Concentration Camps in England

On the outbreak of the First World War the British government decided to establish concentration camps for German and Austrian subjects living in the country. Ernest Sackville Turner, in his book, Dear Old Blighty (1980) has argued: "It is by now widely believed that Britain invented the concentration camp in the South African War. However, in 1914 the term had not attracted any real measure of obloquy and it was often used to describe the numerous corrals for aliens and internees set up in wartime Britain."

One of the first camps established was in Camberley. The camp, that contained 8,000 inmates, had thick barbed wire defences and was patrolled by armed soldiers. On 14th November 1914, The New York Times reported a serious incident that took place at a camp: "There has occurred at one of the concentration camps in which German and Austrian subjects of military age are interned an incident which is calculated to evoke some caustic comment when the details become known in Germany. One night toward midnight the British guard on duty at one of the concentration camps near London was alarmed by unwanted sounds from the camp. Evidences of a struggle in which a fairly large body of men was taking part were audible, and very soon, when the lights were brought to bear on the scene, became visible. A number of men were seen rushing toward one of the exits. The soldier on guard at this particular point fired as the men approached him, and another near by also discharged his rifle. Eventually order was restored and an investigation begun."

It was later discovered that: "One German had been killed and another wounded. The matter is now under further investigation. An incident of the kind is particularly deplorable in view of the special pains which the British authorities are taking to make the lot of the Germans interned in these camps as pleasant as can be with due regard to the circumstances."

Camp were also established in Southend and Tipperary. One of the largest camps was in Knockaloe, near Douglas in the Isle of Man. By November 1914 it housed 3,300 in tents. Unhappy with the conditions in the camp, the inmates started a riot. The soldiers opened fire killing six men. The inquest jury decided that the military had taken justifiable measures.

A camp was also established at Donnington Hall for 320 German officers with their servants. One German newspaper, Zeitung am Wittag, pointed out that at the camp "one can have everything, just as in a hotel" and the "commandant is very charming... and permits everything." One English newspaper reported that Margot Asquith, the wife of Herbert Asquith, the prime-minister, had played tennis with the officers. This was untrue and she obtained £1,000 in damages.

The camps were not closed until the end of 1919. Most of the internees were deported, many unwillingly as they had settled in Britain before the war and often had British wives.

Primary Sources

(1) The New York Times (14th November 1914)

There has occurred at one of the concentration camps in which German and Austrian subjects of military age are interned an incident which is calculated to evoke some caustic comment when the details become known in Germany.

One night toward midnight the British guard on duty at one of the concentration camps near London was alarmed by unwanted sounds from the camp. Evidences of a struggle in which a fairly large body of men was taking part were audible, and very soon, when the lights were brought to bear on the scene, became visible.

A number of men were seen rushing toward one of the exits. The soldier on guard at this particular point fired as the men approached him, and another near by also discharged his rifle. Eventually order was restored and an investigation begun.

It appeared that the trouble had arisen out of a bawl among some of the inmates of the camp. Instead of being an attempt to escape by rushing the guard, as the soldiers who fired had thought, the disturbance had been nothing more than a free fight among a number of the prisoners.

Unfortunately the sentries' shots had taken effect. One German had been killed and another wounded. The matter is now under further investigation.

An incident of the kind is particularly deplorable in view of the special pains which the British authorities are taking to make the lot of the Germans interned in these camps as pleasant as can be with due regard to the circumstances.