A Jersey family who risked everything to shelter a fugitive Soviet worker during the Occupation have been honoured by the government of Uzbekistan for their courage.
John and Phyllis Le Breton were posthumously awarded Uzbekistan’s prestigious Order of Friendship during a ceremony at Cheval Roc nursing home on Wednesday.
The event was attended by their children Dulcie and Alan Le Breton and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Ravshan Usmanov.
The award recognises the Le Bretons’ wartime bravery in hiding Bokejon Akramov, an Uzbek national who had been enslaved by the Nazi Organisation Todt and brought to Jersey to work on the island’s fortifications.
At great personal risk, the family sheltered Mr Akramov – who they called “Tom” – in an agricultural outbuilding beside their home in St Mary during the German Occupation.
More than 2,000 Soviet citizens were forced into labour in Jersey during the war and at least 73 died.
The story has resurfaced after years of research led by Jersey Heritage and BBC News Russia journalists, culminating last month in the discovery that Mr Akramov survived the war and lived until 1996. His descendants were also traced in Uzbekistan.
Last week, BBC journalist Olga Ivshina travelled to Jersey to break the news to Dulcie Le Breton and arrange a video call with Mr Akramov’s grandson and wider family – the first contact between the two families since 1945.
Jersey Heritage curator Chris Addy described witnessing the moment as unforgettable.
“It was absolutely remarkable to witness Dulcie’s response to this life-changing news,” he said. “I will never forget it.”
Mr Addy said the award recognised not only the Le Bretons’ bravery, but the generations of life that followed because of their actions.
“Their brave actions, conducted at great risk to themselves, facilitated the future of the Akram family and the existence of the many descendants of Bokejon today,” he said.
Uzbek embassy counsellor Azambek Israilov said officials had been “deeply moved” after learning of the family’s actions.
“At great personal risk to themselves and their children, they protected Bokejon Akramov from the Nazis,” he said.
“The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan sought not only to recognise their heroic actions, but also to highlight for the people of Uzbekistan and the wider world their courage, humanity, and the very best qualities of the human spirit.”
Ambassador Usmanov praised Jersey Heritage, the BBC and embassy officials for helping reconnect the families more than 80 years later.
“What they did was to make a link between Jersey, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan,” he said, adding that the story showed “the kindness, solidarity and compassion of people of that time from Jersey”.
Mr Addy added: “The fact that the award ceremony happened immediately before the 81st anniversary of the Liberation on Saturday is extraordinary timing.
“We hope that the Uzbek visit will be the beginning of a long and close friendship with the Embassy, who are already planning to visit again for Liberation 2027.”