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Wreath laid at
Canada's National
War Memorial
The British Home Children and their descendants who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as well as their descendants who have chosen to join the Canadian Military Services since that time will once again be remembered with a honorary wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa during Canada's National Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11, 2019. This year's wreath bearer is to be Cadet William O'Shea of the 325 Cornwall Kiwanis Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. William's great-grandfather, Edwin Baker was a British Home Child.
The Canadian government declared 2010 the Year of the British Home Child and then in the same year Ontario's government declared September 28 as British Home Child Day. Remembrance Day 2013 marked the first time the contributions and sacrifices of British Home Children and their descendants were acknowledged by the laying of a wreath at the National War Memorial. On February 7, 2018 the Canadian Parliment with an unanimous vote passed Motion M-133, making September 28 nationally recognized as British Home Child Day in Canada.
Some British Home Children who were first placed in the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Valley areas before enlisting in the Canadian Expeditonary Forces include:
- Claude J.P. Nunney # 410935 recipient of the Victoria Cross
- William John Dominey # 1042925 died at Passchendale
- Francis Foreman # 41020 injured in France in 1915 returned to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1919
- Herbert Bretherton #639688 spent time in France with Canadian Labour Pool and returned to Shawville, Quebec
- Charles Reaper # 814924 survived Vimy Ridge and died in 2003 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
