COMPLETED - Info sought .. Internees at Alexandra Palace, WW1

[Ken_from_Wisbech]

Hi all

I wonder, just wonder, if there is some knowledgeable soul out there who knows about where any records are kept of German Aliens Interned in Alexadra Palace during WW1?

I thought that most Internees were incarcerated in the Isle of Man, but after searching Google, I find that Ali Pally was also used, and as the guy I am looking for, married just down the road in South Hackney, I imagine he could have been interned locally.

My Aunt married Augustas Schmidt in 1915 and cannot find anything after this date.  Did he die there?  Was he repatriated?  What happened after the war?

I have found that there was an Elizabeth Schmidt (Drake) b. 1894 (Ties in), married, 1918. Hans George Zundel, b. 1893, Bradford, Yorks.  I have been unable to find a death of Augustus on LDS between 1915-1918.  Were records of deaths of aliens recorded?

So many questions.

Thanks folks.

Ken

[Little Nell]

If I remember correctly this came up in the recent series of "Who do you think you are?"  I think it was Julian Clary's family, but I may be wrong.  Anyway, they spoke to a chap about internees at Alexandra Palace and he implied that there were not many records. 

Can anyone else remember a bit more about this?

Nell

[Biker]

I can't remember it from the programme but there is this link which may help with sources if the records still exist (which seems a bit unlikely) 

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GREATWAR/2000-09/0967845837

Regards
Biker

[Ken_from_Wisbech]

Hi Biker

Many thanks.  I have printed off the references ...... I wonder if there is anyone out there who has those archives? WO 900/45 and WO 900/46, or HO 144/11720/364868 and HO 45/11522/287235? 

Internee I am looking for is Augustus Schmidt, b. abt 1893.

One never knows!!!  LOL

Ken

[Little Nell]

Those are National Archives, Kew catalogue numbers.

WO900/45 = List of German subjects interned as Prisoners of War. List No. 22. for 1915

WO900/46 = List No 101 for 1916

HO107/11720 = Aliens: Internment of enemy aliens during 1914-1918 war: Classified List

HO45/11522 = Aliens(see separate heading for NATIONALITY and NATURALIZATION): Census of aliens in the United Kingdom. Policy of internment and repatriation of alien enemies.

So a visit to Kew?  All open documents.

Nell

[Ken_from_Wisbech]

Thanks Nell

< So a visit to Kew?  All open documents. >

Afraid that is impossible.  Any idea how I can get to view them?

Best take a look at their site and see what they suggest.

Ken

[loo]

You might find this book of interest;  however, I have not yet seen it myself:
Harris, Janet.  Alexandra Palace:  a hidden history.  Tempus Publishing Ltd., 2005.  128 pages.  ISBN: 0752436368 

[pollygarter46]

I am in a similar quandry. My Great great Grandfather was Herman Julius Lange, certainly German, probably Jewish. He lived in Islington and al records stop abruptly in 1914, no death.  Interment is the obvious explanation. people are quite defeatist on the posibil;ity of finding internment records but some do survive. I shal check for your Great grandfather as Im doing my searches. Im about half wy thru ther stuf at the National archive, but therel be bits and pieces elswhere. The other posibility is that they were sent back, in which case they wil have perished if they were Jewish. Did Albert marry an English girl and did he make any moves towards naturalisation? These both seem to be factors. Its an unwritten shameful part of our history.

[Sina]

I came across this Red Cross archive. Submit your details and if your search concerns a family member, it's free. POW and Internees. They do say it takes up to 6 months to reply.

www.icrc.org/eng/contact-archives