Why did my father travel to Canada apparently alone?

by Sonya
(York, North Yorkshire, UK)

I am 63 and retired, living in York, UK.

My parents' past has to a large degree evaded me. We were never a sharing, talkative family.

The details I do have are my father Anatole Julien Marcelle Mille was born in Ruan, Pas de Calais 17:2:1915. His father was killed in action 4 months prior to his birth. The years in between are as yet a mystery. My grandmother Alice Matilda Elizabeth Helipre (maiden name) married Harold Strangeway, an Englishman. I wondered if that prompted my father to leave home age 15 years . He appeared to travel alone.

I have managed to discover that he travelled to Montreal on the ship "Duchess of Richmond" on the 21:6:1930 apparently alone (Why ?) Roll number 14765 official number 145903. As far as I can ascertain he returned on 28:8:1935. Records say he travelled as a "Farmer", 3rd class passenger. I know children were moved to Canada but thought my father was too old for this category. I would appreciate any help or guidance you could offer.

I have no idea if the family travelled to Canada from France (post War) my father had an elder sister Sylvanie Blanche Germaine. My grandmother's maiden name was Helipre. My Father's is Mille after his father.

Don't know if my grandparents actually married or not. My auntie's date of birth was 12:12:1912. They are all deceased but I desperately want to leave my children and grandchildren their history. The Genealogy sites in the UK are not good at tracing foreigners. My father was French, my mother German, so you can see my dilemma. Plus my ignorance of using the internet hampers my search. Thank you for reading my letter I live in hope.

Sonya Hughes nee Mille.

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Sep 05, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		A better life in the Colonies
by: Anonymous

Although juveniles applied to come to the Colonies, they were often seeking the dream of a better life as seen on the many posters promoting this dream.
Being juveniles they still required their "father" to sign special papers.... that is another topic.
It appears that young Anatole honoured his contract and was no longer indebted. He left Canada to return to England as you say Aug 28, 1935 perhaps to be there for his sister Sylvanie's wedding Sept. 1935.
If Sylvanie was born 1912 also in France, it is likely that the parents married in France ... and as Mille was killed in action just before Antone was born is it a possibility that finding his KIA record will have answers for you. The question is: was Mille in the French or the British forces... this will set you in the right direction and give you the right questions to ask.






Feb 26, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		What drew Anatole Mille to Canada?
by: Deborah

The British Immigration and Colonization Association brought Anatole to Canada on a ship with almost 60 young men.

Sonya's question about her father started me on a long investigation into the the British Immigration and Colonization Association (BICA) which I hadn’t heard of before. To learn more about BICA, click on the link under IMMIGRATION on the navigation bar at left.

DUCHESS OF RICHMOND, Departure June 13,1930 FROM LIVERPOOL TO QUEBEC: BRITISH EMIGRANTS – THIRD CLASS
Mille, Anatole, 15, Single, b. France, Gouy-St. Andre. Fare paid by Government.
Was: Bricklayer Will be: Farm labourer c/o B.I.C.A. Osborne Street, Montreal.
Mother: Mrs. A. Strangeway, 5 Freers Yard, Norton, Malton, Yorks. Mother Remarried.
Connecting to CPR. Landed Immigrant (Arrived 21 June, 1930 at Quebec)

B.I.C.A. – British Immigration and Colonization Association of Canada A.I. Morison, sec. 1227 Osborne
Total 58 young people sent c/o BICA

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