Weighing the Day's Ration of Zwieback

Date made: January 1919

Artist: Kenner, George

Description: Watercolour sketch 'Weighing the Day's Ration of Zwieback' by George Kenner painted whilst interned in Knockaloe civilian internment camp. Mounted on a black backboard with a white handpainted, lettered title (done by the artist). View of inside a hut in Knockaloe Civilian Internment Camp showing wooden floors, the top opening windows and construction of a Knockaloe hut (walls and roof). Two men weighing out food rations on scales in middle of a long trestle table. One man sat at table reading a book and smoking a pipe, one stood at end of table drinking a cup of tea or coffee. Another internee sat by window writing a letter at a drop-down table. One internee to right of picture cutting another hair, sat down with a sheet around his shoulders. Background details of clothes hanging up to dry also pot and bucket hanging from roof, lightbulb has a pink homemade shade. A bed area with bedding folded up on it and suitcases packed underneath and fold-down table to side with shelves above.

A copy of George Kenner's journal is in MNH Archives Reference No.: MS 11425.

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: 45.5 cm x 60.8 cm;artwork: 37.3 cm x 56 cm

Materials: Watercolour on paper

Object name: watercolour painting

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0064

Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS

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