First World War internee watercolour of Knockaloe Camp
Date made: 1915-1918
Artist: unknown
Description: A watercolour sketch of two huts at Knockaloe camp with barbed wire fence, guard by sentry box and another hut in background. A gulley or drainage channel runs between the two huts. The watercolour is painted in predominantly blue and yellow tones and is entitled 'Knockaloe Camp' but is unsigned. The watercolour is mounted on yellow card.
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: 14 cm x 9 cm
Materials: paper
Object name: watercolour painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2008-0170/14
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS