Full Breakdown
Uzbekistan Awards Order of Friendship to Jersey Family for WWII Rescue
5/10/2026, 10:39:59 PM
Award Ceremony and Core Event
On 8 May 2024, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Order of Friendship (Do‘stlik) to the late British couple John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton. Their children, Dulcie and Alan, received the medals at Jersey’s Cheval Roc home from Ambassador Ravshan Usmanov before officials and journalists. The award honors the Le Bretons’ sheltering of Uzbek soldier Bokijon Akramov—called “Tom”—after his escape from a Nazi forced-labour camp.
Historical Background and Context
Jersey fell under German occupation in July 1940. The occupiers brought 2,000 Soviet prisoners to build fortifications. Bokijon Akramov, captured in 1941, was sent to Jersey in July 1942 and forced to work on tunnels. He escaped in 1943 and was hidden by John and Phyllis Le Breton in an outbuilding near their St Mary home until the island’s liberation on 9 May 1945, after which he returned to Uzbekistan.
Key Participants and Timeline
Key participants are John and Phyllis Le Breton, their children Dulcie and Alan, Uzbek soldier Bokijon Akramov, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Ambassador Ravshan Usmanov. Timeline: July 1942 – Akramov arrives; 1943 – he escapes and is sheltered; 9 May 1945 – liberation and repatriation; 8 May 2024 – Order presented; 2027 – planned Uzbek visit for Liberation celebrations.
Official Statements & Responses
President Mirziyoyev’s decree praised the Le Bretons’ “courage and humanity.” Ambassador Usmanov called the Order “the highest ever possible order in Uzbekistan” and a “real symbol of people-to-people diplomacy.” Embassy counsellor Azambek Israilov said officials were “deeply moved,” and Cheval Roc director Nick Bethany noted the ceremony linked history with friendship between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was absolutely remarkable to witness Dulcie’s response to this life-changing news,” — Chris Addy, Jersey Heritage curator
- “At great personal risk to themselves and their children, they protected Bokejon Akramov from the Nazis,” — Azambek Israilov, Uzbek embassy counsellor
- “People say he was like a favourite uncle, but that was true. Oh, we loved him.” — Dulcie Le Breton, Le Breton family member
- “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.” — Ravshan Usmanov, Uzbekistan ambassador to the UK
Why It Matters
The award shows how personal bravery can deepen diplomatic ties. Uzbek officials describe it as a bridge linking Jersey, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan, encouraging cultural exchange and future cooperation such as the 2027 Liberation visit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the spelling of the soldier’s name—Bokijon Akramov versus Bokejon Akramov—and on whether the prisoner count is “around 2,000” or “more than 2,000.” No additional primary documentation of the Le Bretons’ wartime actions has been cited.
What’s Next
Uzbekistan’s embassy plans a return visit to Jersey for the 2027 Liberation celebrations, aiming to deepen cultural exchange and commemorate the shared history highlighted by the 2024 award ceremony.
