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Record #5188
Name :
: Harold Warneford VENNELL (1917 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1917

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Middlesex, Willesden
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 19 Mar 1932
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Montclare

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesA birth registration was found for Harold W Vennell: Mother's Maiden Surname: Adams; Date of Registration: Oct Nov Dec 1917; Registration district: Willesden; Registration county: Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex; Volume Number: 3a; Page Number: 414.

At age seven, Harold became ill with rickets and his single mother was unable to care for him.

In 1932, Harold Vennell, 14, arrived at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in a group of Barnardo children en route to Mr John Hobday, 538 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Next of kin given on passenger list given as Mother-Mrs Betty Crabb, Holmwood, Magdalen Green, Clacton on Sea; intended occupation-farming.

In June, 2002, Harold Vennell brought a 400 million pound class action suit at Ontario's Superior Court of Justice against Barnardo's (through his attorney, Harvey Strosberg). "While Barnardo's intentions may have seemed laudable to some, it is now indisputable that many of the migrant children were neglected, abused or otherwise mistreated," said Harvey Strosberg, Vennell's lawyer. The class action alleges that the charity did not screen or monitor Canadian applicants to ensure that children were being treated properly, and alleging that the charity sent children from Britain to Canada even though their parents were still living in Britain. In many cases, the parents did not consent or even know that their children were being shipped out.

Despite his mother's refusal to give permission, Barnardo's sent 14-year-old Harold to Canada in 1932 to work on a farm in Pakenham, a small community near Ottawa, where he worked 18 hours a day, seven days a week, was abused and was given meagre food. Harold stated that he spent more than a year working 18 hours a day, seven days a week for a couple who assaulted him several times. He
wasn't allowed to go to school and church. "He was given meagre food and inappropriate clothing for the harsh Ontario winters to which he was unaccustomed. He slept in an attic," according to the lawsuit. A Barnardo's representative visited the farm once, but failed to do anything despite Harold's "obvious neglect, abuse and unhappiness."

Harold was moved to work on another farm in Uxbridge, north of Toronto. When he was released from Barnardo's care at the age of 18, the organization failed to give him accounting of the money he should have earned.

Harold Vennell lives in Windsor, Ontario. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-02-24 13:51:36 / From original database

Last Updated : 2013-01-05 20:48:16 /

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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  3 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
10897 VENNELL, Albert Edward1884ENG, LND, Kensington Apr 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
21126 VENNELL, Ellen Louisa1888ENG, LND, Kensington May 1897 : Scotsman CAN Childrens Aid Society  
5188 VENNELL, Harold Warneford1917ENG, MDX, Willesden Mar 1932 : Montclare CAN Barnardos