While sorting out my files I came across a piece of paper with four names on it.

These were of four children all from the same family and part of what was known as the Home children.

They were Harold Powner, aged 6, Hilda Powner aged 8, Sidney Powner aged 11 and Victor Powner aged 9.

They had sailed on the Carthaginian to Canada in 1909.

Further research showed that these four children had come from the Middlemore Homes. Middlemore homes was known as the Children's Emigration Homes and had been started by John Throgmorton in 1872.

He saw poor children on the streets and felt they would have a better life abroad.

His was not the only organisation doing this but one of many but it was seen as a way of giving these children a better life.

Child emigration to Canada began in the early 1800s and continued for around 100 years. Children were sent out by ship with an adult accompanying them.

When they reached Canada, they had a day or two if they were lucky, in which they could recover from their journey.

They were then sent out to families who would care for them and give them work. The boys generally went to farms while the girls went into service.

Children did not need to be orphaned but often emigrated because their parents could not look after them as in the case of the four children, named above.

When their mother died, the elder child looked after the baby and another child, the older ones were maybe working or more able to look after themselves and the four middle ones went to Middlemore Homes and then to Canada.

Sydney came back to Britain and went on to live in Australia. Victor lived with a family called McQueen and took their name. Hilda married an American and moved there. Harry died at work in a logging accident before he married.

Marjorie Kohli's book 'The Golden Bridge' is an in-depth documented story of the thousands of children who went to Canada from the UK and Ireland. She gives background information about the agencies/organisers who sent these children to a new and different life.