Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2021
As mentioned in the discussion of the creation of Spalding and Sleaford camps the Dutch ferries were required to remain off shore as Boston harbour had insufficient depth thus a tender used to convey internees and luggage to them - this arrangement was open to much abuse and there are many accounts in the files in the FO 383 series of the claims for loss of luggage which must have been connived at by the authorites.
[from FO 383/442 ]
Zeeland Shipping Company Flushing April 15th 1918
to the Chief Committee of the Netherland Red Cross The HagueGentlemen
Numerous complaints have been made by German prisoners of war who crossed by the last transport over the fact that their luggage was plundered in a scandalous fashion during the passage by tender from Boston to the hospital ships. As the prisoners were obliged to carry their own luggage from the luggage van at Boston to the tender they are, for the most part in a position to affirm that everything was still intact at the time of delivery on board the tender, while immediately after the transfer to the hospital ships the theft was discovered. The chests and trunks are broken open in the roughest way either by tearing off the locks - in the case of leather trunks by simply cutting open one of the sides with a knife - or, by breaking the hinges at the back of the lid without touching the locks. This takes place notwithstanding that the luggage is provided with ropes and seals when examined for the last time by the English Authorities.That the theft must be done in haste was evident from the trunks with loose trays, the uppermost trays of which, where there were articles of no particular value, being entirely emptied, while the other sections, in which were more valuable articles, remained untouched.
We enclose herewith two letters from prisoners of war transported the 9th and 10th April from Boston to Rotterdam, with the request that this matter be taken up with the proper authorities.(Signed) THE ZEELAND SHIPPING COMPANY.
DE MEESTER,
Director.
Stoomvart - Maatschappy Zeeland Koninklyke NEDERLANDSCHE POSTVAART.
on board S.S. "Koningin Regentes"April 11th 1918
To the Purser
Sir
I wish to state, that my tin trunk,about 32 x 24 x 24" of brown /yellow colour, absolutely new addressed in paint F.W. Hanssler (in ink for internment in Holland) was forcibly opened and the lock torn away. After a hurried examination this morning on board I found that
2 pair practically new boots size 10
1 pair practically new sleepers [sic slippers] size 10
Value £4,10.-
are missing. Around the trunk there was a cord, which for the purpose of the theft had been removed and afterwards replaced. The theft was probably done when the trunk was conveyed from Boston by tender to the "Konigin Regentes". On close examination possibly other things may be missing, Please do the needful.Yours obediently,signed F. W. HANSSLER
being interned in Holland.at Douglas 3308,
at Spalding 2413,
On boord S.S. "Koningin Regentes"
Wednesday April 10th 1918To the purser
Sir
I Philip Schule No. 3985 at Douglas Aliens Camp left Douglas on April [sic March] for Spalding repatriation Camp and was given the number 2419. I took with me as big luggage a trunk (Madler make about 36 x 22 x 13). Thies trunk was despatched from Douglas to Spalding in good order. In Spalding the trunk was finally examined in my presence and sealed up by the competent authorities. I left Spalding on the 9th of April for Boston where I with other men were ordered to unload the big luggage from the train into the tender. On this occasion I personally handed out the trunk out of the luggage van. It was carried by my fellow travellers unto the shoot of the tender "Margete" with seal and ribbon still intact. On coming on board the S.S. "Koningin Regentes" I found that my trunk had been tampered with. Both locks had been forced open and on examining same I found the following articles missing:1 Morning coat complete £9.-.-.
1 pr trousers extra £1.10.-
1 black overcoat £7.-.-
1 pr black boots £1.10. -
1 pr brown boots £1.10.-
Value £20.10.-There is in my opinion not the slightest doubt that the theft was committed on board the tender "Margete" which conveyed the luggage to the S.S, "Koningin Regentes".
I should be much obliged to you if you would hand forward this claim £20 10s immediately to the competent authorities for investigation and settlement.
Dated this tenth of April 1918 on board the S.S. "Koningin
p.s The trunk is of brown colour and marked with the initials P.S.C.H.2Philipp Schule, Internment Camp, Holland.
Rotterdam, 16th April 1918,
To Vans Andrew Transport Commander of German Prisoners of War BostonI beg to inform you that several German Prisoners of war came to me with complaints about the state of their luggage.
I examined some trunks and found that no doubt the goods have experienced very careless treatment.Many trunks were forcibly opened, the locks being town[sic torn] away and things of value, like new boots, were missing
I am very sorry to inform you that it is the opinion of the pursers and first ship-mates as well from the prisoners of war themselves that the thefts must have been committed on board of the tenders which conveyed the luggage to the Dutch ships in the road of Boston,
Referring to enclosed letters from German prisoners of war, I should be very obliged to you if you would examine these cases and take measures for the following transports,
The Commander ef German prisoners of War at Rotterdam,
(Signed)
DIENST VAN DE GEINTERNEERDE KRYGSGEVANGENEN,
Kindly forwarded,
The Hague. 18th April 1918,
(Signed) Onnen, Major General.Main facts of letter by Ernst Wedekind
Rotterdam, 11th April 1918,
States that being a civilian prisoner he arrived per S S Sindoro at Rotterdam on 21st March and received from the forwarding agents Ruys & Co. only one of the two pieces of luggage he had handed in at Spalding the missing article is a large leather Handbag, Ruys and company cannot trace it. Probably therefore it has remained behind at Spaldingwhere it had been examined and marked "HollandNo, 1802, Ernst Wedekind",Kindly have inquiries instituted at Spalding or Boston.
(Signed)Ernst Wedekind
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Editor Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2021 |
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