Citizens of Great Britain – the late John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton were awarded the Order of “Friendship” of Uzbekistan. The relevant decree was signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on May 1.
“During the Second World War, in an extremely dangerous situation, despite putting his life in serious danger, he saved the life of the Uzbek soldier Baqijon Akramov, who managed to escape from the Nazi concentration camp on the island of Jersey. “Let the late John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton, citizens of Great Britain, be awarded with the Order of Friendship” of the Republic of Uzbekistan for their special example in promoting their ideas. in the decree.
John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton – a couple living on the island of Jersey, Great Britain, known for hiding and sheltering fugitive prisoner of war Tom (real name Baqijon Akramov) during the German occupation during World War II.
Key facts:
The family lived in the village of St. Mary’s on the island of Jersey. They risked their lives and hid Tom, a former Soviet soldier and teacher brought to the island by the Germans as a forced laborer (slave). He escaped from the prison camp and took refuge in their house.
The family built secret hatches and shelters in the house so that Tom could quickly hide during a possible search. The refugee became a member of the family: he played with the children, read them fairy tales and kept a diary. The couple’s daughter, Dulcie, later remembered him as “my favorite uncle.” After the liberation of Jersey in 1945, Tom moved to the island of Guernsey (Channel Islands) and lost contact with the family.
After the liberation of the Channel Islands in May 1945, Tom was returned to the Soviet Union by the British government along with other prisoners of war. Before leaving, he promised to stay in touch with the Le Breton family. But after that, the family heard nothing more about him. There is no information about the future fate of Tom (Baqijon Akramov). In 2022, the family tried to find him.
John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton are long dead. Their granddaughter, Carolyn Horne, in 2022 (aged 52) actively told the family story to journalists (BBC, Daily Mail, The Times, etc.) and handed over copies of Tom’s diary and other materials.
