First World War internee poster, certificate
Date made: 1917
Description: A hand painted certificate or poster with a geometric pattern border with a foliate design at the top and the bottom. The top panel also contains two small cherubs or children (a girl singing and playing a stringed instrument and a boy playing a pipe), in the centre there is a lyre. The bottom panel contains three birds in the design (with long beaks and tail feathers). The central panel is an inscription, 'Jhrem Vorsitzenden Herrn P.Veigele zur erinnerung gewidmet von den sangern des lagerchors - Douglas Insel Man 5 September 1917' and a list of names listed under 'Kassierer', 'Dirgent' and 'Schriftfuhrer'.
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. Other historic names referring to the camp include Knockaloe P.O.W. Camp, Knockaloe Prisoner of War Camp and Knockaloe Alien Detention Camp.
Measurements: overall: 22.5 cm x 25.5 cm
Materials: paper
Object name: postee, certificate
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2008-0170/1
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS