Frith Hill P.O.W Camp at Frimley, Surrey.

Frith Hill P.O.W. and Enemy Alien Internment Camp, at Frimley, Surrey.

With the local areas long established connection to the military, Frith Hill seems to been used for training purposes for quite a long time.

The earliest photo I have found about the Camp at Frith Hill is from 1911, when the the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, were camped here for annual training from 6th until the 20th of August 1911.

Prisoner of War Camp

In September 1914 the Camp was opened, with Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Turton, formerly of the Cheshire Regiment, the Commandant. At first it held German and Austrian civilians living in the U.K., then after Naval battles near to Heligoland Bight in August the first Prisoners of War arrived.

The Lichfield Mercury reported on the 11th of September 1914;

"One of the German sailors in the Detention Camp at Frith Hill, Camberley, has died from pneumonia, and was buried on Saturday. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was followed by a party of German sailors under an armed escort."

The sailor was Robert Adler, German Navy, who died at Cambridge Military Hospital at Aldershot, Hampshire. Robert had served on the SS Königin Luise, an Auxiliary minesweeper. After serving for some time as a ferry, she was requisitioned by the Kaiserliche Marine on the 3rd of August 1914 to serve as an auxiliary minelayer, carrying 200 naval mines. She was disguised in the black, buff, and yellow colours of the steamers of the Great Eastern Railway that sailed between Harwich and the Hook of Holland, and sailed from Emden on the night of the 4th of August. Her captain, Commander Biermann, had orders to lay mines off the Thames Estuary. She was able to lay a number of mines off the coast during the night, but was sighted by a number of fishing vessels. The light cruiser Amphion of the Harwich Force and a number of destroyers of the 3rd Flotilla sailed early in the morning of the 5th of August and headed towards Heligoland Bight. On the way they encountered a fishing boat, whose occupants informed the British force that they had seen an unknown ship "throwing things over the side" about 20 miles north of the Outer Gabbard.

The taskforce spotted Königin Luise at 10:25 a.m., and the destroyers Lance and Landrail moved to investigate. Königin Luise fled at her top speed, moving into a rain squall, where she proceeded to lay more mines. Lance and Landrail gave chase, signalling to the rest of the force that they were engaging. Lance opened fire, one of the first British shots of the war. Amphion soon closed and also began to fire on the fleeing Königin Luise. The German ship attempted to escape to neutral waters to the south-east, while leading the pursuing British through her minefield, but under heavy and accurate fire, Commander Biermann ordered the scuttling of the ship. The surviving crew abandoned ship, and Königin Luise rolled over to port and sank at 12:22 p.m. 46 of the 100 crew were rescued by the British ships. She was the first German naval loss of the war.

Robert Adler was buried at Deepcut Military Cemetery, Grave C.33. In 1959 the UK government made an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany to relocate around 5,000 graves of German and Austrian soldiers which were dotted around the country to one centrally located and maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission. These are located in the German Military Cemetery at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire. Robert is now buried in Plot 17 Row 6 Grave 135 .

The Times reported on the 24th of September1914;

"During this week between 1,500 and 1,600 prisoners taken at the battle of the Marne have arrived at Frith Hill. They include 390 of the Imperial Guard and several large parties of Uhlans. One batch of prisoners numbered over 900 and another 590. A considerable proportion of them speak English fluently, and have been allowed to converse with the public, whose gifts of cigarettes, tobacco, apples, ginger beer, cakes are much appreciated".

Vera Britten, the writer and feminist, wrote in her book 'Testament of Youth' (recounting her experiences during the Great War), for the 24 September 1914;

"In the afternoon Cora and I motored to Frimley Common, a large plateau much higher than Byfleet. At Frimley there is a camp of German prisoners, and though one feels almost mean in going to look at them as if one were going to the zoo, yet, since it is a sight that has never been seen in England before and probably never will be again after this war, it was of too great interest to be missed. Although there is a board standing by the entrance to the camp saying that this thoroughfare is forbidden to the public, the day we were there the public were so numerous that one could hardly see the thoroughfare. Cora and I got quite close to the imprisoned Germans. They are guarded by four rows of wire entanglements – the two outer ones are fairly low and between them march the sentries keeping watch over the camp. The third wire entanglement is very high and is electrified so that none of them can attempt to touch it or injure it in any way. Inside this is another wire entanglement to protect the prisoners from the live wire. At each of the four corners of the enclosure, which looks more like a huge hen-pen than anything, are small electric power stations, to which is attached a raised platform on which a sentry always stands exercising observation over the prisoners. A regiment of National reservists is encamped all round the imprisoning enclosure".

"We spoke to one Reservist about the prisoners, who are divided into two enclosures, one containing suspected civilians of alien nationality – mostly German of course – and the other soldiers taken prisoner at recent battles like the Battle of the Marne. The Reservist said that they were a decent set of men and he had no complaint to make about them; he said he preferred looking after the military half of the camp as the soldiers, who understood discipline and the principles of war, were easy to keep in order. The civilians were a ragged, unwashed, unshaven looking lot who seemed to do nothing but crowd against the wires and gaze at the people who came to see them. One man was sitting on a log and talking to a woman, probably his wife, who had been allowed to come and see him, and stroking her hand. The soldiers appeared to have a little more energy though many among them looked utterly depressed, and some were stretched out on the ground or at the doors of their tents with their heads on their arms as though very weary. Others were playing cards and shouting loudly over them in German, some were reading and in the distance a game of football was in progress. One or two were washing out some rather ragged garments, and others preparing tea at their tent doors. The majority were dressed in a uniform somewhat resembling our khaki but muddier in colour, and on their heads they had either kepis or nothing at all. A few were dressed in a greenish-grey uniform and wore high brass helmets, sometimes covered, sometimes uncovered; I imagine that these must be officers. They all appeared to be very well treated – better no doubt than our poor soldiers are being treated in Germany. We moved away at last, though I could have occupied myself all day looking at those unfamiliar types of face[s], and speculating as to what each one must have been through before getting there".

The Surrey Advertiser reported on the 30th of September 1914;

"GERMAN PRISONERS CAMP,

VISITED BY ENORMOUS CROWDS,

Remarkable Scenes at Frimley,

A further batch of German Soldiers arrived at Frimley Station shortly after one o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and were conveyed to the compound at Frith Hill. They were brought in saloon carriages attached to the rear of a passenger train, and numbered about sixty. A large proportion of them were wounded, and nearly twenty of them who were not in a fit condition to undertake the march from the station to the camp were conveyed in a motor transport. All belonged to infantry regiments, and wore their grey uniforms. One of the wounded had his head swathed in bandages, whilst another had his right arm bandaged.

A large crowd witnessed their arrival , and after the prisoners had formed up outside the station several persons were observed busy taking snapshots, whilst a bioscope operator was at work on the scene, having his apparatus in an open motor car outside the entrance to the station yard.

Enormous crowds of people visited the prisoners camp on Sunday, and during the afternoon the scene along the roads of the district was of a remarkable character. For several hours there was a continuous stream of traffic bound for the camp. Vehicles of all descriptions, motor cars, motor charabancs, waggonettes, cycles and hundreds of pedestrians, were all to be seen along the various roads in the district, all wending their way to Frith Hill, the amount of traffic far eclipsing anything seen during Ascot race week.

During Sunday morning large crowds collected in the vicinity of Frimley Station in anticipation of seeing further prisoners arrive, but after waiting a considerable time the people gradually dispersed, having learnt that no further contingent was expected that day."

On the 2nd of October 1914 the Mid-Lothian Journal reported;

"GERMAN PRISONERS "SCRAP"

"The routine of the camp in Camberley, Surrey, has been disturbed by only one incident, and that not of a very serious nature. Among the prisoners of war there are some Alsatians, who, greatly against their will, were fighting against the French. They were taken prisoners in the course of the fighting in the southern area of the war, and at Camberley they found themselves in the company of German soldiers. Like good Alsatians, sons of the men who fought against Germany in 1870, their hearts were with France in this fight, and they took no pains to conceal their feelings. On a night recently their patriotism came to a head, and they turned on some of their German fellow prisoners. There was- in the language of one of the National Reservists guarding the camp- "a bit of a scrap" but peace was quickly restored, and since then life in the camp has proceeded quite smoothly."

