the authorities. In true British fashion an informal ‘election’ was held and
representatives, the barrack ‘captains’, were appointed; a process that was
repeated as other barracks later filled up. A committee was formed from the
barrack representatives; meetings were scheduled, minutes kept, and a camp
captain,
33 the ‘captain of the captains’ was nominated. It was from these small
beginnings and the realization that ‘unity was strength’ that the camp began
to organise itself to try and improve the lot of the prisoner.
The first meeting of the committee on 10 November discussed a number
of issues; privileges, such as permission for the use of a telephone, latrines,
payment of men to keep them clean, baggage, missing baggage to be brought
to the camp, clothing, especially for destitute prisoners, supplies, essentials had
to be brought to the camp, and possible releases, especially for those caught up
in internment that fell outside the age remit or suffered ill health. A principal
objective of the committee was to take every opportunity to get as much of
the administration of the camp into their own hands and in this respect, they
had the backing of the German authorities. Over the next few months the
committee appointed postmen, cashiers, firemen and laundrymen and they
raised a barrack revenue
34 to pay for buckets and brooms and a small wage for
those prepared
35 to keep the barracks clean. They even organised a police
force—especially effective at preventing fights and regulating queues—and in
Ruhleben the educated prisoners volunteered to teach the ignorant.
10 As time
passed prisoners tried to put their own mark on the camp. The alleyways and
squares became known by British landmarks such as ‘Trafalgar Square’ and
‘Bond Street’ where many ‘stores’ were in operation such as a tailor’s shop, a
shoemaker’s, and a watchmaker’s.
10 All of this reminded them of home, but
for those who may have tried to get home by escaping, penalties were harsh,
such as indefinite imprisonment in solitary confinement at the Stadtvogtei or
deportation to the Havelberg camp some 40 miles north west of Berlin where
conditions were much worse. Even for relatively minor indiscretions such as
drunkenness or smoking in the lofts, there was a three-day confinement in
Barrack 11 on ‘black bread’ and water only (Plates 14.2 and 14.3).
36
284
D. Sheppard
representatives, the barrack ‘captains’, were appointed; a process that was
repeated as other barracks later filled up. A committee was formed from the
barrack representatives; meetings were scheduled, minutes kept, and a camp
captain,
33 the ‘captain of the captains’ was nominated. It was from these small
beginnings and the realization that ‘unity was strength’ that the camp began
to organise itself to try and improve the lot of the prisoner.
The first meeting of the committee on 10 November discussed a number
of issues; privileges, such as permission for the use of a telephone, latrines,
payment of men to keep them clean, baggage, missing baggage to be brought
to the camp, clothing, especially for destitute prisoners, supplies, essentials had
to be brought to the camp, and possible releases, especially for those caught up
in internment that fell outside the age remit or suffered ill health. A principal
objective of the committee was to take every opportunity to get as much of
the administration of the camp into their own hands and in this respect, they
had the backing of the German authorities. Over the next few months the
committee appointed postmen, cashiers, firemen and laundrymen and they
raised a barrack revenue
34 to pay for buckets and brooms and a small wage for
those prepared
35 to keep the barracks clean. They even organised a police
force—especially effective at preventing fights and regulating queues—and in
Ruhleben the educated prisoners volunteered to teach the ignorant.
10 As time
passed prisoners tried to put their own mark on the camp. The alleyways and
squares became known by British landmarks such as ‘Trafalgar Square’ and
‘Bond Street’ where many ‘stores’ were in operation such as a tailor’s shop, a
shoemaker’s, and a watchmaker’s.
10 All of this reminded them of home, but
for those who may have tried to get home by escaping, penalties were harsh,
such as indefinite imprisonment in solitary confinement at the Stadtvogtei or
deportation to the Havelberg camp some 40 miles north west of Berlin where
conditions were much worse. Even for relatively minor indiscretions such as
drunkenness or smoking in the lofts, there was a three-day confinement in
Barrack 11 on ‘black bread’ and water only (Plates 14.2 and 14.3).
36
284
D. Sheppard