Friendly Aliens

On the eve of the First World War, almost 8,000 friendly aliens, nationals of non-enemy countries, lived in the north-east of England. About three-quarters were from Scandinavia, Russia, Italy and Russian Poland (Poland was part of the Russian Empire at the start of the war). Bulgarians, though they were also classified as enemy aliens from October 1915, were very few in number and were grouped for the 1911 census with nationals of the other Balkan countries of Serbia, Romania and Montenegro.

Number of friendly aliens in North East England, 1911 Census

Population movements soon changed these numbers considerably. As the war progressed, the UK received about 250,000 Belgian refugees, several thousand of them coming to the North East.

At the outbreak of the war, Armstrong Whitworth built two factories at Birtley to produce armaments. But there was a shortage of workers. An agreement was made between the British and Belgian governments: the workforce for these factories was to be made up of wounded and disabled Belgian servicemen, tradesmen withdrawn from the army and skilled civilian refugees who had already fled to Britain. They were paid for their work in the munitions factories, and promised that they would be repatriated when the war was over. They lived close to their work in a small village known as Elisabethville after the Belgian Queen, Elisabeth of Bavaria. Elisabethville would eventually have a population of over 6,000. There were hostels for single men and cottages with gardens for families.

The community spoke French and Flemish. Elisabethville had a Roman Catholic Church and cemetery, primary and secondary schools, a large hospital and a prison. Entertainment could be found at the cinema and recreation hall and outdoor leisure facilities. Plenty of shops and a market provided everything people needed.

The inhabitants engaged with their English neighbours in charity and sporting events. The Elisabethville football team played against nearby villages. There were also boxing matches with fighters from both countries.

But they lived and worked under military authority and it was not possible to enter or leave the township without a special pass.

The domestic arrangements for the Belgian refugees who worked at Armstrong Whitworth’s factory in Elswick or at their Aviation factory on Dukes Moor in Gosforth differed from those their compatriots enjoyed in in Birtley. Instead of a custom-built Belgian-run village alongside their place of work, those working north of the Tyne lived in lodgings, or at hostels for single working men such as Rowton House in Newcastle. Neither was convenient for those working several miles away in Gosforth, the latter particularly so if they wanted their family to live with them. Their employers seem to have had some sympathy. Despite this, a problem arose, when, despite police agreement being needed for aliens to live in Gosforth, several of their Belgians had gone to live there without this being requested or obtained.

In April 1915 a letter from Armstrong Whitworth repeated their previously unsuccessful request to the police to allow their Belgians, of whom they had twenty at the time, to live in Gosforth. “These men are extremely useful in the production of Aeroplanes for the Government, but great inconvenience is experienced in obtaining decent housing for them... it would be a great advantage to us to have these men living as near as possible to the workshops”. The Chief Constable agreed to reconsider these twenty, and the company made arrangements for the married ones to move to Gosforth, and promised to “do our utmost to keep an eye on these men, who, we are certain, will not give any trouble”.

In a letter the next month the company apologised for the previous misunderstanding, thanked the police for allowing some of the Belgians to live in Gosforth, and listed fifteen men and their families who were already there, and nine more who would like to live there but were staying at Rowton House. The police were not yet placated – the Chief Constable said that he had had “very considerable trouble with Belgian workmen employed by Messrs Armstrong Whitworth & Co improperly entering Gosforth area, and I cannot see my way clear to grant further permission at present”. Armstrong Whitworth apologised again for not waiting for this approval and asked the police “how long must elapse?”

(NC/3/48/1/17)

Not all requests in the next few months were granted, but by September 1915 relations between the police and Armstrong Whitworth must have thawed, because as far as the police files in the Northumberland Archives can show us, there were no more complaints or refusals.

When they had first arrived, the refugees had received a warm welcome and enthusiastic support both in urban and rural areas. But over time this willingness to help declined, and we hear complaints about refugees being too demanding, even when all they asked for was fair wages, or an occasional trip to the coast. Despite being classed as 'friendly', Belgians also had to gain permission to travel in or out, or stay in prohibited areas. The police files are full of letters from refugees requesting a dispensation under the Aliens Restriction Act.

The obligations concerning registration and permissions were often confusing, and could cause considerable inconvenience.

In a letter (5.November 1915) to Captain Fullarton James, Chief Constable of Northumberland Constabulary, James Livingston of Well Close, Rothbury explains that there are Belgian war refugees living in Rothbury with sons in the Belgian army. When the sons obtain five or six days leave to visit their parents they were requested to visit the Morpeth police office, some 24 miles away. (NC/3/47/1/12)

The Belgian couple Denise and Jean Paul Colombe request permission to go from Allendale to Whitley Bay for one day. Police correspondence reveals a general heavy-handed attitude: "There is a good deal of trouble caused by visitors asking Refugees to go for holidays to the coast. This is not necessary as they are being clothed and fed here and they have a healthy spot to live in as well. We have refused a good number of requests of a similar nature.” (NC/3/46/2/18)

Over time the refugees were regarded as a burden, and also as competition on the job market.

In May 1916, Pauline Verijke from Wallsend writes to the Chief Constable on behalf of her sister and single mother Mrs Forceville whose husband is a Belgian soldier interned in Holland, to grant her permission to move to Wallsend to be near her sister, and perhaps find work in a munitions factory or in the shipyards. Superintendent Metcalf suggests not to grant permission: “I frequently hear from workmen that this class of Aliens are getting into districts and picking up work which our own country women can do, and the temper of the people are sore against it.” (NC/3/46/1/3)

The three major rivers in the region carried the bulk of trade across the North Sea, which was then known as the German Ocean. Trade with Scandinavia, the Baltic and ancient Hanseatic trading ports such as Hamburg and Lubeck also thrived on this north-east coast. Ferry boats sailed to Esbjerg in Denmark and Bergen in Norway, crewed by Danes, Norwegians and local English men. Pockets of Scandinavians lived close to the ferry ports and intermarried with locals. Seamen from all over the world would sail into the larger ports and often settle, just like the Yemeni sailors from the Arabian Peninsula who decided South Shields would make a good home.

Before the war, sailors did not make a fuss about their origins and nationality. Passports were rarely offered (or asked for) and the ubiquitous Seaman’s pass book with its basic details was used but never demanded. Apart, of course, by the Ship’s Purser who would use it to verify the rank and status of the sailor. These books carried information which would help to confirm the bearer’s identity such as tattoos, height, hair colour, scars, sailing and employment history. There was also space to give information on the sailors standard of behaviour.

But in 1914 the days of easy come, easy go were over, and this often lead to chaotic scenes at the ports.

In June 1915 August Henetrik Gerardus Heemsbergen arrived at Blyth on the British steamer ‘Federation’. Superintendent James Irving found him in custody at Blyth police station. He wrote to Chief Constable Fullarton James in Morpeth: “About 11pm the previous night Capt. Collett of the 4th Hants was on guard duty at the Ice House, Blyth. Lying at the west of the Import Dock was the British steamer Federation and parallel with her in the same tier a Danish and a Swedish vessel. Capt. Collett observed what he took to be Morse Signalling from the fore part of the Federation. This was confirmed by a Submarine Officer who stated that at intervals there was a succession of dots then the letters T.M.K.

Capt. Collett went on board the Federation accompanied by a squad of men. The crew were British with the exception of three Greeks and the Dutchman, Heemsbergen. These men were in their berths and it was ascertained had been so from about 9.30pm.

A Military Guard was placed on the ship. Yesterday morning some doubt appears to have arisen as to which ship the signalling might have emanated from and Military Guards were placed on all vessels in this part of the Harbour and during the day all were searched by the Military and Customs.

Heemsbergen was then handed over to Det. Andrews as a German by the Customs. I interviewed him and although it is evident he is a man superior to his class I am inclined to think his story is correct. It is to the effect that he is a Hollander born at Arnhem on the Scheldt and that his parents are resident at the Hague. Previous to the War he was working in France as a Gardener but the War putting an end to his engagement, he was forced to go to sea of which he had some previous experience.

I have given every opportunity in writing and consulting with the Dutch Consul to establish this story.

This morning I was rung up by Major Penuo (?) of the Tyne Garrison Staff who requested me to keep the man in custody until he had an opportunity of producing his papers. Accordingly I have had him remanded until Saturday next as a person suspected of having given false description of himself under the Aliens Act.

This morning the trimmers refused to work on board the SS Federation in consequence of the Guard having been given orders to shoot anyone who attempted to leave the ship. The Greek portion of the crew then demanded their discharge, their period of service having expired. Capt. Collett then placed the Greeks under an armed escort and brought them to the police station. I pointed out the illegality of this action and obtained for him permits for them coming ashore. The Captain of the Ship then arrived and paid them off. I viewed their passports and permits and they proceeded to Hull where they are registered.

A good deal of dissatisfaction obtains at the high handed manner in which the Military acted. Should the man Heemsbergen satisfactorily prove his identity I cannot see any evidence at present that can be adduced against him.”

A telegram was received from the Dutch Consulate in London stating that Heemsbergen’s story was correct, and that he was indeed a subject of the Netherlands.

(NC/3/ 46/1/12)

“About midnight on the 16^th October 1915 the SS Calypso put into Blyth Harbour for Bunkers. The 17^th was a Sunday and it was found that coal could not be obtained until the following morning.

The vessel arrived, about 100 passengers amongst whom were 57 Russians in charge of Russian Naval officers who were en route for Glasgow to convey the Ice Breaker SS Iceland to Archangel. The delivery of the Iceland was urgently required. Blyth is not an approved Port and the passengers could not be landed. Special permission was however obtained from the Home Office at 9am on the 17^th and these men were registered, landed and departed at 1.15pm for Glasgow in charge of their Officers.

The Russian Vice Consul arranged for the whole matter, had paid the fares and the route taken was via Newcastle.

Photos could not be obtained until the following day in view of the Home Office permission and the apparent need of expediting the men photos were dispensed with and thumb prints taken instead.”

(NC/3/47/1/22)

Belgian refugee Kamiel Spriet was less successful in his dealings with the authorities when he arrived in Sunderland.

A telephone Message 11 February 1915 from Inspector Pinchen, Sunderland, to Chief Constable Fullarton James in Morpeth:

"Will the Chief Constable grant a Belgian refugee, who is at present residing here, permission to reside with Mr Knott, of Close House, Wylam-on-Tyne, where he can obtain employment. Will the Chief Constable telephone his decision as soon as possible."

W. Carter, Chief Constable of Sunderland Borough Police, elaborates in a letter to his colleague in Northumberland:

"The above man is in custody here and remanded by the Justices for the purpose of obtaining a situation for him outside the area of a defended harbour. There is abundance of proof that he is a Belgian Refugee and has been employed as a gardener with a firm named ‘Coghe’ at Thielt, Belgium, from January 1911 till September last.

Mr James Knott, of Close House, Wylam, has kindly offered to employ him, but as Wylam is in a prohibited area as specified by the Aliens Restriction Order it is necessary to have your permission for him to reside there. I would therefore thank you to grant that permission so that he may be transferred to that district."

But the Chief Constable in Morpeth does no such thing. Instead he writes a rather unfriendly letter back:

"I am very much astonished to find by your letter that the Refugee is remanded in custody. No mention was made of this on the telephone and before I decide whether the Alien can be given permission to reside in a Prohibited Area in this County I should like to know

a) with what offence he has been charged

b) where he has resided since September and where he came from

c) whether he is single or married, and

d) the proofs referred to in your letter that he is a Belgian Refugee."

Carter remains surprisingly patient and responds in detail:

"Adverting to previous correspondence respecting the above subject, I have to inform you that Spriet is detained here because under the circumstances surrounding the case, nothing else could be done.

He is unable to speak English, but I gather from him that he belongs to ‘Kelderke, Steenweg, Aarseele, No 53 Thielt, in the province of Westvlaanders’. He has in his possession certificates issued by the Burgermeester of that Province proving that he is a Belgian subject. He has also an employment book proving that he was engaged as a gardener with Julian Cooghe of No 40 Rue Crommal, Thielt from the 15th January 1911 to the 10 September last.

He has also passports to allow him safe conduct through France as a Belgian Refugee, dated 1st Oct 14 and 3rd Jan.15.

From conversations it appears that he was in Thielt and other places when the Germans entered there and that he has walked through France to Calais arriving there about the latter part of January. He had made the acquaintance of some of the crew of the SS Cairnisle at that port and after having had some drink with them, went on board the vessel with them and came to Sunderland as a stowaway. On arrival here on the 5th inst. the Captain had undoubtedly turned him off the ship, as one of the crew was trying to get him away on another vessel, he could not of course be allowed to go and was therefore brought to the Police Station to be registered, he was taken on board of the Cairnisle, but the Captain and the rest of the crew denied that the man had ever been on that vessel. This of course can be understood as the Captain would have probably been proceeded against for landing the man, however I am thoroughly satisfied that the man arrived in this country by that means, although I could not possibly obtain evidence. He was left practically destitute and was therefore charged with residing in a prohibited area without the permission of the Registration Officer, not for the purpose of imposing any penalty on him, but for the purpose of detaining him until employment could be obtained in an area outside that defined as a Defended Harbour.

He is 26 years of age and is a single man. He is not eligible for Military service.

Mr James Knott is very anxious to employ the man as a gardener. Other gentlemen have offered employment to him but I should prefer that he should go to Mr Knott’s as it is a nice secluded place."

Sadly, this does not convince Captain Fullarton James, who instructs his Chief Clark to reply:

"... as the above named Alien appears to have landed in this Country in an improper manner the Chief Constable regrets that permission cannot be granted him to reside in a Prohibited Area of this County."

And he was not the only one, as we see in this short article in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle (17th February 1915):

"Efforts had been made to get him employment in an approved area, and offers had been received from Morpeth, Wylam and Lanchester, but the police at those places refused to allow the man to reside there."

Aliens whose home countries remained neutral during the conflict frequently got themselves into trouble, thinking wartime restrictions would not apply to them. Many then tried to improve their position through naturalisation, but after November 1916 no more enemy subjects were naturalised, except British-born widows applying for re-admission to their original nationality.

Copenhagen-born Ferdinand Charles Vigo Hansen was already 65 years old when he got into trouble with the police. He failed to register under the 1914 Aliens Restriction Act. Asked why, he stated that “I always understood when a man had been serving in the English Army he was exempt.”

Hansen had joined the 5th Durham Light Infantry ‘H’ Company in 1873, and served in Egypt during the Sudan War 1884-85, and received the Sudan Medal and Clasp and the Egyptian Star. His medal and a photograph was all he had to show the authorities, and he claimed that he had lost his papers.

The same police officer who had arrested him stood up in his defence: “I beg to inform you that I have known the above for 16 years. He has been 26 years with the Newcastle Brewery Co and managed the Globe Hotel, before he went to the Northumberland Arms. I have always found him to conduct his house in good order and ever ready to give the Police any assistance that was in his power.”

Hansen decided to apply for naturalisation. He managed to find the necessary funds and British-born referees. His application was supported by the Chief Constable of Northumberland, who assured the Home Office that “Hansen is worthy of exceptional treatment, he is well reported upon”.

But “the Under Secretary of State is directed to inform the Chief Constable of Northumberland that the Secretary of State has decided not to proceed with the application in present circumstances.”

(NC/3/47/1/13)

There were a small number of people who were technically enemy aliens, members of minority populations amongst the Central Powers - Poles, Czechs, Ruthenians, Croats, Slovaks, Serbs, Romanians, Alsatians and Italians from Trentino or Trieste - who had strong nationalist reasons to support the allied cause.

Bulgarians became enemy aliens in October 1915.

Lazar Ivanoff Boshansky was one of them. He had come to Britain from Bulgaria in 1908 at the age of 18, and “was looked after by a man who paid him a pittance and he lived in poor conditions”. He found employment at New Delaval colliery, and worked at Armstrong’s Elswick Works, then at Palmers shipyard. When Bulgaria entered the war he was living in Leeds at that time, and requested permission to return to Blyth:

'Sir,

I respectfully ask if you would grant me permission to take up residence in New Delaval, Blyth. I cannot get employment here and can in New Delaval as I was employed and resided there for a period of 10 years previous to the outbreak of war. I am in possession of an identity book, I am a Bulgarian subject but have been left the country since boyhood and am 27 years of age. I am well known by your superintendent at Blyth and other influential gentlemen resident there. Hoping you will give my request your kind consideration,

I am sir, Yours obediently, Lazar Ivanoff Boshansky’

His request was rejected the following day by the police.

(NC/3/46/2/8)

In the files we find the occasional overseas student, like George Epeminondes Trimis from Greece who encountered difficulties with the authorities by not being able to produce a passport, or the Belgian Charles Bothamly, a soldier on leave who asked permission to go and study Hadrians Wall – he had been a classics student before the war. The Police accepted his request without hesitation.

When artiste Nathan Janowsky arrived in Bedlington with his wife Clara in February 1915, he was immediately subject to enquiries. Was this a German name, or maybe Russian-Jewish? Luckily Middlesbrough police had the answer. “Janowsky is the son of a Russian music hall artiste and born at Berlin during an engagement there of his parents. His identity has been questioned repeatedly owing this and he is in consequence carrying papers from the Russian Consul in London which fully establishes his identity.” (NC/3/47/2/26)

We see a wide range of professions, a French chef, a fireman from Portugal, an American carpenter, a Belgian clockmaker. But there are also larger numbers of performers and entertainers, and they were watched with suspicion. They came from all over the globe, like the Japanese troup Lukushima, who extensively toured the region and dutifully changed their address after each stop. Two of the performers were Seisha and Tora Watanabe.

They were described as ‘celebrated Japanese entertainers’ when they appeared in South Shields in December 1916. Tora appeared on the bill sheets as ‘Otora San Lukishima, Japan’s premier lady artiste’. She seems to have specialised in dare-devil feats – one newspaper described her ‘incredible slide for life’. They had been touring together for some years and covered the globe, appearing with Bostock and Wombwells Circus and Menagerie in Australia in 1906 before moving on to the Buffalo Theatre in Ashington in 1915.

(NC/3/47/2/45)

All members of the troupe encountered difficulties because of their names being misspelt, or because of the transposition of first and surnames by the police.

The American David John Erlston, with the stage name Dan Erlston, also got into trouble. His name was sometimes given as Earlston.

He and his German-born wife, Bertha, were both required to register as friendly aliens. Dan was a performer in a Wild West show. He first turned up in Ashington in November 1915, though Bertha remained behind at their last lodging in Houghton-le-Spring. We find out why when Dan moved again in December 1915 – his family was now listed as Bertha and her one month old child, Morna Jessica, still at Houghton-le-Spring.

He came to the attention of the security services in June 1915 when a letter denouncing him was sent to Scotland Yard.

“I would like to call to your attention the fact that there is a German American by the name of Dan Erlston in a Repertory Company now travelling round the North of England as a member of a Mr Sam Allen’s co. He could point out to me a gunpowder factory at Dipton as far back as last December and have known him to ride for 12 or more miles away on horseback, although restricted to five miles. He has a source from which he receives money other than his salary, or his wife has and cannot speak English at all well. He is used to a much better class of work and is quite out of his environment, He did not register until quite compelled to do so and he goes away on Mr Allen’s business ostensibly, has every opportunity to transact his own. I don’t say that he is a spy but it appeared to me suspicious and thought it my duty to acquaint you with these facts. The company was at Hexham this week, Mr Allen advertised for people in the Stage and it brought it to my mind. [Is this woman also a performer?] Thanking you for the hard work you and your helpers are doing for us all.

Agnes Snape”

It was arranged for him to be interviewed by the local police. He told them that his father was Russian but was now living in Johannesburg (he ‘expected’ he had been naturalised). He had been born in New York but was brought to England at the age of 3. He had only been once to Berlin – having lived there for 12 months as a member of a Wild West show. He claimed to have used the opportunity to obtain an American passport from the American Consul. This he left with the American Consul at Newcastle in August 1914 and was given a note stating he was a US national.

A subsequent investigation by Newcastle police who interviewed the Consul discovered that Erlston had handed over a registration certificate issued in Berlin in November 1910 showing him to have been born in the United States. Erlston was supposed to return with a photograph so that the registration certificate could be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Washington for approval. He had not done so.

The transcript of the interview was sent to Lt Col. Vernon Kell, head of M.O.5 (g).This body would later be known as MI5 and was responsible for coordinating matters of internal security with Scotland Yard.

Dan seems to have had a gift for getting himself into trouble. The Northumberland Constabulary suggested to that of Durham that he be asked to provide the missing photo so the American Consul could register him ‘as he appears to be continually travelling about the North Country’. They sent a copy of the Consular registration document and the Durham police soon spotted that Erlston stated he left the US in 1907 whereas the interview with Supt Marshall on 20th November 1915 cited him as saying he left the US at the age of 3 (in 1888). Acting Insp Wight of Prudhoe police was instructed to get into conversation with Erlston and, without referring to either document, find by general conversation what he had to say about his childhood movements. The Chief Constable made it clear he did not wish Erlston to know the statements were being verified.

Kell decided there was nothing definite against Dan but, noting that ‘he clearly has opportunities to gather information widely’, suggested his correspondence be monitored.

The Prudhoe police interview with Dan is illuminating both in terms of his personal history and of the life of a travelling performer.

He had been taken to South Africa at the age of 8 or 9. His mother died there and he left home at the age of 13 or 14 when his father remarried. He had to make his own living, so went in search of work to Calcutta, then London, then Brisbane. Going on to New York, he got a job as a steward on the Carpathia. After 6 or 7 Mediterranean journeys he came to Liverpool in 1907. He was not entirely sure how old he was when he left South Africa and had moved around so much he could not be sure of dates.

By December 1915, his Consular registration document had the needed photo attached but this was not done by the Consul. The suggestion was that he had done this himself…

(NC/3/46/2/23)

Some of the artists settled down in the area for a while, like the Italian Ettore and his Czech wife Hermine Begala.

Ettore ran away from home when he was just 13 years old and joined a circus because he broke some wine bottles in his grandfathers wine cellar whilst practicing his juggling. He then returned to Italy when his sister Paulina was 18 to take her on tour with him. They performed a trained dog act called 'Hector and Lolita'. According to Paulina's granddaughter they even danced and performed for Kaiser Wilhelm and the Tsar of Russia.

Hermine often accompanied her husband on these tours. From 1912 until at least 1916 they lived with Paulina and her husband August Juvel, who had a large bakery and confectionery business, in Wallsend, where two of there children were born.