Don Cherry speaks at a First World War Commemoration Service for the British Home Children

Between the years 1863 and 1949 approximately 118,000 children of all ages were brought to Canada to be used as indentured farm workers and domestics. These children faced uncertain futures in Canada. Many children were taken in by families who treated them well, however many more were not. Many home children found themselves abandoned to new lives which were worse then the old. For whatever reason, all these children were separated from their families, their homes, cultures and country. When the first world war broke out, these children answered our country's call. With an enlistment rate of almost 100% of those eligible, 10,000 BHC enlisted. Of these, 1,035 are now known to have lost their lives in the First World War. Don Cherry's Grandfather, Richard Palamountain was a British Home Child who served. Although he did not perish in the war, he would pass away in his early 50's as a result of nephritis, a disease he picked up in the trenches. His official cause of death - death due to service.

Video was taken by Megan Oschefski and published with her permission. For more information on the British Home Children please visit: http://canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com/

Видео Don Cherry speaks at a First World War Commemoration Service for the British Home Children канала Home Children Canada