From the middle of the 19th Century until as just recently, Hundreds of Thousands of British children - some aged just three - were rounded up, with the knowledge and support of philanthropic organizations such as Dr Barnardo's, a practice that later drew controversy and, finally, an apology.

They were put on to ships and transported to distant parts of the British Empire and other children, where strategically placed into UK care homes ran by the MI5, MI6 and other Government Agencies.

Many were told their parents had died but, in fact, few were orphans.

Some were from broken homes or simply placed in care by their parents until they could get back on their feet. Mothers were frequently told their children were being adopted in Britain.

The children themselves were promised a better life, where they would be raised by loving families. In reality, they were often used as slave labour and endured physical and sexual abuse.

Some organizations were so determined these children would never find their way home that their names, dates and places of birth were changed.

Barnardo’s was founded in 1866, and is Britain’s largest children’s charity, with annual revenues of nearly £250 million – most of it, via the government, from the pockets of the UK taxpayer, yet it's influence on society has been anything but charitable.........

JULY 1993 - Barnardo's victims piece together lives shattered in the name of the empire. independent.co.uk

In 2009 the Australian government apologized for the cruelty shown to the child migrants. Britain also made an apology in 2010. bbc.co.uk

JUNE 1998 - Man charged in abuse inquiry at Barnardo's Children's Home.

An unnamed man was charged with buggery, indecent assault and actual bodily harm following an inquiry into abuse at a Barnardo's home in Yorkshire. independent.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2004 - Barnardo's workers jailed for sex abuse.

The charity Barnardo's was accused of "incompetence and neglect" by a judge after he jailed two former carers for a total of 29 years for a series of sexual abuse offences against children in their care.

The depth of "cruel and spiteful" acts by Margaret Hewitt and Robert Anderson included forcing a brother and sister into sexual acts. They were found guilty of 70 horrific assaults on eight children. bbc.co.uk

As the pair were found guilty it emerged that Hewitt, was once engaged to a man at the center of one of the most notorious sex scandals in the history of Northern Ireland.

Sources confirmed Hewitt was the fiancee of the late Joe Mains, jailed for six years in the early 1980s for his part in the abuse of residents of Kincora Boys' Home in east Belfast. independent.ie

NOVEMBER 2012 - Knowl View School for Boy's child abuse scandal.

At least a quarter of Knowl View special school's 48 pupils had been victims of horrific sexual abuse - including boys as young as eight. The children were said to have been put at risk of Aids through prostitution and liaisons with well-known sex offenders.

A political giant was among those abusing boys at the home.

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Cyril Smith was on the governing body. He knew their vulnerability and saw it as easy access to young boys.

Former pupil Chris Marshall told how he was sexually abused by "Predatory Pedophile Smith," when he was just seven or eight years old after being summoned from his bed in the dead of night. express.co.uk

MAY 2013 - Barnardo’s school rocked by Savile abuse revelations.

Jimmy Savile carried out 46 sexual assaults on 22 pupils and one visitor to Duncroft approved school in Staines, Surrey.

Duncroft school victims set to sue Barnardo's and Mind. mirror.co.uk

MARCH 2014 - Savile abuse claims to be probed at a Barnardo's children's home in the London Borough of Redbridge. bbc.co.uk

APRIL 2014 - Two men jailed for abusing young boys over three decades at two North East residential schools.

Former social workers John Duncan,61, from Gateshead, and Kevin Brown, 58, carried out the assaults in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

They groomed and brutally attacked a series of terrified little boys.

Complaints about the abuse at Feversham School, in Walbottle, Newcastle, and Shotley Park, in Shotley Bridge, Consett, were brushed under the carpet at the time.

Shotley Park was run by the charity Barnardo's and closed in 1986. bbc.co.uk

2014-2016 - Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) is examining allegations of child abuse in children's homes and other residential institutions in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1995.

It is the largest inquiry into historical institutional sexual and physical abuse of children in UK legal history. Its remit covers institutions in Northern Ireland that provided residential care for children, Including an investigation into a Northern Ireland care home where it is alleged a pedophile ring was being blackmailed by the security services.

Its remit, also included an investigation into the Kincora scandal, the east Belfast care home that was run by a number of pedophiles, whom it emerged were agents of the state.

Public hearings were held into 22 of the institutions across Northern Ireland, which were run by the state, local authorities, the Catholic church, the Church of Ireland, and Barnardo’s. theguardian.com bbc.co.uk

JANUARY 2017 - Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry: List of homes investigated. bbc.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2017 - Top private schools included as part of a Scottish child abuse inquiry.

Some of Scotland’s most prestigious private schools, including the alma maters of the Prince of Wales and Tony Blair, are to be investigated as part of a national child abuse inquiry.

The figure includes more than 60 residential care establishments, including Barnado's and institutions run by religious orders and local authorities. dailymail.co.uk theguardian.com