interests Groups (DBSIG) and Ancestral Anniversaries
are now "mobile friendlier" more here ...
The RootsChat Reference Library

RootsChat.Com »  RootsChat Reference Library »   Database for Special Interest Groups (DBSIG) »   British Home Children : Quick Search

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 /

Family History ResearchersRootsChatters with family connections to Albert Edward BANCE:



 
Readers Comments

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  3 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
14618 BANCE, Albert Edward1914ENG, LND, Wandsworth May 1929 : Regina CAN Waifs & Strays  
7366 BANCE, Elsie1888ENG,     Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
7425 BANCE, William1888ENG,     Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos