First World War internee engraving of Privilege Camp Dining Room, Douglas
Date made: 1918
Description: An engraving of the Privilege Camp at Douglas Camp showing a view inside the Camp dining room. The view of the camp dining room shows a series of tables set for a meal (with tablecloths, cutlery, cups and saucers, coffee pots and wine bottles), some internees are sat at the tables playing cards whilst others are sat on benches around the serving area at the back of the dining hall. Some internees are also stood reading notice boards along one side of the dining room. The engraving is entitled 'Douglas, Insel Man - Speisesaal des Priv. Lager' and is signed in the engraving 'F.Nettel - 18'. The engraving is printed with a sepia brown ink and has left a plate mark on the paper. The engraving is one of a folio set or edition produced in the camp.
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: 22 cm x 30 cm
Materials: paper
Object name: engraving
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2008-0170/10
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS