German POW's in Southern Ireland 1914-15

#1 Deleted_Irishcop_*

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Posted 04 February 2004 - 09:28 PM

I am doing some research into the detention of over 2300 German POW's in Richmond Barracks, Templemore, County Tipperary from late 1914 to March 1915. This Barracks now houses the national Police (Garda Siochana) Training College, and we have opened a small Museum, so I am trying to find out as much information as possible so that we can make a memorial display. The POW's were mostly captured at the Battle of the Aisne, and also some Sailors from the Konig Luisa. Two of the POW's died in captivity,and were buried with full Military honours from the Leinster Regiment. The prisoners enjoyed a pretty good regime in Templemore, and wrote fondly about the place. In March 1915 the Prisoners were moved a camp at Leigh in Lancashire in the UK as the Authorities got information that the IRA were going to attempt to "spring" the prisoners from the camp in advance of the 1916 rebellion. Any information about the Prisoners, Richmond Barracks in general etc. would be most welcome. Like the song says, "it's a long way to Tipperary!"

#2 Richard Osgood

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Posted 04 February 2004 - 10:28 PM

Dear Irishcop,

not sure how much help it is to you - but you may well be interested in a publication on the prison camp at Leigh which does have details of some of the prisoners:

Smith, L. 1986. The German Prisoner of War Camp at Leigh 1914-1919. Neil Richardson (publishers), Radcliffe.

Strandard Googol search should show up publishers address/phone number - cost is c £3.50 not including post. Fundamentally it is a reprint of lots of contemporary newspaper articles

I'm trying to reaseach German POWs in Yate, South Gloucestershire, at the moment and am thus looking at the Red Cross, and various German/UK locations for info on the men that were interned.
cheers and good luck
Richard

#3 Deleted_Irishcop_*

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Posted 05 February 2004 - 08:41 PM

Richard, thanks so much for the information, it is really helpful as I know that all of the POW's from Templemore went to Leigh, so if I can get that book it will be a great help, so I will get straight onto it. Thanks again,
John Reynolds

#4 Richard Osgood

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Posted 05 February 2004 - 09:09 PM

Ah excellent!

In which case John, I'd say Cannock Chase is an important resource for you. there were several deaths at Leigh (some from escape attempts - others from wounds or disease). The men were buried locally but then their bodies were exumed and rebuied at the German cemetery at Cannock - perhaps one of your men is amongst this number?

If you have any problems getting the book - let me know as I have a copy
all best
Richard

#5 Richard Osgood

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Location:Winchester
Interests:Battlefield Archaeology, the Australian 3rd Division, and Salisbury Plain

Posted 05 February 2004 - 09:29 PM

John,
I've just rooted out this book and it has alot on Templemore! Including an article on "360 German Soldiers interned at Leigh" (Leigh Chronicle feb 5th 1915) and photos of their arrival.

Furthermore, several of the Templemore men DID die at Leigh and their are excellent photos of their funerals:

Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Smidt, aged 25, fusilier of the 35th Regiment, shot whilst escaping 31st may 1915 (in paper 4/06/16)

Ernst Heinrich Rabbow, aged 21, private of 211th Reserve infantry Regt - died of consumption on 12th March 1916 (in paper on 17/03/16)

Paul Siegfied Kreiger, aged 19, of 241st Reserve Regt of German infatnry - died of illness on 16th May 1916 (in paper19/05/16)

Otto Gunther, aged 21, Private of the 212th German Reserve Infantry - died of enteric fever on 7th October 1916 (in paper 13/10/16).

All the above ARE buried in Cannock Chase in Stafforshire in the German cemetery

Hope this is of use - I must confess to being not a little jealous - I am really struggling to find anything about the inmatesof Yate!

all best
Richard

#6 Deleted_Irishcop_*

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Posted 06 February 2004 - 08:51 PM

Richard, thanks for taking the trouble to send me all of the details for the POW's, it is really useful, as I am trying to find out exactly what Units were sent to Templemore. I am sorry that you are having trouble finding out about your POW camp, can suggest a source of information that I found really useful? The Royal Irish Constabulary magazine of the period gave great details of what was happening in the local camp, so maybe your local Constabulary had a similar magazine, and if so, the Police Museum may be able to help. They shoudl have copies of Police reports into incidents at the camp such as deatchs, escape attempts etc. Might be worth a try, sometimes the best information comes from the most unlikely sources.
Thanks again,
John

#7 Richard Osgood

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Location:Winchester
Interests:Battlefield Archaeology, the Australian 3rd Division, and Salisbury Plain

Posted 09 February 2004 - 10:09 AM

Dear John,
address of the Publishers of Leigh Camp volume:

Mr Neilr Richardson
88 Ringley Road
Stoneclough
Radcliffe
Manchester
M26 1ET

Thanks for the police advice - I'll see if the Gloucestershire Constabulary have anything (though this was also in territory of Avon and Somerset force so perhaps they are now the holders of info)
all best
Richard

#8 Deleted_Irishcop_*

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Posted 10 February 2004 - 08:27 PM

Richard, thanks for the message and address, I will contact them and get a copy of the book. Best of luck with the Police angle, it worked for me, and anything is worth a go.

#1 Deleted_Irishcop_*

#2 Richard Osgood

#3 Deleted_Irishcop_*

#4 Richard Osgood

#5 Richard Osgood

#6 Deleted_Irishcop_*

#7 Richard Osgood

#8 Deleted_Irishcop_*

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