Heartbreaking History Unveiled: A Glimpse into the Lives of British Home Children through an Antique Box

A collection of glass negatives containing about 80 photographs has shed light on the history of the British Home Children, a child migration scheme that sent 100,000 impoverished children from Britain to overseas colonies between 1869 and the 1940s. Discovered in a wooden box in a Scottish auction house in 2018, the images offer insights into the difficult history shared by the UK and the Commonwealth. The box was recently purchased by the charity Home Children Canada for their archives. Many of the children sent abroad as part of the scheme experienced abuse, neglect, and separation from their families. The descendants of these children, who make up around 10% of Canada's population, are largely unaware of their stories. While Australia and the UK have apologized for the forced migration of child laborers, an unofficial apology in Canada has caused some resentment among descendants. The photographs in the box depict young boys on a farm in Scotland owned by George Carter Cossar, who acted as a training ground for Scottish boys before they were sent to Canada. The images capture the boys working, playing football, and documenting their arrival from Glasgow slums. The discovery of these photographs will help ensure that their stories are not forgotten. The images were likely exhibited to raise funds for the migration scheme. The discovery of a list of child passengers' names alongside the photographs has allowed for some identification, with three boys already recognized. The investigation is ongoing as the charity works to match names with the photographs. The importance of finding and sharing these images lies in providing closure and understanding of the past.