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Prisoners
W - Z
 

In many cases, prisoners are referred to by surname only in the source material, making it difficult to know exactly who the individual may have been. This will have led to some duplication in the lists. Check for an individual under their full name, but also under the surname as well.
 
If you can link any of these anonymous surnames to listings with a full name, please contact me so that I can amend the entry.

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W
 
 

Dietrich Waddington
 
From Andreas Oehlke, via the guestbook on this site in January 2010:
In 19th century some English textile engineers and fitters helped to establish the local textile industry in Westphalia/ Germany.

William Waddington (1831 in Oldham - + 1902 in Rheine) from Oldham came to Rheine in the years of 1865 or 1868 to setup for Platt Broth., Oldham the new spinning mill for C. Kümpers & Timmerman. He stayed in Rheine after marriage with Friederike Mülder from Schüttorf (Kingdom of Hanover) and worked as a spinning master for C. Kümpers & Timmerman.

His son Dietrich Waddington, born 1880 in Rheine, went to Platt Brothers, Oldham, in the years of 1896 to 1902 to became a textile engineer. Back in Rheine he worked for C. Kümpers & Timmerman, C. Kümpers Söhne and F. A. Kümpers, all textile firms. In 1907 he got the job as technical director of the Gebrüder Kock spinnining mill in Borghorst. With the outbreak of the Great War he was interned at Ruhleben after the 6th of November 1914, but was set free after intervention of the firm owner the Brethren Kock. In the same way Albert Clegg, technical director of the textile firm Gebrüder Laurentz in Ochtrup (Westphalia), was also interned at Ruhleben and set free after intervention some month ago.
(With thanks to Andreas.)
 
 
William Waddington
 
See Dietrich Waddington.
 
 
Frank Wade

wadebywalker.jpg
Wade by Walker (click to enlarge)

Frank Wade was listed in the third issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (May 1916, p.43) as having exhibted in the camp's third art exhibition.
 
In the fourth issue (August 1916, p.32), Wade contributed a drawing entitled "The Last Voyage of HMS Lion".
 
Wade was also noted in issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as having given an exhibition of humorous drawings in the Studio in Ruhleben in April 1917, alongside fellow artists Robert Walker and Percy P. Wood.
"The thanks of the Camp are due to the artists whose genuinely funny but unobtrusive gifts have done so much to show us that there is a humorous side even to Lager life, and it affords us very much pleasure to put on record these few words of appreciation".
Wade also contributed sketches to the same magazine of a leatherwork class and a charicature of his colleague, Robert Walker.
 
Wade was thanked for his illustrations for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
After the war, The Times of February 5th 1919 also tells us that the Crown Princess of Sweden returned on February 4th to the Ruhleben Exhibition, and purchased 40 paintings, with the painters selected including Wade ("Court News", p.11, col. B).
 

Sketch by Wade ("Ruhleben Series")

 
 
Samuel Wagenheim
 
Samuel Wagenheim is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Wagenheim is recorded as having been born on November 19th 1891 in London, and is described as having been a clerk prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 162 Amhurst Road, Hackney, London, N. At the time the register was recorded, Wagenheim was noted as staying in loft A, having transferred there from Barrack 12 on May 20th 1915.
 
 

William M. Wainwright
 
William Wainwright is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Wainwright is recorded as having been born on February 15th 1896 in Sheffield, and is described as having been a student prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 36 Glencoe Road, Norfolk Park, Sheffield. At the time the register was recorded, Wainwright was noted as staying in loft A.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Wainwright is noted as being from 36 Glencoe Road, Sheffield, and as having been born in Sheffield in 1896. He worked as an apprentice in Cologne, where he was arrested on 5 SEP 1914. After a brief period held in Cologne he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 5.
 

J. Wake
 
J. Wake was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
 

Vice-Consul Walker of Lille
 
The National Archives hold documents from 1915 at FO 383/21 concerning Vice-Consul Walker of Lille, which detail reports of his arrest and internment at Ruhleben.
 
 

Henry E. Walker
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/26 regarding Ruhleben inmates Henry E. Walker and H. A. Bell, including an enquiry from Walker's brother, James E. Walker in Paris, regarding a possible invalid exchange.
 
A Henry Walker was listed in The Times of January 8th 1916 ("Released Civilians" p.5, col. D) as one of 69 men released from Ruhleben on Thursday, January 6th, 1916, who subsequently travelled to Flushing for their return trip to England.
 
 

Robert Walker

walkerbywade.jpg
Walker by Wade (click to enlarge)

Robert Walker is noted in issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as having given an exhibition of humorous drawings in the Studio in Ruhleben in April 1917, alongside fellow artists Wade and Wood.
"The thanks of the Camp are due to the artists whose genuinely funny but unobtrusive gifts have done so much to show us that there is a humorous side even to Lager life, and it affords us very much pleasure to put on record these few words of appreciation".
Walker also contributed a sketch to the same publication entitled "A Wartime Farmer in the Making".
 
Walker was thanked for his illustrations for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
The Imperial War Museum in London holds a printed card (1p) designed by Robert Walker depicting the living quarters of civilian internees at Ruhleben in 1917. It can be found at ID:9496 Misc 60 (915).
 
 

Captain Thomas Walker
 
Captain Thomas Walker was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
Walker was the master of the Aberdeen to hamburg trading steamer "Rubislaw", and was interned with his crew at the outbreak of war. He did not take to internment well, and when he was released in October 1915, he had spent the previous six months in a sanitorium in West Berlin, having suffered a breakdown brought about by the privations and insufficiency of the food supply. On October 19th 1915, Walker finally made it back to Aberdeen with other prisoners after an exchange.
 
Walker's return was covered by the Scotsman newspaper on October 20th 1915 ("Ruhleben Internment Camp", p.7), and in the article the captain gave a description of the poor conditions at the camp.
 
 
Charles Walkerley
 
Charles Walkerley was a fisherman from Boston, Lincolnshire, who was taken captive in 1914, sent first to Sennelager prison and then on to Ruhleben. He returned to Boston in 1918.
 
Many thanks to Richard Caville, husband of Charles' granddaughter, for this information on Charles.
 
 

E. Wallworth
 
E. Wallworth was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
 
John Walmsley
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that John Walmsley was from 32 Hereford Road, Wanstead, Essex, and was born in Bolton in 1888. He was a chartered accountant, and was arrested in Frankfurt on 6 NOV 1914, and was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 4.
 
 

Harry Carter Walsh
 
Harry Carter Walsh is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Walsh is recorded as having been born on April 8th 1884 in Bolton, and is described as having been a chartered accountant prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 28  Swinderby Road, Wembley, Middlesex. At the time the register was recorded, Walsh was noted as staying in box 14. He relocated to Holland on April 25th 1918.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Walsh is noted as being from 28 Swinderby Road, Wembley, Middlesex, and as having been born in Bolton in 1884. He worked as a chartered accountant in Elberfeld, where he was arrested on 22 SEP 1914. After a brief period held in Elberfeld and Duisburg, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 5.
 
Walsh was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". 
 
Walsh was also noted as an inmate at Barrack 5 in a Christmas postcard reproduced in Frank Bachenheimer's "A Postal History Study of...The Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp 1914-1918" (Fig. 31). The card was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cooper at 28 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London, and was posted Christmas 1914. The printed card read:
ENGLANDERLAGER, RUHLEBEN - SPANDAU, GERMANY
 
XMAS 1914
 
WISHING YOU A HAPPY XMAS AND A BRIGHTER NEW YEAR FROM
 
Harry C. Walsh
 
BRITISH CIVIL PRISONER OF WAR 
 
 

James Walsh
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/59 regarding the death of British Ruhleben inmate James Walsh at Ruhleben, and arrangements for the disposal of his effects to his brother, G. P. Walsh, residing at Amsterdam.
 
