Impression sketch
of Knockaloe prison camp railway - by Jamie. See an original image at: <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/history-of-the-first-world-war-in-100-moments/a-history-of-the-first-world-war-in-100-moments-britain-s-enemy-aliens-get-their-own-railway-9334403.html>
Accessed: 29 January 2016].
Possibly
surprising locations
For alien
detainees, included
Islands about
Britain - one was
The equidistant Isle
of Man -
The landmass of
221 square
Miles, sitting in
the Irish Sea.
To play its part, the chosen
Isle held two
prison camps -
In Douglas a one time holiday
Site, held detainees - while close
To the town of
Peel, Knockaloe
Was built on
agricultural lands.
Constructed across a wide
area,
Knockaloe was to
be made
Of four compounds,
to become
Like a small town
- to include
Railway link - all made to house
1000's in
prefabricated huts.
The camp was close
to the sea,
With Peel being a
fishing port -
Four detainees of
Germany
Successfully existed their way
12 January 1916 from Knockaloe;
Two days later to
be at Peel port.
The sailors of the
German navy;
Robert Clauss,
Richard Karlsen
Alexander Hoffman
- the fourth
Georges Sudman, had ingenuity
To steal the yacht
Genesta, from
The quay - but
they were seen.
Shouts rang out at the daylight
Theft of a local man's boat -
Close by was Constable Clague
Who quickly followed in a yawl -
With assistance of others, to make
Pursuit in a two mastered craft.
The group formed
with harbour
Master and a
Private Karran -
Crossing the harbour they caught
Up the yacht - the two Germans
On board lifted
up their hands
To surrender,
along with others.
Two more men
were on a boat
Alongside -
Germans and boats
Were searched, to
find items;
Wire cutters, pincers, a compas,
Marlinspikes, sailmaker's
thimble,
Charts, log line
and log books.
In addition; paraffin oil bottles,
Matches, along
with a variety
Of food supplies, for their eager
Plan to flee - owner of Genesta
Stated how that two
motorboats
In the harbour
had been doctored.
A sabotage done to halt pursuit
Of the escaping
German sailors -
28 January 1916,
the four men
Before a military
court charged
With escape and
stealing - to be
Told of the men's good characters.
Along with this
recommendation,
That came from two
imprisoned
Officers, a court heard of Georges
Sudan's other escape at Douglas
Camp, to be held
at Knockaloe -
The military
court considered.
Also in that court
Franz Rignisky
Had stolen tobacco,
while another,
Carl Hench had
tried his luck
To escape - walking out with false
Pass - Hoffmann,
Clauss, Karlsen
And Sudman all
awaited verdict.
Already prisoners
of Knockaloe,
What punishment might then be
Given? The final
decision was
A deferred sentence,
pending
The Governor's
confirmation -
Very likely they
were well guilty
Of building a
discovered tunnel.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Escaped
Germans On Yacht - Well Supplied With Provisions. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 29 January 1916.
P.6. Col.5. Available
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12120482/Daily-Telegraph-January-29-1916.html
[Accessed: 29 January 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 29 January 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1IsleofMan
