This document is quoted in "My German Family in England" by Roy Bernard published by Anglo-German Family History Soc 1991 (ISBN 0-9514133-5-X), which gives no reference for its origin - as far as it is known Grünwald had no relationship to Bernard's grandfather Heinrich Henkel other than both were bakers and both had spent time in Knockaloe - he merely gives the document as supporting evidence of camp life. It is similar in format to many other depositions taken at Goch - the frontier station between Holland and Germany - many repatriated internees were encouraged to give sworn testimony as to the conditions of the camps in which they were held, such reports would often be passed to the Americans who at that period represented German interests in Britain to provide evidence for complaints of mistreatment - the form of a probable translation from an original German language document is similar to others.
Judicial Hearing of Peter Gruenewald
(Abstract)
Royal Court Goch
Present: Assistant Judge Biesermann as Judge
B. H. L. Geraths as Clerk to Court
Peter Gruenewald, Master Baker. appears and reportsPerson My name is Peter Gruenewald, I am Master baker &c
Matter
From 23rd June until the 6th December 1915 I was at Knockaloe, Isle of Man. The accommodation was bad. It was composed of wooden barracks, which were rough and badly put together so that the rain and wind penetrated from every corner. Overhead in the centre were apertures through which the wind blew with force. It rained very much and then the water penetrated into the huts so that sometimes they were under water. Our clothing and beds became mouldy and were almost always damp. We were provided with stoves only at the beginning of November. For two huts two stoves were provided: each hut was 180 feet long and about 13 feet wide and accommodated 90 persons. The stoves were insufficient so that we suffered from the cold.
The latrines were dreadful. Wooden shanties were put up in which, side by side without a dividing wall, the pails stood, so that we had to sit down on them to relieve ourselves. They were old masons' pails. After some time wooden posts were erected on which we could sit, and underneath stood the pails. Later on trenches were made under the posts into which the excreta fell. These trenches were cleaned daily by being flushed with water, this was sometimes done 2 or 3 times a day. In the warm weather the excreta caused a horrible stench. In the meantime wooden partitions were put up, so that we were divided from each other. In front the divisions were all open. Above, the little houses were open in the centre so that the wind and rain penetrated and we and the posts got wet. It also happened that the excreta and water overflowed in the house. There were seats for 30 or 40 persons and there were 1000 persons to use them.
The washing arrangements were bad. By the side of the latrines there were bath and washing-rooms in which were 2 water taps and from 4 to 8 spigots for 1000 men. There was not much water, the taps were partly plugged so that we had to fetch water. There were 5 pails for 45 men in which we had to wash. In these pails we had partly to wash our clothes. Later we had a small tub for every 30 men for washing and rinsing clothing. The provisioning was insufficient and not good &c. Without extra food we should have starved.
There was no drinking water, at least it was so bad that nobody could drink it. All sorts of animals were swimming in it, it was dirty and even sea eels have been taken out of it. These we nailed to the wall for the Commandant to see &c
Read, agreed to and after being sworn signed (sd) Gruenewald (sd) Biesemann The above happened (sd) Geraths
12th December 1916
Peter Grünwald can be found in the ICRC records as having PoWIB index number 40794 [ICRC D-47-11] in a list of internees dated 7th August 1915 where noted as held in Knockaloe - at this period the camp numbers of internees were not given, but his date of arrival in Knockaloe and the PoWIB number are consistent with a camp number in the range 9500-10000 - he would have been placed in Camp II compound 5 or 6. This is also consistent with his description of the huts which consisted of a two long conjoined hut sections - there would appear to be a central gutter between the two roof sections. Damp and wind penetrating the huts was a perennial complaint - a very partial solution was to coat the outside with tarred felt. The tardy provision of small coal stoves was again a source of much complaint.
His age was noted as 48, born in Dalberg, with a London address of 372 Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green London N. The starting date of internment and his age suggest that after an initial registration at the start of the war he was allowed some very restricted liberty until late May 1915 when after the sinking of the Lusitania much German property, especially in East London, was destroyed and looted - all Germans (and Austro-Hungarians) were then interned with many being taken to the then partly built Knockaloe camps as accommodation became available (and often before). He was noted as leaving the camp on the 6th December 1915 in a party of 104 destined for Stratford camp in East London from where they left for repatriation via Holland on the 8th December 1915. At this time the departure might have been on the usual civilian ferry from Tilbury or Gravesend to the Hook of Holland - by late 1916 such repatriations were by the military operated St Denis as described in Col Clark's report of 1916. It is not clear what criteria was used to select those for repatriation, possibly for some on the basis of age which made especially difficult by the apparent loss of the early lists of German internees - a few had been in Knockaloe Camp hospital but no such record has been found for Grünwald and he was a little too young for repatriation to be based on age.
The early form of the latrines in Camp I were illustrated by Schmitz in his sketchbook and confirm the description by Grünwald. The problems with the huts was discussed in the reports of the camp.
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