WW1 Internee - Ernst Koehler, Consular Clerk

[From FO 383/29]

Southend-on-Sea 11th March 1915
H.M.T. "Royal Edward"

[to] The Foreign Office, London

Sir

We, the undersigned, beg to submit to you the following petition regarding our exchange.

Until the outbreak of hostilities between Germany & this country we were Secretaries to the German Consulates at Aberdeen, Glasgow & Hartlepool, & were compelled to fulfil our duty until the declaration of war between these two countries, when every chance of our leaving Great Britain was taken. Shortly afterwards we were interned in some concentration camps & subsequently removed to this ship.

Some time ago we made an application for our exchange to the German Government through the American Embassy & received from the Foreign Office at Berlin the reply that they were quite willing to effect our exchange should the British Government come forward with a similar wish.

We, therefore, shall be glad to hear at your earliest convenience whether any arrangements for our exchange against some British subjects interned in Germany could be made.

Awaiting the honour of your esteemed reply.We are Yours fathfully
Willhelm Julius
Ernst Koehler
Emil Bucholski

The cover note contains an interesting discussion re policy that the British Government should adopt - after noting that they had two similar cases of junior staff interned by the Germans.

But if we release these three on what are fair grounds we might get back those two & another.
? Before taking further steps ask the H.O. if they see any objection to our offering to release these three (against three B S S) (initialled C.B. D.)

I am doubful about adopting the course suggested. The fact we have negotiated an exchange of Consular Officials having got known, various persons who have at one time or another been connected with Consulates as clerks etc have come forward claiming to benefit under the Agreement. The Germans would have included the 3 writers of the enclosed letter in their list of consular officials if they had considered them as having the status of consuls. These 3 men are doubless of military age - a fact we can easily ascertain - we have been attacked for letting our Wachendorf go and should certainly be still more attacked for letting these 3 men go if, as i assume, they are of military age or between 17 and 55. And we should have no defence as their exchange would be in the nature of an individual exchange. I should be inclined to tell them that we cannot do as they wish. We could send a copy of their letter to the H.O. with a copy of our reply.
(initialled H. R. 16.3.15)

with a further note Mr Rimrose I think this is probably the best course L. P.

However from a later letter from Koehler, then at Knockaloe, he clains that Wilhelm Julius had been released.

[From FO 383/170]

Letter from Ernst Koehler PoW 15140 Camp III Compound 5 Hut 1/B Knockaloe dated 29th Juanuary 1916

Sirs

Until the outbreak of the war I have been Secretary to the German Consulate at Glasgow, and on 4th August, 1914, I was by order of the British Military Athorities forbidden to leave this country.

According to my knowledge I was in my capacity as Consular Officer entitled to claim from the British Government a free passage to Germany; but in spite of this I was interned about middle of September, 1914, after I had been at the American Consulate, Glasgow, as Secretary, who had taken over the business of the German Consulate at the outbreak of hostilities between the two countries.

Together with my friend Mr Wilhelm Julius, who was at the German Consulate Aberdeen, I made consequently several applications to British & German Authorities for exchange, but without success.

Now I have definite news that Mr Julius, who was last interned at Alexandra Palace London, has been sent home to Germany some months ago whilst I am still kept back here, although a similar privilige should have been granted to me,

I therefore should feel obliged if you would kindly inform me of the reason why my exchange has not been effected together with Mr Julius.

Koehler remained at Knockaloe until 10 March 1919 when, along with Bucholski, they were repatriated via Ripon.

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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019