Douglas, Insel Man, Speisesaal des Priv. Lagers (Douglas Internment Camp)
Date made: 1918
Description: A brown, sepia printed etching showing an interior view of the dining room in the Privilege Camp at Douglas Internment Camp. The view is of tables laid for a meal (table clothes, cutlery, cups, wine bottles and coffee pots). Small groups of internees are sat at the tables playing cards and some are sat at the canteen with internees (waiters) apparently serving tea and coffee. Some internees are stood looking at notice boards. The etching indicates the dining room was open during the day for use as a cafe, coffee house for social use. The etching is entitled 'Douglas, Insel Man, Speisesaal des Priv. Lagers' and is signed 'F.Nettel 18'.
The etchings belonged to donor's uncle, Wilhelm Hess, of Rudersheim, am Rhein, Germany (c.1870-c.1950). Wilhelm Hess arrived in Britain in 1912-13, importer of haberdashery for hats (feathers and ribbons). Donor was niece of original owners's wife. He was training to be in the wine trade and went back to Germany after the First World War to his wife.
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.
Measurements: overall: 23.5 cm x 28 cm
Materials: paper
Object name: etching
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2008-0023/4
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS