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Record #23503
Name :
: Walter WILSON


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

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 14 Oct 1910
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sicilian

Placement Family
: John and Keitha Horton in New Dublin
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
Notes{website}recorder.ca/2010/09/02/home-children-deserve-more-city-woman-says

One of the saddest chapters in Canadian history is the story of the British "home children."

From 1869 to 1939, British church and charity groups shipped over 100,000 poor or orphaned children -called "home children" -to Canada, Australia and other British settler countries to work as farmhands and domestic servants.

Most of these children, who ranged in age from six months to 18 years old, were sent to Canada.

In 19th-century England, children were used as slave labour in factories, mines and trades. So the promise of a better life in a different country -where they would be provided with food, shelter and an education -must have seemed like a dream come true.

But for many, the dream became a nightmare.

Home children were little more than indentured servants with no rights. A fortunate few were welcomed into families, but many were subjected to neglect, abuse and abysmal working conditions.

In recent years, England and Australia have both issued formal apologies for their role in the home children saga, but Canada has never apologized.

However, steps are being taken to recognize the significant role home children played in Canada's development -and countless childhoods sacrificed in the process.

The Ontario government is currently discussing a bill that would designate Sept. 28 every year as British Home Child Day.

The federal government has proclaimed 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child, and on Wednesday, Canada Post issued a stamp commemorating the home children.

Donna King, whose Centennial Road home houses a collection of home children memorabilia, has a connection through her godmother, Annie "Nanny" Wilson, who married a home child, Walter Wilson.

While Walter was fighting overseas in the war, Annie rented out rooms in her home on Byng Avenue, and King's family, the Martins, moved in.

Annie became a kind of second mother to King.

"My mother was very ill when I was born, so my Nanny literally carried me home from the hospital, and she looked after me," King said.

"From then on, she was a part of our family."

In 1945, Walter Wilson came home from the war. He never talked about his years as a home child, but King has been able to piece together his history through documents found in Annie's attic after he died.

Walter Wilson was born in London on June 3, 1901. His birth certificate lists him as Walter John Collett. His parents were not married, so he was given his father's last name and deemed illegitimate. He had no brothers or sisters.

In later documents, Wilson and his wife refer to him as an orphan, but there is no evidence to support this. King believes he preferred being thought of as an orphan because of the stigma that was attached to home children.

As a child, Wilson lived and attended school in London at one of the Barnardo Homes. Founded by Dr. Thomas John Barnardo, these homes placed 30,000 children in Ontario.

Only nine years old when he was shipped overseas, Wilson arrived in Quebec City and was sent to do farm work for John and Keitha Horton in New Dublin, where he stayed until he married Annie on Nov. 9, 1937.

Then came the Second World War.

In his RCAF application, Wilson noted that he had a public school education and was working as a mechanic at a garage in Brockville.

At the bottom, he wrote: "I am an orphan, worked hard, still working hard."

Even though Wilson was not a Canadian citizen at this point, he joined the Canadian armed forces and fought on the front line in Italy.

It was here that King found a clue as to why Wilson did not go by his birth name, Collett.

In a sworn battlefield declaration in Italy, dated Dec. 26, 1943, he said that Walter Collett was his true name, but that he wanted to be known as Walter Wilson.

He wrote: "I took the name of Wilson from a relative who brought me up after the death of my parent, and I've always been known by the name of Walter Wilson."

When Wilson returned home, he rking as a mechanic and was eventually employed by Brockville's city works garage.

Wilson died on Jan. 17, 1979. He was 77.

King remembers him as a quiet, moody man who worked hard but did not socialize. He was emotionally withdrawn and seemed unable to show affection, even to his wife.

King often wonders if his experiences as a home child, followed by the brutality of war, forever damaged his psyche.

King recalls him talking about his days as a Barnardo Boy.

"The etiquette that he was taught at the Barnardo Home was very disciplined, very regimental," she said.

"You sat down to your meal, you put a napkin on your lap, you ate everything that was on your plate, and when you finished, you pushed your chair in."

Every child shipped overseas by a Barnardo Home was given a trunk to carry their belongings. King has Wilson's Barnardo trunk, which contains his war coins, a diary and other war memorabilia, a good conduct medal he received from Dr. Barnardo's Home, and all the official documents, newspaper clippings and photos King has compiled of Wilson's life.

Other than some scuffs and scratches on the inside of the trunk, it looks much as it might have when nine-year-old Walter Wilson stepped off the boat in Quebec City.

King wants Canada to do more to recognize the plight of the home children.

"I don't know what the percentage is, but a lot of these children were abused. And mind you, when these children came here, they were children. They worked with their hands. They didn't have the farm equipment that's here today," she said.

"I would like to see recognition for all of these home children. They were such an important part of our history and the development of the land." 
ContributorsCreated : 2014-01-11 09:19:37 / From original database


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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  80 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
8575 WILSON, Albert1888ENG, LND, Lambeth Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
26736 WILSON, Albert1902 Oct 1910 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
19821 WILSON, Alec1897ENG,     Apr 1913 : Teutonic CAN Hurst House Training Home  
5717 WILSON, Alexander ENG,     Aug 1875 : - Unknown - CAN Louisa Birt  
25420 WILSON, Alexander1890SCT,     Jun 1897 : Sarmatian CAN Quarriers  
8576 WILSON, Alice 1885ENG, LDN, London Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
11649 WILSON, Alice1890ENG,     May 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3496 WILSON, Alice Maria1898ENG,     Jun 1913 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
5720 WILSON, Allan G ENG,     Aug 1875 : - Unknown - CAN Louisa Birt  
22321 WILSON, Annie Elizabeth1906ENG, LDN, London Jul 1921 : Minnedosa CAN MacPherson Homes  
27591 WILSON, Archibald1871SCT, LKS, Glasgow 1881 : Manitoban CAN Marchmont Homes   
18396 WILSON, Arthur1913ENG,     Mar 1929 : Duchess of Richmond CAN Unknown  
25037 WILSON, Arthur1898 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
9576 WILSON, Benjamin1895ENG,     Aug 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
12429 WILSON, Benjamin1892ENG,     Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
3366 WILSON, Charles1897ENG,     Jul 1910 : Virginian CAN MacPherson Homes  
11136 WILSON, Charles1894ENG,     May 1907 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
13944 WILSON, Charles1893ENG,     Mar 1901 : Dominion CAN Louisa Birt  
25038 WILSON, Charles1898 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
27169 WILSON, Charles A  Jul 1930 : Balranald AUS Barnardos  
21996 WILSON, David ENG,     Apr 1925 : Athenia CAN Quarriers  
27420 WILSON, David1932ENG,     Jan 1949 : Ormonde AUS Big Brother Movement  
26316 WILSON, Edith Joan1924 Aug 1934 : Oronsay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
8969 WILSON, Edith M1896ENG,     Jul 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
8577 WILSON, Edward1888ENG, LDN, London Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
14420 WILSON, Edward1882ENG,     Jul 1895 : Laurentian CAN Waifs & Strays  
15453 WILSON, Edward1893ENG,     May 1906 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
6993 WILSON, Elizabeth1859ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
25553 WILSON, Elizabeth Anne1913ENG, KEN, Sheppey Feb 1924 : Euripides AUS Fairbridge Homes  
23988 WILSON, Elsie1911ENG,     May 1920 : Minnedosa CAN Middlemore  
5192 WILSON, Ernest1917ENG,    , Swaffham Mar 1932 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
25552 WILSON, Ethel Eileen1915ENG, KEN, Sheppey Feb 1924 : Euripides AUS Fairbridge Homes  
18357 WILSON, Eva1889ENG,     Oct 1896 : Scotsman CAN Barnardos  
3357 WILSON, Florence1897ENG,     May 1910 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
