First World War internee satirical cartoon
Date made: 1914-1918
Artist: unknown
Description: A handcoloured pencil sketch of a satirical cartoon by an unknown artist. The cartoon is of an internee stood before a officer, sat at a desk, with the punchline "The 9271th..... Dodor.... I've got rheumatism....Wat?..." (the joke may be that the medical officer has all the internees coming to him with rheumatism and he is still shocked and surprised). The internee is shown with patches on the knees and seat of his trousers humbly, nervously holding his patched hat and the medical officer is shown as being so surprised his hat flies up. The sketch is unsigned and may have been produced at Douglas or Knockaloe 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: 17 cm x 12.5 cm
Materials: paper
Object name: cartoon
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2008-0170/21
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS