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From Your Archives

This article was originally one of a set of memoranda available only on paper in The National Archives' reading rooms. It acted as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. Please feel free to edit this page to improve the information

This memorandum was originally written in July 1992

Strictly speaking responsibility for internal aliens was vested in the War Office in November 1914, though in the administration of civilian internment camps the Home office was concerned through a joint Committee of the WO, HO and Local Government Board. The field of responsibility was rather vaguely defined. The War Office had a Prisoner Of War department which was in fact attached to the Home Office, presumably because that office was concerned with the administration of camps, but the Foreign Office also had a Prisoner of War Department, concerned with enemy aliens as well as POW's. (See Roper's Handbook). I think that the power to intern was exercised by the War Office.

The definition of enemy alien could be applied rather harshly.

On 23rd May 1917 Elizabeth Schonewald, a 60-year-old widow, appeared before Sunderland Magistrates accused of failing to register as an enemy alien. It was stated in court that she was an Englishwomen who had married a German 45 years previously. Her husband had been dead for 12 years. Three of her four sons had joined the British Army; one had been killed in France, another had been invalided home and the third was still serving. Her fourth son was serving with the Royal Navy. The magistrates dismissed the charge subject to her registering forthwith. (The North Mail - 24th May 1917)