Home Children: A found poem about dire straits in a strange land

An often forgotten part of Canada’s history more than 100,000 children were rounded up from the streets of Britain described as orphans most of the children were from families living in poverty many, like Charlie, left behind parents they would never see again

Children travelled in groups Matthew, 12, Charles, 10 and their younger brother, George, 8 10-year-old Marjorie Arnison and her nine-year-old brother, Kenny Eliza, just four years old the life she knew would change some as young as two

They sailed for Canada the sea was rough and the waves were often higher than the ship I spent my nights hidden against a ventilator shaft for warmth I was young and alone

Once in Canada the children were sent to receiving homes siblings were separated to live with different families my mother never saw her brother again menial labour in the fields and kitchens of Canadian farms in a strange country

What was it like for the children? an in-demand source of cheap labour the census lists him as a “servant” no one around to care much how they fared a fortunate few were welcomed many were subjected to neglect, abuse and everything in between

“Home Child” was an epithet they were treated like second-class citizens rumoured to be young criminals perceived as slackers lazy and useless Canadians called them the “dregs of London”

I was ashamed to say I was an orphan as an adult he didn’t tell his own family this shame caused many to remain silent secrets and dark histories

I came across an old torn envelope addressed to my late father alerted me to the possibility that we may have other siblings I have been trying to trace their descendants my family’s story is one example the silence is being broken