Oranges And Sunshine Empty Cradles - A Heartbreaking Story of Lost Childhoods

In the late 1980s, a social worker named Margaret Humphreys uncovered a shocking truth about thousands of British children who were forcibly separated from their families and sent to institutions in Australia, often without their parents' knowledge or consent. This heartbreaking story became the basis for the award-winning film Oranges And Sunshine, directed by Jim Loach.

Lost Childhoods

The film, based on Humphreys' memoir, depicts the lives of these children, now adults, who were exiled to Australia as part of the child migration scheme, also known as the "Lost Children of the Empire." These children, some as young as three years old, endured a traumatic journey that left lasting scars on their lives.

Oranges and Sunshine: Empty Cradles

by Margaret Humphreys (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4474 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	386 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The aim of this migration program was to provide "orphans" and "destitute" children with a "better life" in Australia. However, the reality was far from the promised paradise. The children were often subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in the institutions, which were meant to be places of love, care, and education.

Separated from their families, many of the children were never informed about their real identities, thus losing all connections to their heritage and roots. They were made to believe that they were orphans, which further deepened their sense of loss and abandonment.

The Fight for Justice

Margaret Humphreys, portrayed in the film by Emily Watson, plays a pivotal role in unveiling the truth and fighting for justice for these forgotten children. She establishes the Child Migrants Trust, through which she reunites families torn apart by the migration scheme.

Humphreys' relentless efforts led to a public apology by the British government in 2010 and the establishment of a fund to support those affected by the child migration scheme. Her work brought attention to the hidden atrocities committed against innocent children and shed light on a dark chapter in British history.

The Impact and Legacy

The impact of the child migration scheme can still be felt today. Many of the surviving child migrants struggle with mental health issues, identity crises, and a sense of belonging. The trauma they endured continues to haunt them, even decades after their arrival in Australia.

The release of Oranges And Sunshine and Margaret Humphreys' tireless advocacy gave the child migrants a platform to share their stories. It ignited a broader conversation about the rights of children and the importance of family connections.

While nothing can fully erase the pain and suffering experienced by these children, steps have been taken to provide support and reparations. The film has contributed to spreading awareness about this hidden history, ensuring that these lost childhoods are not forgotten.

Remembering the Lost Childhoods

The story of Oranges And Sunshine Empty Cradles is a painful reminder of the dark consequences of unchecked authority and the importance of safeguarding children's rights. It urges us to reflect on our responsibility as a society to protect the most vulnerable among us.

By remembering the lost childhoods and learning from the past, we can strive towards building a better future, free from such atrocities.

Oranges and Sunshine: Empty Cradles

by Margaret Humphreys (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4474 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	386 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Also published as Empty Cradles.

In 1986 Margaret Humphreys, a Nottingham social worker, investigated a woman's claim that, aged four, she had been put on a boat to Australia by the British government. At first incredulous, Margaret discovered that this was just the tip of an enormous iceberg. Up to 150,000 children, some as young as three years old, had been deported from children's homes in Britain and shipped off to a 'new life' in distant parts of the Empire, right up until as recently as 1970.

Many were told that their parents were dead, and parents often believed that their children had been adopted in Britain. In fact, for many children it was to be a life of horrendous physical and sexual abuse far away from everything they knew. Margaret reveals how she unravelled this shocking secret and how it became her mission to reunite these innocent and unwilling exiles with their families in Britain before it was too late.