Germany: Prisoners, including: Dr George Layton: arrangements for his release from...

FO 383/208

1916

Germany: Prisoners, including:

Dr George Layton: arrangements for his release from Ruhleben Camp, including:

• Request by Mrs Yvonne Layton for help in securing her husband's release.
• Denial of reports that Dr Layton had requested to be repatriated to Brussels.
• Request by Dr Layton to be allowed to return via Switzerland to le Havre (France), to continue his work with the Belgian Red Cross.
• Release of Dr Layton on 6 July 1916, and information that he had travelled to Nice for health reasons.
• Memorial from Dr Layton claiming compensation for his arrest and internment.
• Mr M H Spielmann: comments relating to Dr Layton's memorial.

Mrs Rachel Brummer: request for assistance in gaining the release on health grounds of her husband, Mr Marcus Brummer, a naturalised British subject; decision not to grant Mr Brummer a British passport.

Repatriation of British civilian prisoners from Germany, including:

• Report on the return of twenty one British subjects to the United Kingdom via Holland.
• Appeal by the British Red Cross for the release of seventy invalid prisoners from Ruhleben Camp.
• Increase in the incidence of nervous and mental illnesses among interned prisoners.

Treatment of British prisoners in Germany.

Refusal of the grant of British visas to Ernst Arland and Harry James Linden; subsequent decision to allow Mr Arland to travel to the United Kingdom.

Organisation of travel arrangements for the possible return of six hundred British prisoners under an exchange agreement.

Return of British invalid prisoners from Germany.

Mr Jacques O'Connor, a British subject interned in Berlin: transmission of a letter from him to the manager of the Birkbeck Bank in London, and subsequent payment to Mr O'Connor of a dividend due from the liquidation of the Birkbeck Permanent Benefit Building Society.

Mr Jacob Frenkel: permission for him to travel with his wife, Mrs Bella Frenkel, and their children from Cassel in Germany to Johannesburg in South Africa via the United Kingdom.

Enquiries regarding the whereabouts and welfare of certain naturalised British subjects in Germany, including:

• Confirmation that Mr Johann Christian Bellert had left Germany and returned to Australia.
• Confirmation that Mr Wilhelm Burmeister and Mrs Minnie Burmeister had left Germany and returned to Australia.
• Confirmation that British passports had not been issued to Mr Johann Muller and Mrs Auguste Muller.

Reverend James Chambers: attempt to arrange a prisoner exchange involving his son, Arthur James Chambers at Ruhleben Camp, and Louise Pagenstecher, interned at Lofthouse Park near Wakefield.

Authorisation for the payment of a monthly grant to Mr Albers in Hamburg by Messrs Gellatly, Hankey & Co.

Mr Christian John: request for financial assistance following a period of internment at Ruhleben Camp.

Mrs H B Hart: request from her husband, Mr Harold Hart, a prisoner at Ruhleben Camp, for the provision of financial assistance to her in England; recommendation that she should apply to the Government Committee on the Prevention and Relief of Distress.

Mr F W Steege: attempts to arrange for his release from Ruhleben in exchange for Mr Otto Roese; subsequent confirmation of the repatriation of Mr Roese.

Professor Lionel Strachan of Heidelberg University: confirmation of his internment at Ruhleben Camp, following an enquiry from the University Council about the position of British lecturers and professors in Germany.

Mr Benjamin R Foster: enquiries regarding his repatriation from Ruhleben Camp, including:

• Letter from Captain Charles Bathurst asking for Mr Foster to be considered for exchange with a German prisoner.
• Enquiry from Mr John H Angus.
• Letters and postcards from Mr Foster to his wife and Mr Angus, asking for assistance for his repatriation on grounds of ill health.
• Statement by the German authorities that Mr Foster's health had improved, and that he could not be released as he was capable of performing services of a military nature.

Mr Thomas William Russell: enquiries about his identity and previous address, following a letter received by the Prisoners of War Help Committee from Ruhleben Camp requesting assistance; report of subsequent interviews with Mr Russell by American Embassy staff.

Mr Aaron Felixbraut: pemission for him to be issued with an emergency British passport, to enable him to be repatriated to the United Kingdom in the event of his release by the German authorities.

Mr Florentin Theodor Overmann, a British subject at Oldesloe, Germany: request from Overmann & Co for his repatriation to England; enquiries by the American Embassy in Berlin.

Mr Andrew Lawson, master of the SS Zealand: enquiry regarding his release on health grounds.

Mr David Salzedo: repayment of money received from the British Relief Fund.

Mr Maurice Lewinsohn: enquiry about the decision not to grant payment from the British Relief Fund to himself and his brother, Max Lewinsohn, both interned at Ruhleben Camp.

Mr Ronald Lloyd Nunn: enquiries by his parents about the non-delivery of parcels containing butter at Ruhleben Camp, and about the possibilities of his release.

Mrs Beatrice Bonner: claim for a refund of income tax which she had paid in the United Kingdom while resident in Berlin.

Mr D Kemp: enquiries about the possible release of his brother, Mr William Kemp, from Ruhleben Camp as part of a prisoner exchange scheme; statement by the Prisoners of War Department that no agreement had yet been reached on the implementation of the scheme.

Mr William Kemp: enquiries from his brother, Mr D Kemp, regarding his health; confirmation that he had spent time in the sanatorium at Ruhleben Camp.

Mr Arthur Owen, formerly a crew member of the SS Zealand: enquiries from his wife regarding his health, including:

• Confirmation that Mr Owen had been moved to Dr Weiler's Sanatorium.
• Report of the death of Mr Owen.
• Request by his widow for a copy of the death certificate.
• Request by his widow for the return of her husband's personal effects.
• Return of the personal effects of Mr Arthur Owen and Captain Charles Fryatt.
• Copy of Mr Owen's death certificate (in docket no. 254427).

Code 1218 Files 108100-132239.

Files 108100-132239.

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