Knockaloe Camp bone tallies
Date made: 1915-1918
Description: A collection of circular disc-shaped bone tallies, made by internees at Knockaloe Camp for Mr Cowley, the Knockaloe Camp chemist. He later used the bone discs in his chemist shop in Peel. There are 40 tallies or discs in total.
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: x 3.2 cm
Materials: mammal bone
Object name: tally
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 2006-0016/1
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS