Probably the most unusual and atypical internment camp of WW1.
Founded as a charitable institution c.1900 to give some support to the then considerable number of German emigrants in London, most of who would be poor and living in very poor condition around London's East End. It was under the control of three trustees, two of whom were connected with the Schröder banking family, Barons Bruno and William Schröder and C.A. Bignal. One of the rules established by the founders was that any German willing to work could find accommodation at the farm but they had to pay their own way to and from the Colony. The help given could be training as well as advice - it was expected that once the indigent had earned enough money that they would move on, possibly returning to Germany..
There were links, possibly informal via the Schroeders, with the German Hospital in Dalston in London's End End which had a longer history from mid 19th Century and was still operational throughout WW1 (and also in WW2) - there are at least 2 cases where patients were sent to Libury.
It was an effectively self sufficient Farm Colony with some 300acres of land, treated as an internment camp from early in 1915 but without any barbed wire or military guards except for a brief period and provided a place where older internees, many in their 70s or even older could be sent, for example there were two parties, one of 33 and a second of 53 sent from Knockaloe in May and October 1916.
One war-time case involving Libury Hall is recounted in chapter 8 of St Stephen's House.
The colony had its own private burial enclosure at Little Munden Churchyard though presumably those internees buried here have had their remains transferred to Cannock Chase in the mid 1960s.
One of the numerous websites set up in the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 is "Herts at War" which, probably based on the 1914 report mentioned in the American 1916 report, claims that since the start of the colony some 7,264 had passed through it. As the permanent staff, colonists and pensioners mentioned in the 1916 report consisted of 29, this 7000+ could only have been short stays measured in days for many. That website, again giving no reference, but presumably based on local newspapers of the period, stated that there was an anti-German demonstration at the Camp soon after the sinking of the Lusitania - the police guard was apparently strengthened and some of the younger, fitter, internees transferred to a 'full' internment camp - presumably they could cope better with the appalling conditions then obtaining at the Manx camps or the overcrowding and casual brutality at the squalid Stratford camp. One possible, though some what earlier transfer, was Charles Jensen who is noted at Lofthouse Park by mid December 1914 and then shortly afterwards at Knockaloe probably release from Lofthouse Park in January 1915, reinternment post Lusitania at Handford followed transfer to Knockaloe in mid 1915.
The following is a brief report by a representative from the German division of the American Embassy as at this period of the war they, being a Neutral Power, represented German interests in the UK (and also UK interests in Germany). It is taken from a copy found in the FO 383 series of files held at the UK National Archives. Unfortunately the various documents reported as Annexes were not present in the file.
Libury Hall German Farm Colony at Ware in Hertfordshire inspected on May 29 1916 by Mr Boylston A Beal
Direction
The Colony is under the general supervision of the Home Office and the Commandant is Captain G. A. Merry.
Prisoners
There were 188 civilians interned there, of whom 178 were German and 10 were Austrian. A few of the men, being of the original pensioners and colonists, have their wives and children with them in the camp.
Committees
There were no committees.
Sleeping Accommodations
There is sleeping accommodation for 244 interned men. There is one main building, two and a half stories high, about 30 ft. by 40 ft., built of brick, and an annex building made of timber and galvanized iron, which was originally built for industrial, but is now used for living purposes. There are 4 large dormitories, one of which is divided into cubicles, accommodating 4 men in each, for 64 men. i.e. the men have iron beds, mattresses, pillows and as many blankets as they require.
In the main building there are 3 dining rooms, smoking room, reading room and a library containing over 1,000 books. In the annex there is a recreation room.
Besides these buildings there are eight cottages with 4 rooms and two latrines in each.
The rooms were examined and there was no criticism to be made.Sanitary Arrangements
The Colony has its own water supply and sewage system with a septic tank. There are 10 earth closets near the sleeping accommodations with urinals, and 8 others in the garden. There is one bathroom and also 6 shower baths 4 of which have hot and cold water. There are 3 ablution rooms in the main house, one with 38 taps and hot and cold water and the other with 16 taps - also an ablution room in the annex with basins. There is an excellent laundry and drying room with a pump house. The sanitary arrangements were examined and found neat and clean.
Infirmary
There is a separate building for the hospital containing 50 beds, which is in charge of an English doctor, assisted by a German nurse. On the day of my visit there were 3 in-patients and 18 out-patients. Two of the in-patients were suffering from colds and one from heart-disease.
There is also a convalescent ward, a shower bath, 4 latrines and an ablution room.
There have been seven deaths since the colony has been used as a camp, principally from old age.
Everything was examined and found in good condition
Kitchens
In the kitchen there was one chef and one cook, both of whom were German. Most of the food is supplied by the work of the Colony itself. A copy of a representative bill of fare is hereto annexed.
The kitchen accommodation includes a pantry, scullery, larder and an emergency kitchen. There is also a bake-house, where they bake their own bread and a dairy where they make their own butter.
Everything was examined and found satisfactory
Work
The men are not forced to work, but every opportunity is given them to employ their time. Wages are paid for work done on the farm, etc., as per schedule annexed.
Besides the usual housework, the men are occupied in tailoring, shoemaking, laundry-work, upholstery, basket-making, carpentry, baking, wood-chopping, jam-making, pickling, drying fruit, smith's work, painting, work on the poultry run, in the stables, in the gardens, and in looking after the sheep, pigs and bees on the farm.
Those who are able, are given every opportunity to work, and if they do work, everything is done for them, but those, who are strong enough and are not willing to work, have to look after themselves.
There are men and women from the surrounding country employed to assist in the work of the colony.
There is also a fire engine and fire apparatus.Exercise
There are about 50 acres of garden and about 11 to 12 acres of lawn and compound.
The men in this camp being older men, do not need the same amount of exercise as do the younger men in some of the other camps, but good opportunities for being in the open air are given to all.
The camp is situated in a healthy district with a pleasant view and good surroundings.Complaints by Camp
The men had an opportunity to speak to me privately but there were no complaints of any serious nature.
Observations
The German Farm Colony was originally founded by Germans in England to provide temporary work, shelter, board and lodging for German speaking unemployed and destitute men of whatever creed, who were able to and willing to work thus giving them a fresh start in life; to assist those anxious to return to their homes to earn sufficient money for that purpose; and to suppress as far as possible habitual begging with its concomitant moral degradation.
It is being conducted now as a continuance of the original German charity and is supported in part by the Home Office which pays a fixed sum per head per week for the board and lodging of the men interned there
In addition to 10 pensioners, 10 colonists and the staff of 9, formerly here, there are now 159 civilians interned here. The interned men are older men, most of whom have wives in England and do not wish to return to Germany.
There is no military guard and the internal affairs of the camp are under the charge of Mr. Muller, who has been for some time Managing Director and Secretary to the Farm Colony. The camp is almost entirely self-supporting as the men can raise everything they need, except certain kinds of butcher's meat, which they have to buy.
All the prisoners seemed to be contented and in a good state of health especially considering their advanced age.
Copy of a report on the Colony for 1914 is annexed.
The I.C.R.C. records give the highest camp number given to an internee as 435 - this does not mean that there were at most 435 internees however as the accomation as detailed above suggests a maximum of 244. It would appear to have served in the main as a rest home for the older internees who had strong family links and desires to remain in the UK. The notification of an entry into the camp is in most cases by a Hospital admission following by an entry such as "senility" - for a couple of early entrants a hospital transfer from the German Hospital at Dalston can be found but in most there does not appear to be any records of a transfer from elsewhere. In many cases the same internee is admitted 2 or 3 times with different dates and in records after early 1916 camp numbers - the dates and camp numbers are in sequence but there is no transfer to an external hospital..
TNA FO 383/163 1916 Report
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Editor Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020 |
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