WW1 Internee - W Seebonn

From the Isle of Man Examiner 13th Feb 1915

Knockaloe German wants a Job

Letter from the Camp

Of late there has been much perturbation of mind in England concerning the alleged discharge by British hotel proprietors of British servants in favour of Germans who have secured release from Enemy Alian Detention Camps, and it has even been charged that various police authorities have gone out of their way to secure employment for Germans in hotels. Both allegations have been strenuously denied by the Home Secretary in the House of Commons, but there is no doubt that certain of the enemy prisoners have at least been trying to obtain work in hotels in London and elsewhere throughout the land. On Monday the "Daily Mail" published the following letter, which was received by the manager of the Welbeck Palace Hotel, Welbeck-street, London, W., on Saturday morning :-

Knockaloe Aliens Camp, Peel Isle of Man
The Manager Welbeck Palace Hotel, London, W.
Sir,- Allow me to take the liberty to offer you my services. I am a German, thirty-three years of age, at present interned as a prisoner of war. Before my detention I was head waiter at Karl's Restaurant Brighton. Previously I was coffee-room waiter at the Royal Crescent Hotel, Brighton, for over twelve months, and chief sitting-room waiter at the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh, for four years.
I can get released immediately if I can satisfy the authorities of having secured employment.
If you could see your way to offer me suitable employment I assure you I should do my utmost to give you every satisfaction.

W Seebonn, No 851

Any employment or release would have been short lived as post the sinking of the Lusitania all such released alien internees were re-interned.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2018