'Reino Julius Nyronen. A Finnish internee in the Mooragh Camp, Ramsey 1943-1945'
Date(s): 13 October 1941
Creator(s): Ling, Joy
Scope & Content: Illustrated biographical and genealogical notes with details of Nyronen's parents, grandparents, sister and wife and photographs of family members as well as the old family home. The resource includes newspaper cuttings and details about Reino's wider life including his problems with alcohol. It references an illustrated journal written by Reino during his captivity in the Isle of Man and includes extracts and illustrations. Joy Ling writes, 'Reino left a journal with Finnish songs, and poetry of motherly love, lost love and longing for home. His drawings and poetry express his anxiety and fear of death. The book was hidden under the floorboards in the Mooragh Camp. This was found by a builder involved in demolition of the building. The whereabouts of this journal now is unknown.' In closing she notes that he spent the last years of his life in a shack in the Vantaa suburb where he sold paintings to keep himself alive.
For a copy of Reino's journal made by MNH in 2007 see MS 11756
Administration / Biographical History: Reino was born on 12 April 1915 in Aanekoski, Central Finland. He was held in 'F' Camp, Mooragh Camp, Ramsey. It is noted that he was still in F Camp on 14.5.1945. - From MS 11551/3 (TNA HO 215/473) Mooragh Camp nominal roll 1943-1945.
He was interned on 7 December 1941 and sent to the Isle of Man via Durham with about 183 Finns, most of whom were seamen. Initially they were held in Palace Camp, Douglas (1942). In 1943 they were transferred to Mooragh Camp, Ramsey alongslde Germans and Italians. Reino remained in Ramsey, not receiving early release as did some Finns. He was returned to Finland on 19 December 1944. The internees travelled from England to Stockholm and from there to Turku on the Norwegian Navy ship 'Heimdall'. He was registered in Kallio Parish, Helsinki in 1945.
The illustrated journal written during his internment was found well after the war in a boarding house called 'Isle of Alanis', previously called 'Snaefell'. During the Second World War it was part of Mooragh Internment Camp, Ramsey.
On 22 April 1945 he wed Salme Maria Raisanen (born 23 September 1919 in Porvoo, Finland). The couple had a daughter, Laila Aulikki Nyronnen, born on 11 March 1946 in Helsinki. Nyronen died on 14 October 1979 in Vantaa in the south of Finland.
Language: English
Extent: 14 pages
Item name: research notes
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: MS 14773
Record class: Private
Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im