Transport Arangements

Introduction

The Admiralty Transport Department files in the MT23 series provide some additional information about the many transfers of large groups of internees to Douglas and Knockaloe - 3 files in particular, MT 23/438/7,MT 23/633/16 & MT 23/683/13, cover the years 1915 and 1916 - there may well be further files still to be found for the later years.

There were two classes of transport - one in which the Admiralty provided the sea transport using vessels, usually requisitioned, under its control - the other in which the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co (IoMSPCo) provided the sea link, usually in conjunction with a Railway Company, for the large group transfers between camps.

Examples of Admiralty Transfers

These were generally by requistioned or hired vessels that in peacetime provided the various Railway Company sea links to Ireland - examples of such transfers were the several transfers in September 1915 involving the Duke of Connaught used to transfer large parties (possibly 850 including the armed Escort) from Lancaster Camp via Fleetwood to Douglas then by train to Knockaloe. Originally planned to use Heysham on 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th but a second batch on 21st, 23rd and 25th were later added, though the 25th was later cancelled.

The War Office wish the prisoners to be embarked at dusk and landed at dawn, and stipulate, for fear of any of them escaping that the ship is to leave the quay side when the embarkation is completed, & not come alongside till daylight.

One interesting comment [MT 23/438/T52064], headed Conveyance of prisoners of war from Heysham to Douglas dated 4th Sept 1915 during the planning of these transfers was

This is about a 3 hours run, so that of course the Connaught would reach Douglas long before dawn. The W.O. state however, that the ship must not berth till daylight for fear of the prisoners escaping. It is presumed that the Connaught could lie at anchor in Douglas Harbour till she comes alongside.

I have no plan of Douglas Harbr & do not know if vessels can anchor there. There is an open anchorage outside but it is hardly justifiable to risk a valuable ship at open anchorage however much we might enjoy the prospects of the German prisoners being drowned by the action of their own submarines.

Surely the W.O. can arrange for an armed guard to prevent the prisoners escaping, which seem the most simple arrangement. Otherwise propose to ask if ships can be safely anchored off at Douglas or alternatively Heysham.

The comments on this memo include "Major Russel explains that the guard are a lot of veterans, who are not of much use" - another is that the S.N.O. [senior naval officer?] Fleetwood has just been established and thus Holyhead ordered to send Connaught to Fleetwood but owing to tides cannot leave on 15th till 3pm and on 17th till 5pm. - a further message stated arrangements for embarkation to take place at noon each day - naval blankets will not be required. The boat would wait at Douglas for the return of the escort.

A further movement of an entire section of a camp to Knockaloe was that of some 2085 civilian internees from Stobs to Knockaloe in two batches on the 5th and 6th July 1916 - this time the LNWR was asked to detail a steamer from Whitehaven (Liverpool was detailed to send an Officer to Whitehaven to superintend). These are J1 and J2 in my list - Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners put in an invoice for £49 6s harbour dues.

Examples of IoMSPCo Transfers

The IoMSPCo was at this period operating with very few vessels as most of its peacetime fleet had been requisitioned - this could impose some problems as for example in the proposed transfer of 700 internees to Douglas (for onward transfer to Knockaloe)on Saturday the 9th October 1915 where the Company pointed out that as the usual vessel (S.S Tynwald) was booked to sail to Liverpool on the morning of the 9th she could not be coaled and ready to embark prisoners before 6pm - the special crossing including return to Liverpool to resume the ordinary sailing would cost £107 - which price was thought reasonable, noting that UK Government paid £75 a day to hire the Monas Isle. Transport Dept then made a special arrangement with coal contractor to allow the vessel to embark the party at 5pm. The final arrangement was that the train bringing the internees (party H1 from Alexandra Palace in my list) would arrive at 5pm and that disembarkation at Douglas should be delayed till the morning of the 10th and the boat should wait for the return of the Escort. IoMSPCo would provide hot water, the Admiralty to provide blankets etc. One account of this journey was given by Dunbar.

One common feature is the short term planning, nearly all transfers were asked for with little notice and to take place as soon as possible, often with last minute changes as for example a later transfer of 500 from Alexandra Palace (K1 in my list)which was requested by telegram at 7pm on the 11th July 1916 and arranged for Thursday 13th leaving Liverpool at 11.30am - the Chief Constable noted this as arriving 'by ordinary steamer' so it would appear that S.S. Tynwald was running on its published timetable.

An enquiry as to cost produced the following reply from the IoMSPCo

" that the charge for conveyance of parties of German prisoners of war to and from the Isle of Man by Company's steamers is paid by the Railway Company at the starting point of the journey for each lot coming to the Island, and for removals from the Island by the Government Treasurer of the Isle of Man."

This provoked a small flurry of letters over the next few months requesting more details of the charges and arrangements being entered into - one memo noted that

"In Oct 1915 IoMSPCo were paid by the Transport Dept at the rate of 3/6d per head (i.e 2/3rds of 3rd class fare) for conveying prisoners from Liverpool to Douglas. According to Great Northern Railway's scale - 2/3rd fare for 1st 125 and 1/2 fare for remainder - the cost of transporting 500 to & from the Island would be about £148, or roughly amount paid for Tynwald when she was requisitioned for 2 days service in April last. The G.N Rly's scale therefore appears moderate.
[this may possibly have been for troop movements as no group movements of Internees took place during this period].

The official answer to the War Office on behalf of the Director of Transports, Admiralty,

Payment has not been made by this Department to I.O.M, Steam Packet Company in respect of any moves of prisoners to or from the Isle of Man during 1916, and having regard to the action already taken in the matter by the Military it is desired that War Office will now settle direct with the Company. The rates as assessed by G.N.Rly., are considered moderate. It is observed that no mention is made in enclosed papers of more of 500 prisoners to the Island on the 13th July last. These were carried by s.s. "TYNWALD" and it is presumed that the Steam Packet Company's claim for this service has also been dealt with direct by War Office, The move to Holyhead on 4th September was carried out by a Transport.

which drew a long and informative reply from the Asst Financial Secretary War Office

With reference to your memorandum dated the 17th a ultimo, No, T.A.94360/1916 on the subject of the adjustment of charges for the conveyance of German prisoners from and to the Isle of Man, enquiry has been made into the matter and the position is as follows:- As regards the moves of 300,200 and 300 prisoners from the Isle of Man on the 2nd August and 26th and 28th September, the claims have been adjusted by the Government Secretary, Isle of Man, at the net fares of 26/- and 15/- (3rd Class) i.e. 2/3rds. of the ordinary through fares via Liverpool as under:- ,

As regards the corresponding moves to the Isle of Man, the Great Northern Railway, who dealt with the move of the 2nd August, assessed the charge, in accordance with the agreed scale of military rates,at 2/3rds, rate for the first 125 passengers and ½ rate for the remainder, but the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co, is claiming 2/3rds rate for the whole number and the matter is still in dispute. If it is decided that the Great Northern Railway assessment is correct a refund will have to be obtained from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. in respect of the forward moves. In the case of the moves of the 26th and 28th September, no tickets appear to have been issued for the journeys, and the matter of the adjustment of the claim is under consideration.

As regards the move of 300 prisoners from the Isle of Man on the 4th September, special transport arrangements appear to have been made for this party to travel via Holyhead and no payment has yet been made either by the Isle of Man authorities or by this Office in respect of the journey from Douglas, but a railway warrant for 3 officers and 350 men (including the escort) from Holyhead to Alexandra Palace has been issued, and a cheque has been received by this Office from the Government Secretary, Isle of Man, in respect of the throughout service.

Will you please state whether payment has been made by your Department in respect of any movements of prisoners:to or from the Isle of Man. If not, as some payments have already .been made you may think it desirable that we should carry on, in which case we should be glad to know whether you consider the rates as assessed by the Great Northern Railway Company for the sea passage are reasonable. For a party of 350 from Liverpool to Douglas the Isle of Man S. Packet proportion would be approximately £54.

One example of short timescales is the transfer of large groups between Knockaloe and Alexandra Palace in December 1916 (the group labelled L1 in my list) - provisional inquiries were made on the 12th December for availability of transport before Christmas to which the IoMSPCo indicated it could move the parties on the 16th or 19th December to the Island and a larger group off the Island on the 20th or 22nd . The telegram confirming the move is dated 20th Dec 1916

Principal Naval transport, Officer, Liverpool,

With reference to recent telegrams regarding proposed move of 275 German Prisoners to and 522 from the Isle of Man, you are informed that it is now desired to arrange conveyance on the 28th and 29th instant.

An escort of 2 Officers and 75 men will accompany the prisoners each way.

You are requested to ascertain whether the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company can provide passage on or about the above mentioned dates and if so to submit suggested programme.

As the majority portion of these large parties was destined for Knockaloe there was also a Railway transfer to Peel or St. Johns involved - there is no note as to whether this was included in the IoMSPCo costs or was paid separately.

References

TNA MT 23/438/7
TNA MT 23/633/16
TNA MT 23/683/13

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2021