Knockaloe Camp carved tray
Date made: 1918
Description: Small rectangular wooden tray with rim and side handles. Chip carved design on tray base of a geometric design of circles and leaf patterns. Handwritten inscription in ink on base of 'Mona Clarke July 1918'.
The tray was given personally to Mona Clarke by one of the Knockaloe internees. Mona Clarke was a nurse at the time (donor's aunt and guardian) and was a friend of Miss Annie Knox (who was also a nurse) and Archibald Knox's niece.
Background:
During the First World War (1914-1918) the Isle of Man was used as an internment base for civilian ‘enemy aliens’. They were held in two camps, a requisitioned holiday camp in Douglas and a purpose built camp located at Knockaloe near Peel on the west coast of the Island. These held at their peaks over 4,000 and 23,000 men in some cases for nearly five years between opening in 1914 and final closure in 1919. Over 30,000 men passed through Knockaloe between 1914 and 1917, more than the population of Douglas.
Measurements: overall: 3.5 cm x 17.9 cm x 31.4 cm
Materials: wood
Object name: tray
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 2006-0011
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS