- Contributed by
- ѿý Open Centre, Hull
- Location of story:
- Kiel Canal, Germany, Berlin, Ruhlebon Camp
- Background to story:
- Civilian Force
- Article ID:
- A7262679
- Contributed on:
- 24 November 2005
Civilian internees playing chess in this 1915 German propaganda postcard from Ruhleben Camp.
My Great Grandfather
by Andy Forster of Hull
My GGF was a sea captain, plying the timber trade routes to Russia, the Baltic and Northern Germany. In 1914 his ship was just leaving the Kiel Canal as war was declared. The German Navy impounded the ship and its cargo, and the crew were interred (being non-combatants) in Ruhleben Camp near Berlin for the duration of the war.
The boredom must have been difficult to bear, but the men passed the time making furniture, carving (Louise’s walking stick) and producing “The Ruhlebon Camp Magazine”( I still have it) and leading as normal a life as possible.
GGF was often allowed to travel to Berlin for the day, along with some of the other internees, totally unguarded. It is remarkable to think that Brits could openly walk around the capital of Germany in the middle of the war. As my Uncle Jack says “ It was the NAZI’s who made War ungentlemanly”.
In 1918 he returned to Hull and I have the black and white postcard of his ship on which my Mum wrote “The ship which my Grandad came home on”.
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Transcribed by C. Brigham www.Hullwebs.co.uk
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