On 19th of October 1914, The Surrey Advertiser reported the following;

"GERMAN PRISONER KILLED AT FRIMLEY

ACCIDENT NEAR COMPOUND

One of the German prisoners at the Frimley compound, Private Josef Gilles, of the 53rd Infantry Regiment, was killed on Friday last as the result of an accident on the Deepcut-road. He was in a motor lorry with other prisoners who were being taken to Frimley Station to unload timber, and as the lorry passed a milk cart, travelling in the opposite direction along part of the road where trenches were dug for laying pipes, the man's head struck a lamp standard. He was at once conveyed to Deepcut Military Hospital, and died within a fe minutes. The deceased was married, and leave a widow and four children.

PRISONER PAID A PENNY AN HOUR

The Inquest was held by Mr. Gilbert H. White (West Surrey coroner) at the Deepcut Hospital on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by Supt. Simmonds, of Farnham.

Captain Charles Powlett Aldridge, adjutant at the Prisoners of War Camp, Frimley, said as the deceased could speak English he was placed in charge of the other prisoners. He stated the prisoners at the camp were paid a penny per hour for their work, and all the men had given up their week's pay, accounting to about £25, and were raising a further subscription for the deceased's widow.

Frederick Hill, of 9, Woodend-road, Deepcut, a telegraph boy employed by Deepcut Post Office, said as the lorry passed the trenches it swerved. He saw the deceased, who was standing in the vehicle, slip, and his head struck the lamp-post at the side of the road.

Alfred Gosden, a lad employed at Heatherside Farm, Camberley: the driver of the lorry, Thomas. H. Rackliffe, Army Service Corps; and Private William Cannon, of the National Reserve, also gave evidence.

Lieut. Macintyre, R.A.M.C., said death was due to the injuries received.

The jury without hesitation returned a verdict of accidental death, and exonerated the driver of the lorry of any blame."

Josef Gilles served with the 11th (Reserve) 53rd Infantry Regiment and was originally buried at Deepcut Cemetery Grave Ref: C.34. In 1959 Josef was reinterned in Plot 17 Row 6 Grave 134, German Military Cemetery at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

The prisoners also worked on building the Rifle Ranges at Longmoor Camp under the guard of the National Reserve in October 1914.

Throughout October up and down the country, enemy Aliens continued to be arrested, and further 800-900 Germans and Austrians consisting mostly of waiters and hairdressers, arrived at Frith Hill on the 23rd of October 1914, and at this time the camp held about 10,000 prisoners.

On the 12th of November 1914 another German prisoner died at Frith Hill Camp. Private Wilhelm Schneips of the 133rd Infantry Regiment was buried at Deepcut Military Cemetery Grave Ref: J.40 before being reinterned in 1959 at Plot 17 Row 6 Grave 133, German Military Cemetery at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

Due to the nature of the land the camp was moved three times after heavy rain, closing down each time, (first time December 1914) while the site was moved and eventually there were separate camps for enemy aliens and military prisoners.

The Coventry Evening Telegraph reported on the 16th of December 1914;

"The last batch of enemy alien prisoners left Frimley concentration camp for ships of Southend on Tuesday, and the camp will now be closed until the spring"

Around this time (November/December 1914), the first batch of civilian prisoners were sent to the interment camp on the Isle of Man.

A Parliamentary Report of early 1915 states that during the early stages of the war, Firth Hill was the major combatant camp in the UK.

From another as yet undated and unspecified newspaper, comes the following report from early 1915:

"We understand that the concentration camps for German prisoners of war on Frith Hill will be reopened at the beginning of April. The existing compounds are now to be used exclusively for naval and military prisoners, and no civilian aliens will be quartered there as was the case in the autumn and beginning of the winter, when one compound was used for naval and military prisoners, and the other for civilian aliens rounded up in various parts of the kingdom. It was understood to have been the intention of the authorities to enlarge the existing compounds, but we hear that this proposal has been dropped, and that instead a third compound will be constructed on the road side of Frith Hill. None of the prisoners who were previously in Frith Hill, and who were subsequently removed to the Isle of Man concentration camp or placed on board ship at Southend and in the Solent are to be brought back, but the compounds will be used for the accommodation of newly-taken prisoners."

