Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2021
Opened 22 October 1914, built within the grounds of a failed amusement park that had been sold in June1914 for £5500 and which was requisitioned shortly after war was declared - the erection of the lights and the all essential barbed wire fences took six weeks The history of the park pre-camp is well told in "Pleasure, Privilege and Privations".
The camp was designed for some 1500 internees split between 3 compounds - just as at Knockaloe communication between the compounds was restricted with barbed wire fences and gates. The three compounds were generally referred as to as the South, North and West though in the 1915 report the latter are referred to as the North-east and North-west compounds.
The first compound to be opened was the South compound which utilised may of the existing buildings of the amusement park in particular the large skating rink or dacing hall - there were other repurposed buildings including the Winter Gardens. Washing facilities and latrines could extend on those provided for visitors in its prewar existence. This was the home for the first 50 internees who entered on the 22 October - even by 13th February, the day of the first visit of inspection, it only had 225 internees most of whom according to the inspector had resided in England for many years often with English born wives. Many of these internees would be released following Kitchener's comments only to be re-interned following the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 with most re-interned at Handforth, from where on its closure, many landed up at Knockaloe. A significant number of internees taken from various places in West Africa including the German colony of Togoland were moved here early in 1915 - Cohen describes it as the Colonial compound.
The North compound used standard Army huts 60ft x 20ft with 5 windows per side and doors ar each end, this camp was presumeably that mentioned as under construction in the February 1915 report. and reported as in full occupation in June 1915. One large group of transfers were from the internement ships moored off Southend. One early account of the first few months of this camp is given by Muller - Cohen-Portheim, sensible as ever to the social class system, describes it as Prussian, nationalistic and inclined to snobishness though judging from Muller's comments there were still many "English heads" in the compound - which by June 1915 was fully a Privilege camp.
The West compound was the last to be completed - the huts were of corrugated iron rather than wood, the washing and latrine facilities were it seems poor as were the other recreational facilities;
Lofthouse Park, near Wakefield, which I visited on February 13th, had been an unsuccessful "pleasure park". Among the buildings is a skating rink with large recreation rooms in one of which there is a stage which the prisoners are permitted to use. The camp had been opened in October, but at the time of my visit there were only 225 prisoners in it, New barracks are being built on the side of a hill, which will greatly increase its capacity.
The present kitchen is good and the German cooks give satisfaction. Hot food is served four times a day. The real Gemans in the camp complained because beef was given to them in one form or another every day. Most of the people in the camp are men who have been in England for many years and opportunities are given to them to see their wives (most of whom are of British birth). In the hospital there were several men who wished to have special treatment, but who spoke well of the doctor in charge.
The water closets are satisfactory at present but I was told that the pail system was to be used in the new part of the camp. There are shower baths with hot and cold water. The buildings are heated by stoves and lighted by electricity
The civilian internees were en-masse and at very short notice, transferred to Knockaloe on 11th and 12th October 1918, the camp being needed to house combatant enemy officiers. The short notice, but particularly the restriction on luggage, caused much resentment
Claudia Sternberg + David Stowe (eds) Pleasure, Privilege and Privations Lofthouse Park near Wakefield 1908-1922 2018 ISBN 978-1-9995827-6-0
TNA FO 383 Account of early days
TNA FO 383 /106 contains several reports on visits made in early 1915 including
that by Jackson
TNA FO 383 Report Visit 1915
TNA FO 383 Reports on Visits 1916
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Editor Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2021 |
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