Groningen Internment Camp Part 1

On this day in 1918, bells rang out as the First World War came to an end. And to some Cleethorpes families, today may be a time to think once again about two cities in the Low Countries. The cities are Antwerp and Groningen. So what is their wartime relevance to at least one Cleethorpes family, and probably more? 

They were certainly in the minds of the Darnell family of Tiverton Street. One of the family’s sons, Charles, had enrolled in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth in 1911, at the age of 18. During the next few years he must have experienced a young man’s dream. He took part in a Spithead Review and visited many exotic ports in the Mediterranean. During this time he underwent training in seamanship and naval warfare and was well trained and prepared to take part in naval actions on the high seas.

So on 4th August 1914, when war broke out against Germany he had a good idea of what should be ahead of him as the Royal Navy went on a war footing. But his war was to take a completely different turn.

This was due to the rapid advance of the German army through Belgium; and then laying siege to Antwerp. This major port was protected by a ring of forts. But these were being systematically destroyed by the massive German ‘Big Bertha’ howitzers. So the outnumbered and out-gunned Belgian army was in sore need of reinforcements.

Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, visited the front himself to assess the situation. Combat troops were in short supply so Churchill’s brainwave was to create a new land fighting force from Marines, sailors and others. It was called the Royal Naval Division.

Darnell was a member of the Benbow Battalion of this new force and, with his sailor comrades, was given a few weeks hurried and inadequate military training before sailing from Dover for Dunkirk. Arriving at Dunkirk on 6th October, they were delayed off-shore but were eventually allowed to disembark. After which, they were put on trains for Antwerp. However, by the time they arrived there, on 8th October, the Germans were in control of the city and on 10th October, the Grimsby Daily Telegraph carried the ominous headline: ‘Fall of Antwerp’.

So despite the Naval Division putting up a fight from trenches on the outskirts of the city the order was given to withdraw. This entailed crossing the very wide River Scheldt by any bridge still standing; by a pontoon bridge and by any boat to hand. Then followed a forced march of thirty-two miles to link up with rail transport at the town of St. Gilles-Waes.

Unfortunately, probably in the confusion of the withdrawal, many, including Darnell, were left stranded; or cut off by the advancing German forces. The options were limited so the order was given for yet another forced march. This time to the Dutch frontier. This was achieved and about 1500 members of the Naval Division crossed over into neutral Holland on 11th October.

They were welcomed as heroes by the Dutch populace but in order to preserve their country’s neutrality the Dutch authorities had to disarm and intern them. Then followed a long journey through Holland during which Darnell managed to get a postcard sent to his parents saying:

‘Dear Ma and Pa, Am safe in Holland. At present in Terneuzen but shift elsewhere today. Hope all are well at home, from your loving son, Charles.’

From Terneuzen on the Scheldt estuary they were ferried over to Flushing and then carried by train to Groningen, an important city in the north of Holland.

Here they were interned in blocks of wooden barracks which, not surprisingly, became known as ‘Timbertown’; or ‘English Camp’ to the local townspeople. And news of the men started to trickle home. On 17th October the Grimsby Daily Telegraph published the names of Royal Naval Division officers who had been killed at Antwerp or who were interned in Holland – but no mention of the other ranks!

Anyhow, a couple of months passed in Timbertown and then it was Christmas. Press agencies reported that the men managed to have a Christmas ‘feast’. The barracks were decorated with fir branches and British and Dutch flags. There was a Christmas tree; and dinner included turkey, followed by Christmas pudding. Also welcome was the arrival of 4000 letters and 2150 parcels. Even so, the press reported that:

‘It was keenly felt by the interned men that they did not celebrate Christmas at home’.

They would have been even more despondent if they had known that their interment was to last over four years. So what was life like in the Groningen internment camp for Darnell and his comrades during these long years? Well, we shall see in next week’s Chronicle.

In the meantime, please contact the Chronicle if you would like to share family memories of Groningen or any other of the First World War internment camps.

© Dr. Alan Dowling

First published in the Cleethorpes Chronicle on 11 November 2010

The use of extracts from this article should be acknowledged merely by citing the name of the author, Dr. Alan Dowling. But please contact the author (who also holds the copyright) if you wish to re-print or otherwise re-use the entire article. He may be contacted on (01472) 690655.