In an undated newspaper report of a meeting of Frimley District Council in 1915, attention was drawn to complaints that were being made about the disposal of night soil from the German Prisoners’ Compounds and mention was made that “last autumn this had been a very great nuisance, the effluent running into Jack’s Pond and thence into a ditch. This foetid matter came down and in the interests of the public health of Frimley, it ought to be more carefully watched.”

George Kenner;

On the 12th of May 1915, the German artist George Kenner arrived at Frith Hill, five days after the sinking of the Lusitania.

George negotiated with the Camp Authorities, to be allowed to continue to paint, and his work at Frith Hill, is the most extensive collection of WW1 internment scenes known, 70 at Frith Hill. George was moved in September 1915, firstly to the Camp at Crystal Palace, then finally sent to the camp on the Isle of Man, which held about 30,000 prisoners.

Frith Hill Camp closed about November 1915 and re-opened in July 1916 as a Working Camp of 1,499 men brought from the P.O.W. Camp at Eastcote, Pattishall, Northamptonshire, to build a light railway connecting Pirbright Camp to Blackdown and Deepcut. The line was completed about March 1917, and once again reference's at the National Archives show that the camp closed about this time.

Working Camp;

Once again reopened, I've not found a date, in 1918 the Frith Hill camp consisted of two compounds, A and B, one German & the other Austrians (Hungarians, Galizians, Moravians, Bohemians). The total area of the camp was 640ft by 180ft & was equipped for 5000 Prisoners.

From correspondence dated 2nd Dec 1918, from Sir Edward Gray to Mr Page, it states, in reference to prisoners accommodation in general, that "Some are still in tents, but these will be moved to cover within the next few days."

There are five references about accommodation at Frith Hill in the National Archives catalogue (Ref.FO383). Three of these relate to reports including one by the Swiss and one by the Red Cross (in French).

FO 383 references are;

185019 American Report, 15th Sept 1915.

117901 Swedish Report, 25th Nov 1918.

219057 Housing of German PoWs, 31st Oct 1916.

136307 Improvements at Frith Hill PoW Camp 22nd Sept 1915.

141959 Improvements at Frith Hill Pow Camp Oct 1915.

FO383/162 Report by the Red Cross (in French) 1916.

The camp was a work camp, and a reference I have (unknown date) states;

100 PoW's with the Canadian Forestry Corps at Camberley.

8 PoW's Maultway House, Camberley.

120 PoW's RAF Ascot.

20 PoW's Ash Ranges. Ash.

70 PoW's C.R.E (Commander Royal Engineers) Blackdown.

50 PoW's D.C.R.E (Deputy Commander Royal Engineers) Deepcut.

28 PoW's C.R.E (Commander Royal Engineers) Bisley.

16 PoW's Revolver Range Pirbright.

10 PoW's with 8th Bn London Regt.

30 PoW's with 19th Bn London Regt.

16 PoW's Heatherside Nureries.

Location of the Camp;

This always seems to provide some debate, References I have include;

Mary Bennett's book 'The Village Post' states;

"“Firth Hill Camp was set up in September 1914 to accept those of German nationality living in the British Isles at the outbreak of war and any Germans taken prisoner in Europe, was situated on open heathland opposite Brompton Hospital."

Another reference states;

"The area of the PoW camp now is part of Pine Ridge Golf course, also the Ridgewood Centre (Surrey Heath CMHT) could be part of the old Brompton Hospital Sanatorium on the Old Bisley Road."

Another states;

"As soon as hostilities commenced a PoW camp was established on the plateau of the Frimley Fuel Allotments, which stretched from Colony Gate towards Frith Hill Reservoir. The Clubhouse of Pine Ridge Golf Course and 4th, 5th 8th & 9th holes are now on the site on which the PoW camp once stood."

I have references that in 1918 there was 5-8 Barracks (Including Deepcut and Blackdown) in and near to Frith Hill, and also shown as being at Frith Hill, was an Anti-Aircraft Brigade or three batteries of Royal Artillery, a Searchlight Battalion, Royal Enigneers and a Signal Company.