WW1 Internee - Josef Antonovich

[Taken fron FO 383/283/164379]

Knockaloe Aliens Camp
25th October 1915

To the American Embassy London,

Sir,

the undersigned Anonovich Josef, prisoner of war at Knockaloe Camp, herewith respectfully presents this statement, at the same time expressing the polite wish, this Embassy after having perused the facts appertaining to this case, would see clear their way to make an application to the British Authorities for his release, so that he may be enabled to return to his business and home Punto Arenas in Chile.

The writer would ask the indulgence of the Embassy on account of the somewhat lengthy description necessary for emphatising the points favourable to his application.

Born in 1872 on the island Brazza (Dalmatia) he emigrated in 1895, - after having been spoken free from Military Service - to Chile, and without interruption has lived there for 19 years. During the fall of 1914 he was obliged to bring his wife to Triest, there to undergo a serious operation. In consequence of her very slow recovery he was compelled by important business affairs to return home.

Having equipped himself with a special permit and a pass from the Hungarian Government, he sailed from Genova on board the italian steamer "Garibaldi", but on passing Gibralter was arrested by the British Authorities. On arrest all the papers of identification were taken from him. Since arrival in Camp he has had the most urging appeals from his attorney in Chile, on account of the imperilled state of his business affairs, brought about through his absence. Since the applicants british friendly disposition is well known to the British Consul at Punta Arenas, this official has promised to be in every way willing to assist to get a release.

Owing to the probably very heavy losses in business the writer is willing to find surities to the sum of £5000, -: that he return direct to Punta Areanas, and that he shall not leave Chile until the end of the war, and if desired to report periodically his person to the British Consulate in Punta Arenas. The writer has the sum of £300. in deposit here, and will immediatly forward any sum, which this Embassy deems to state necessary for the expenses on cables, etc. etc. The address of the attorney is: Angel Calamaria - Calle Pedro Montt, No 1124 Punta Arenas Chile.

Expeditious action on the part of the Embassy is ernestly begged for. The writer is of course prepared to sign a declaration of neutrality, and entertains in this case no claims of any kind.

With sincere apologies for haing occupied the valuable time of the Officers of this Embassy, and with deepest gratitude for any help given, he has the honour to be the American Embassy's most respectful and humble servant

(signed) Josip Antonovic
No 21262, Camp 4, Compd 2, Hut 4A

His camp number would place him as arriving in Knockaloe on the 6th October 1915 in the second tranche of transfers from Handforth Camp which included some 69 Austrians as well as 4 of 'other' nationalities. (ie not German, Austrian or Turkish) - all of whom were placed into camp 4.

He must also have writen to the Chilean Embassy as there follows in the file a letter, dated 3 Nov 1915, from the Chilean Embassy, acknowledging Antonovic to be an Austrian Citizen but to be quite ready to make enquiries in Chile as to the accuracy of his statements, and if the British Goverment should continue with his detention to arrange, with the approval of the British Government, for the Chilean Consul to visit the camp and arrange for the drawing up of the Power of Attorney he wishes to send to Chile.

The third document is a letter dated 26 Nov 1915 from the Home Office stating that his release has been authorised on condition he proceeds forthwith to Chile. and that instructions have been sent to the Government Secretary of the Isle of Man to that effect. The Government Secretary has however been requested not to release Antonovic until not more than 48 hours before the boat on which he intends to sail leaves Liverpool.

Many enemy aliens were abstracted by the Royal Navy in the seas around Gibralter, that they were travelling on neutral vessels to a neutral destination appeared to be of little concern if they were male and aged over 16, removal of personal travel documents, tickets etc was also standard. If taken into Gibralter and registered there they would generally be given a PoWIB reference nunber in the Colonial sequence (ie of the form nnnC) but would be taken fairly quickly to a UK port and from there to one of the several civilian internment camps.

However his name is not in any list of Austro-Hungarians released between early November and mid Freruary 1916 - possibly he had been reclassified as 'Other' and thus not appear in the various I.C.R.C. lists.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2018