Antwis, Sidney & Robert. British Home Children
Sidney and Robert Antwis. British Home Children
Barnardo's Dossier for Sidney and Robert Antwis
SIDNEY WALTER ANTWIS
Bom: 18.05.1892 at Pembroke Dock.* (Date shown in our records.)
Religion: Sidney had been baptised into the Church of England. Both his parents were members of the Church of England.
Placements and family contact recorded while in Barnardo's care
19.06.1902- Admitted to Bamardo's receiving house at Stepney Causeway, East London.
20.06.1902- Placed at Leopold House, Burdett Road, East London, a home for boys.
07.08.1902- Placed with foster parents at Denmead,Hampshire.
02.09.1902- Sidney's father, in Cardiff infirmary, was informed of his sons' health and their whereabouts.
26.09.1902 -Sidney's aunt, Mrs H Seaborn, then at Chester Place, Grangetown, Cardiff sent a letter to Sidney's brother, Robert.
24.12.1902 -The boys' aunt wrote to tell Bamardo's that their father, Robert Antwis, had died in Greenwich Hospital on the 22 December. She said she was coming to London and wanted to take Robert to see his father. It was recorded that permission should be granted.
11.03.1903 -Returned to Leopold House prior to sailing to Canada.
19.03.1903 -Sailed to Canada aboard the SS Canada arriving at Halifax on 28.03.1903.
Sidney sailed with a party of 286 boys, including his older brother, Robert
Lukesi Antwis.
31.03.1903 -Boarded out with Mr James Weir of Utterson, Ontario. By the following January it was recorded that Sidney's health was good. He was doing well and making excellent progress at school. He was described as a bright, fine little lad.
26.06.1903 -Robert writes to Barnardo's that he hears from his brother (not named).
22.02.1904 -Barnardo's wrote to Robert telling him Sidney would shortly be recalled from his boarding out placement and asking him to be on the look out for employment for him.
06.05.1904 -Sidney returned to Barnardo's boys' home at Toronto.
07.05.1904 -Sidney was placed with Mr Thomas A Maxwell, of Birr, London township, Ontario.
31.01.1905 It was recorded that Sidney had been 'placed in a situation in the same township as his brother.' (Robert had initially been placed in Stratford,
Ontario and then moved to Devizes, London township.) He was said to have
a thoroughly good home and to be doing well in every way.
28.04.1905 -Sidney was still with the same employer and said to be useful on the farm.
It was recorded that he heard from a brother and aunt in London, England,
and a brother at Milford Haven, England. (No names were shown in the
records.)
30.07.1905 -Sidney's employer wrote that Sidney was anxious to leave and go to another place near his brother, Robert.
02.12.1908- Employed by Mr G W Garrett of Granton, Ontario. Sidney was at this time described as 'excellent.'
11.11.1909 -Employed by Ernest Braithwaite of Devizes, Ontario, where he remained at least up until June 1911.
09.02.1910 -Sidney wrote to Barnardo's that he was taking up a homestead in the West and he and his brother were going to work it between them. He enclosed his bankbook and asked if he could have the money Barnardo's was holding in trust for him, to help pay for stock etc.
12.02.1910 -Barnardo's asked that Robert should also write to them about this plan.
25.02.1910- Robert wrote confirming the plan to go West and take up land for himself and Sidney.
26.02.1910 -Barnardo's wrote to Robert that they felt Sidney should only draw money enough to pay his expenses to get to the North West and leave the balance in the bank until he and his brother obtained their homestead.
15.04.1910 -Both Sidney and Robert wrote asking for Sidney's money to be sent.
15.04.1910 -Barnardo's sent a letter to Sidney enclosing 'the amount of his account.' (No figure was stated.)
06.07.1917 -It was recorded on this date, that Sidney had gone to the North West some six or seven years previously. He married there and in 1914 had taken his wife to England, since when Barnardo's had had no further contact from him.
(Sidney did not marry in Canada. Robert did, and remained, later emigrating to America.)
The photo shows Sidney (and Robert?) at Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan after they left Barnardo's and set up on their own - taken around 1910.
Sidney returned to England on RMS Victorian in 1913. When WW1 was declared, he joined the Welch Regiment. After the War he married Winifred May Harse in Oxford and had three daughters and two sons.
See also his war record page.
Barnardo's Admission Photograph
