Genealogy Chat

thank you all for your suggestions, I will follow up on Ann's lead

I have German ancestors who were married here and all of their children were born here. Henry, the father and by then a widower, was interned during the was, apparently sent to a camp on the Isle of Man. Family stories say that he was released when it was realised that 4 or 5 of his sons were fighting for Britain in the war! So I am not sure the selection process was very effective.

I have been struggling too with trying to find more information on his internment - so thank you ann for a new lead. I had been told that most of the records on the IOM camps had been destroyed, so was wondering what to do.

Was reading the other week of German families businesses being destroyed in the East End of London. These were people that everyone knew and were popular before the war.

Despite all the stuff you read about the "plucky cockneys" and the war time spirit, given half a chance they would have lynched the Queen mother when she turned up to say she knew how they felt cos Buck house had been bombed.

As for the "you could leave your front door open and nothing would be taken....." thats cos there was nothing of any value to steal.

My Mum in the 50's used to lend her shoes to her best friend so Fran could go to school. (Mum had 2 pairs and Fran's mum had to pawn hers to survive the week)

Have a look at the National Archives site. Go to "Research Guides", then click on "I". There is a guide, no 51, Internees, 1st and 2nd World Wars, which explains which records are available.

Sorry, I completely misunderstood your question!

Sam x

Hi Sam

Thank you. I think I've confused you as the question I've asked relates to "internment", (i.e. people being detained during the war as they were deemed to be "the enemy") and not "interment" (i.e. burial).

I already use the CWGC site and it is very useful.

Thanks again and sorry for confusion.

Helen

Did they die whilst in action? If so, it depends where they died. Many british soldiers were buried abroad, in the place where they were killed.

Have you checked the CWGC website for the death?

Their children may have been buried with them, they may not. If they lived long after their father died they probably were buried elsewhere.

Sam x

Does anyone know if someone born in Britain in 1880s of German parents would have been interned during WW1?
If they were, would their children, also born in Britain in around 1911, have been interned with them?
If they were married to someone of British ancestry, would their spouse have been free to carry on as normal?
Also, does anyone know if any records of who was interned and where survive and where to find them?
Many thanks in advance. Helen