President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, awarded a British couple who saved an Uzbek soldier during World War II

President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, awarded a British couple who saved an Uzbek soldier during World War II

Citizens of the United Kingdom — the late John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton — were posthumously awarded the “Dostlik” (Friendship) Order. The President signed the corresponding decree.

During World War II, the British couple sheltered an Uzbek soldier, Boqijon Akramov, who had escaped from a Nazi concentration camp on the island of Jersey, thereby saving his life.

Their actions were recognized as a remarkable example of humanity, courage, and kindness. It was also noted that they made a достойный contribution to promoting peace, friendship, and братhood among nations.

For this reason, John and Phyllis Emily Le Breton were awarded Uzbekistan’s “Dostlik” Order.

According to a BBC article published in 2022, the couple called the soldier Tom. Their granddaughter, Caroline Horne, said he was like a member of the family, and some relatives even referred to him as a “beloved uncle.”

John and Phyllis once said about Akramov: “We trusted this man; he was someone we could rely on.”

“The children loved him very much. As he began to understand some English, he started reading them stories,” Caroline Horne said.

She added that in case Nazi forces entered the house, several escape routes and hidden doors had been arranged in advance so that Akramov could flee.

According to reports, after the war, he moved to another island — Guernsey — after which contact with him was lost.

Akramov kept a diary, and copies of its pages were handed over to Jersey Heritage, which preserves the heritage of Jersey — the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. Jersey is a Crown Dependency but is not part of the United Kingdom.