.
HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019
The Zichy family were a long established part of the Hungarian aristocracy - many occupying important roles within government and Society - however I cannot determine quite where Count Stephan Zichy fits in this family - Dunbar has one comment "descended, it is supposed, via the wife of an English officer at the Front."
Initially interned at Knockaloe - camp number unknown but PoWIB serial number 15712 - noted in list of October 1914 as aged 27 with address Szekekely, Kocksard Hungary - his army rank (possibly in the reserve) was noted as lieut. H-rgt1 Esk 4 - in the list of interned Austro-Hungarians he headed a small group giving addresses in the South West Surrey area but unlike them it appears from ICRC annotation that he was not released in the pre-Lusitania release of many of those early internees. .
Dunbar met him in Knockaloe in late October or early November 1915 soon after he, Dunbar, had arrived in Camp IV compound 1; as intra-compound movement was controlled by a pass-system it is likely that Zichy and others in the small group of well-connected and affluent internees were also in the same compound and had also been moved from Alexandra Palace in the same or the following transfer group. In his account of a supper party he notes that Zichy had expatiated on the cult of the belly-button in India.
Zichy managed to obtain a transfer to the Privilege camp at Douglas where he is noted in the Camp register as #4017 arriving on the 9th November in a group of 24 described by Col Madoc as 'better class' - Dunbar also managed a transfer to the Privilege camp arriving a few days later on the 15th November.
However within three months Madoc had him transferred back to Knockaloe (noted as Knockaloe camp #23517) for 'misconduct in the Privilege camp' where he returned in the afternoon of 18th February. His departure upset the privilege camp internees as on the 21st Madoc notes that they are very much in arms against their committee over Zichy's departure and that on the 22nd he spoke to them about it. Madoc was however never inclined to acknowledge mistakes but two months later Zichy was readmitted on the 22nd April but had to pay the expense of his escort back from Knockaloe - noted in the Douglas camp register as #4450.
Under the dateline August 1916 Dunbar gives brief pen-pictures of some of the camp inmates as they walk in small groups circling around the small square - "Count Z. in his laced up morning-coat, and with a big black Border collie on a lead".
Zichy made several attempts in 1916 to be repatriated on health grounds but was refused - in one note [TNA FO 383/116] dated 1 Aug 1916 he is described as "very shattered". In October he then applied for a London camp or Wakefield, which was full, and theLondon camps were for married men. In a note dated 9 Nov 1916 his parents are reported that "his health leaves all to be desired" but no medical examination appears to have been done. There is however a suggestion that he might be sent to a farm to recuperate his health.but a later note stated that no such farms exist and the medical authorities still report he "is quite ineligible for repatriation."
Zichy would appear to make full use of the alcohol (beer or wine) that was allowed to be bought by those in the Privilege camp as under date January 1917 Dunbar noted - Count Z., dead drunk again, shouted out at evening dinner: "You are all swine, I am the iron prince, Count Z." At the same time, this noble Tatar, descended, it is supposed, via the wife of an English officer at the Front, is receiving 'support'.
Madoc notes under 6th February 1917 that "Count Zichy went to Noble's Hospital suffering from Neurasthenia " then adds "(?)" - he is shown in the official Hospital reports as transferred on the 7th and manages to spend over two months in hospital returning into Camp (as #4853) on 23rd April.
Dunbar writes "Count Z... had applied for a job as an agricultural labourer on a farm near Gloucester, he was still in a state of being dead drunk, when they transported him off to it." This 'release' was on the 16th January 1918 The account of his short stay of less than 2 months is to be found in the UK National Archives [FO 383/360] from which it appears he was extracted to be re-interned at Alexandra Palace from where on short notice on 3rd March he was transferred back to Douglas as #5346.
He was finally transferred back to Alexandra Palace, probably for repatriation, on 17th January 1919.
Dunbar - Die Männerinsel (English Translation)
Madoc - Diary MM ...
|
|
||
| .
|
|
|
|
|
||
| Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The
Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019 |
||