The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

chrispaton · Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 11

Hi,

Not sure I'm posting this in the right area, but I run a website project at http://ruhleben.tripod.com which compliments the military story of WW1.

The project hosts research concerning those British civilians interned at Ruhleben POW camp in Germany in World War One, in a bid to remember their story, which is often overlooked at major anniversaries for the war. My great uncle was one of those interned. A few prisoners died in captivity, a great deal more suffered metnal health problems due to the unnaturally long incarceration.

I have written an article for the next issue of Discover my Past Scotland magazine (Mar 09) specifically concerning the Scottish prisoners interned at the camp, which may also be of interest.

Hope it might be of some assistance! There is another civilian project worth mentioning, run by Marcus Bateman, concerning merchant navy POWs, at http://wanborough.ukuhost.co.uk/POW/POW.htm.

Chris

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

Chris

Welcome to the forum, you've jumped straight in I see.

We actually have a section for links to websites of interest and you'll be glad to hear your Ruhleben website has already been posted.

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=4176

It's well worth another look though and we don't have Marcus Bateman's site listed.

Cheers

Adam

chrispaton · Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 11

Thanks Adam, that's great!

Marcus has done a lot of work looking at Board of Trade records at the National Archives to search for info on interned merchant seamen - most of them ended up at Ruhleben. In addition to his index site, he has also started transcribing some of these documents and placing them on the National Archives "Your Archives" site at http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Prisoners_of_War:_World_War_One_and_World_War_Two%2C_Merchant_Navy

Although the majority of the records are for merchant seamen, other prisoners are listed - I was in fact able to get the date my great uncle was interned in 1916 from these, and Marcus is more than happy to help people with their research. As am I!

Chris

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:25 am Post subject:

Rather than have two threads on the same subject I have renamed this one for Marcus Bateman's site and moved it to the Website Links section.

Adam

chrispaton · Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 11

No problems...!