Full Breakdown
The Hidden Soviet Soldier of Jersey: From Wartime Escape to Posthumous Reunion
5/6/2026, 12:14:09 PM
Escape and Hiding on Jersey (1943–1945)
In 1943 Bokejon Akramov, known as “Tom”, escaped a Nazi forced-labour camp on Jersey. Exhausted, he sought help from farmers John and Phyllis Le Breton, who concealed him for two years. The Le Bretons let Tom read to their children and play with daughter Dulcie, treating him as family.
Soviet Prisoners on the Channel Islands
About 2,000 Soviet POWs were shipped to Jersey to build German fortifications. They worked from dawn to dusk in quarries, receiving only soup and bread. After liberation in May 1945, survivors, including Tom, were returned to the USSR and placed in NKVD filtration camps, where many faced suspicion. Tom, born 1910 in Namangan (now Uzbekistan), sent three letters from the continent when he left.
Official Statements & Responses
Uzbek officials announced a posthumous Order of Friendship for John and Phyllis Le Breton, citing “courage and compassion.” The award will also be presented to their daughter Dulcie. BBC Russian and BBC Uzbek teams verified Tom’s identity as Bokejon Akramov and located his descendants.
Criticism & Opposition
German authorities punished locals who sheltered escapees; Jersey resident Louisa Gould was deported to Ravensbrück and murdered after protecting Soviet soldier Fyodor Burriy, underscoring the danger faced by the Le Bretons.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We were digging stone from the quarry, from six in the morning to six at night, our food consisting of soup at midday and a very meagre portion of bread and some butter at tea-time. We had no breakfast,” — Tom, diary entry.
- “Our dear Uncle Tom, we loved him so much. He is my main memory of the war, and his photo is still by my bedside,” — Dulcie Le Breton, age 90.
- “Our grandfather survived the war and gave us life only because of you. We are so happy that we found you. We invite you to Uzbekistan and will always be waiting for you in our home.” — Shamsiddin Ahunbayev.
- “My parents did what they did simply because it was the right thing to do,” — Dulcie Le Breton.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Tom’s full name and birthplace were unknown for eight decades; the English spelling “Bokejon” produced many archive variations before Bokejon Akramov was identified. No post-war letters from him survive.
Why It Matters
The case illustrates civilian bravery under occupation, the lasting stigma Soviet POWs faced, and how cross-national archival work can restore lost histories, while official recognition reinforces the value of humanitarian acts.
What’s Next
The Order of Friendship ceremony for Dulcie Le Breton is set for Wednesday, and the Le Breton family plans a reciprocal visit to Uzbekistan, cementing a historic link between the Channel Islands and Central Asia.