20337 WILSON, Frederick1876 Mar 1887 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
25551 WILSON, Frederick1913 Feb 1924 : Euripides AUS Fairbridge Homes  
26839 WILSON, Frederick Alexander1924ENG, LND, Lambeth May 1934 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
11705 WILSON, George ENG,     May 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
18358 WILSON, George1887ENG,     May 1899 : Gallia CAN MacPherson Homes  
22003 WILSON, George ENG,     Apr 1925 : Athenia CAN Boy Hostel, Montreal  
23002 WILSON, George1890ENG,     May 1902 : Dominion CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
26282 WILSON, George Ernest1919ENG,     Apr 1930 : Jervis Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
12131 WILSON, George W H1916ENG,     Jun 1928 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
21346 WILSON, Grace1899ENG,     Jun 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
3365 WILSON, Harriet1899ENG,     Jul 1910 : Virginian CAN MacPherson Homes  
15891 WILSON, Henry1872ENG,     Sep 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
19504 WILSON, Henry1872ENG,     May 1889 : Nestorian CAN Unknown  
5730 WILSON, Isabella ENG,     Aug 1875 : - Unknown - CAN Louisa Birt  
7032 WILSON, Isabella1860ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
5733 WILSON, James ENG,     Aug 1875 : - Unknown - CAN Louisa Birt  
16334 WILSON, James Thomas1872ENG,     Mar 1887 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
4288 WILSON, Jane1891ENG,     Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
17917 WILSON, John 1913ENG, NBL, Newcastle Jun 1928 : Andania CAN British Immigration and Colonisation Association  
7162 WILSON, Joseph1856ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN MacPherson Homes  
8637 WILSON, Josiah1910ENG, LAN, Liverpool Jul 1925 : Athenia CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
26581 WILSON, Leonard1897ENG,     Mar 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
23989 WILSON, Lilly1909ENG,     May 1920 : Minnedosa CAN Middlemore  
27019 WILSON, Lily Violet1914ENG, KEN, Greenwich Aug 1921 : Themistocles AUS Fairbridge Homes  
25327 WILSON, Maggie1882SCT,     Jun 1897 : Sarmatian CAN Quarriers  
13654 WILSON, Mary1906ENG,     Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
11757 WILSON, Maude1891ENG,     May 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
24198 WILSON, Michael1855ENG,     May 1870 : Scandinavian CAN Boy's Home Great Queen Street, London  
5700 WILSON, Norman1900ENG,     Mar 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
21514 WILSON, Oscar1895 Apr 1905 : Kensington CAN Barnardos  
9577 WILSON, Reginald F1893ENG,     Apr 1905 : Kensington CAN Barnardos  
6013 WILSON, Richard1887ENG,     Oct 1904 : Bavarian CAN Barnardos  
24927 WILSON, Robert1901 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
20908 WILSON, Ronald1922ENG,     Apr 1938 : Duchess of Bedford CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
27018 WILSON, Rose1911ENG, LND, Southwark Aug 1921 : Themistocles AUS Fairbridge Homes  
4608 WILSON, Rudolph Alexander Hamilton1910ENG, KEN, Chatham Aug 1925 : Ausonia CAN Salvation Army  
11928 WILSON, Victor George1919ENG, LND Jun 1929 : Largs Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
20707 WILSON, Violet1898ENG,     Oct 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
21394 WILSON, Violet1898ENG,     Jun 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
20184 WILSON, W. F.1887ENG,     Jun 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
23503 WILSON, Walter ENG,     Oct 1910 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
4985 WILSON, William1909ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
12430 WILSON, William1892ENG,     Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
18281 WILSON, William1908ENG,     Mar 1920 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
27299 WILSON, William1915ENG,     Jun 1929 : Largs Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
19398 WILSON, William Thomas1901ENG,     Sep 1912 : Sicilian 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  80 Entries