Comments
Digital copy of John Malcolm Doublard's witness statement to the Inquiry providing an account of his experiences in care at the Jersey Home for Boys and Brig-y-Don. [Some details redacted].
| Reference | ZC/D/AW1/B2/10/WS000093 |
| Date | 2 October 2014 |
| Scope and Content | Background and Home Life States that his father was French, referring to his enlistment with the Royal Air Force before the outbreak of the Second World War. States that his father came on one of the flotilla of evacuation boats to collect him, his mother, his grandmother [and his siblings] but that shortly after his father arrived, the German occupying forces arrived and his father was arrested and transported to Poland where he remained a prisoner for the duration of the war. Notes that his mother found it difficult to cope and that he [and his siblings] were taken into the care of the States. Institutions States that he was admitted to the Jersey Home for Boys on two occasions, each time for around 6 months, in 1942 and 1943. Notes that [his siblings] were also taken into care during these periods, with [his sister] being sent to the Jersey Home for Girls. Also refers to time spent at Brig-y-Don in 1944 or 1945. Includes negative recollections of his time at the Jersey Home for Boys, stating that he was worried about his mother and thought that he had lost his father. Describes the Home as a prison for badly behaved boys from Jersey, stating that he found himself living with boys most of whom had been sent there for punishment. States that his first spell at the Home in 1942 lasted 6 months after which he was sent home for 6 months before returning home for a further 6 months. Includes recollections of the number of boys in his dormitory at the Home and the age range of residents. States that residents were not allowed out of the Home because the Germans used the adjacent field for machine gun practice. Includes remarks about the quality of the food, noting that meat was rare, citing impact of the war. States that the Germans were friendly to children at the Home and would try to bring extra food when possible. States to have little recollection about the staff the Home, asserting to have no recollection of being physically or sexually abused or ill-treated by any of the staff. States that he has not recognised any of the older boys or staff from the Jersey Home for Boys since leaving the Home and is unable to remember their faces or names. Describes spending 2 or 3 months at Brig-y-Don in 1944 or 1945, possibly due to mother’s inability to cope. States that he has very happy memories of Brig-y-Don, recalling that it was a large private home, far fewer residents and notes that there were boys and girls there. Includes comments about sleeping arrangements and includes positive remarks about the staff running Brig-y-Don. Recalls being schooled on-site at Brig-y-Don, noting that before the war and the Occupation he had not been at school, and that during the war he attended St Luke’s [School]. States of Jersey Recalls no follow-up visits from the States after he left either the Jersey Home for Boys or Brig-y-Don, commenting on lack of system of Child Care Officers or social workers during this period. Abuse and Consequences Describes being physically abused by senior boys at the Home, recalling numerous incidences of older boys electrocuting him on his legs and genitals. States that he was unaware that this had happened to any other boys until he read the evidence given to the Inquiry by Giffard Aubin. Asserts to have no memory of staff being present whilst this abuse happened but expresses surprise that no-one heard him scream. Has no recollection of telling staff about the older boys giving him electric shocks. Describes his experience of being propositioned by two men in separate incidents when he was 14 years old. Notes that one of the men was elderly and rich and had a room at the Fort D’Auvergne Hotel where his mother worked, and the other was a carpenter who was in his 70s. States his belief that there were a number of paedophiles in Jersey whilst he was young. Events since leaving Care Describes returning to live with his mother after leaving Brig-y-Don, stating that he was independent by this point. Notes that although he was only 11, he was tall and set about acquiring a trade, completing an apprenticeship as a plumber and later running his own plumbing business on the island. States that he lived with his mother until he married his first wife who was from England. |
| Names | Aubin, Giffard Samuel Doublard, John Malcolm Brig-y-Don Children's Services Fort d'Auvergne Hotel Jersey General Hospital Jersey Home for Boys Jersey Home for Girls Royal Air Force St Luke's School |
| Keywords | abuse | bullying | caning | child abuse | Children | children's homes | children's services | discipline | Education | electrocution | emotional abuse | German soldiers | IJCI | inquiries | investigations | Occupation | offences | physical abuse | residential care | Schools | Second World War | sexual abuse | visits | witness statements | witnesses |
| Places | Brig-y-Don, Coast Road, Haut de la Garenne, Havre des Pas, Poland |
| Dimensions | 1 pdf file |
| Language | English |
| Level of description | File |
| Access restrictions | Closed for preservation - please consult digital copy |
Context:
Digital copy of John Malcolm Doublard's witness statement to the Inquiry providing an account of his experiences in care at the Jersey Home for Boys and Brig-y-Don. [Some details redacted].
ZC/D/AW1/B2/10/WS000093
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