HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020
Orben is one of many Austro-Hungarian internees who claimed that their internment was illegal as they had arrived in the UK with valid documents and tickets for onward travel, but were detained from doing so even though Britain and Austria-Hungary were not at war. After several transfers he landed up at Knockaloe on 4th October 1915 (probably in my arrival group G6)and given Camp No 20833 - his request for release was unsucessful, he was transferred to Spalding on the 8th January 1919 and repatriated a few days later on one of the Boston to Rotterdam sailings.
[Taken from TNA FO 383/115]
Camp 4 Compd 2
Knockaloe, Isle of Man,
March 25th 1916.
To the American Embassy, Austro-Hungarian Division. 18, Belgrave Square, S.W.
Gentlemen,
Born the 16th November 1872 at Pablas, Nagy-Kudillo C., Hungary
I emigrated to the United States in 1911 and was working the last four years
at the Hammersmith Paper Co's works at Erie, Pa.
In July 1914 I sailed from New York on board the White Star Liner "Oceanic"
with the intention of visiting my friends in Hungary and bringing my family
with me to settle down finally in America. Upon my arrival at Southampton however,
I was arrested on board ship on the 8th August 1914, even though war was not
declared between Austria-Hungary and England until the 12th, I was taken as
a prisoner of war to London and thence to the internment camps at Frimley, Shrewsbury,
Handforth, Knockaloe, I. O. Man. Since during these twenty months of captivity
I was unable to support my family, wife and four small children, the eldest
of whom is only thirteen years of age, are left entirely without means at the
village of Szasz-Busza, Nagy-Kukullo Co. , Hungary, actually facing starvation.
With regard to this, besides the in main fact that my detention four days before
the declaration of war was against the principles of International law, especially
as I was already in possession of my final discharge from the Hungarian Army
Reserve.
I beg you to intercede at the British home office for my release to Hungary
or back to America. If any particular information or reference be wanted, it
could be readily obtained from my brother, Mr John Dengel, of 920, E.7th street,
Erie, Pa. and my sister and brother-in-law, Mrs and Mr John Burghardt of 1621
61st street, Cleveland, Ohio, both of whom are American citizens.
Trusting to hear soon from you, I beg to remain,
yours respectfully,
(Sd) Johann Orben.,
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