 
Edwin Walwork
 
Edwin Walwork was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as Bantock, Poulton-le-Fylde, Preston.
 
 
Albert Warburton
 
Albert Warburton was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 3 Davenstedterstrasse, Hanover (of Elton, Bury).
 
 

Andrew Warburton
 
Andrew Warburton was one of sixteen men released from Ruhleben in January 1917, as reported in the Times of January 29th 1917 ("Changed Conditions in Germany", p.8, col. G).
 
 
David Warburton
 
David Warburton was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 4 Littenberg Platz, Hanover.
 
 
Ernest Warburton
 
Ernest Warburton was a professional golfer interned in Ruhleben. He was a member of Keil Golf Club in 1905. Many thanks to David Hamilton at St Andrews for supplying this information.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that Warburton was from Dunhome Morsey near Altrinkam in Cheshire, and was born March 7th 1882. He was a professional golfer, arrested in Kiel on November 6th 1914 and sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 2.
 
 

Ward
 
The National Archives hold records from 1915 at FO383/77 regarding a Mrs F. H. Ward, of Catford, the wife of a British subject interned in Ruhleben. The documents are a request for assistance following the discontinuance of relief from the National Relief Fund. This may be the same ward as listed below.
 
 

G. W. Ward
 
G. W. Ward was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
 
 

Henry Gordon Ward
 
Henry Gordon Ward is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Ward is recorded as having been born on April 27th 1880 in London, and is described as having been a college lecturer prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 283 Eastern Road, Brighton. At the time the register was recorded, Sutherland was noted as staying in box 22.
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1916 at FO383/206 concerning an enquiry from a Mr. Ward about his son, Henry Gordon Ward, held as a prisoner in Ruhleben.
 
 
S. A. Ward
 
S. A. Ward was noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Ward was a civilian interned in Barrack 13.
 
 

Edward Waring
 
Edward Waring is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Waring is recorded as having been born on April 17th 1865 in Sheffield, and is described as having been a works manager prior to his internment. His home address was listed as Attercliffe, Sheffield. At the time the register was recorded, Waring was noted as staying in box 17. He returned to England on March 7th 1918.
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/55 regarding Mr. E. Waring, a British subject employed in Germany, who was subsequently interned at Ruhleben, regarding a claim by him for compensation for financial losses, and a request for a monthly allowance for his family back in Sheffield.
 
 
Walter Waring
 
Walter Waring is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Waring is recorded as having been born on May 12th 1889 in Sheffield, and is described as having been a moulder prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 66 Leeds Road, Attercliffe, Sheffield. At the time the register was recorded, Waring was noted as staying in box 17. He is believed to be the son of Edward Waring (above).
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Waring is noted as being from 66 Leeds Road, Attercliffe, Sheffield, and as having been born in Sheffield in 1889. He worked as a steel worker in Crefeld, where he was arrested on 5 SEP 1914. After a brief period held in Crefeld and Duisburg, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 5.
 
 

William Warne
 
William Warne was a British jockey working in Hoppegarten, who was interned in Ruhleben at the beginning of November 1914, as noted in the Scotsman newspaper on 9/11/1914 (p.9), and in The Times of the same day ("British Interned in Germany", p. 7, col. E).
 
In April 2008, I received the following from Jochem Weicke, to whom I am indebted:
William Warne was over the top of his career in 1914 with 7 wins out of 96 rides.
W. Warne 1888 1000 Guines in England. Riding in Germany since 1891 he got 3x St.Leger and the Derby in 1909 for Graditz and trainer Reg Day.
 
In May 2008 I was also contacted by Doug Johnson with some additional information on Warne, for which I am grateful:
Correspondence with the United States Ambassador respecting the Treatment of British Prisoners of War and Interned Civilians in Germany Miscellaneous No 14 (1915) (Cd 7959) HMSO
 

Two other jockeys from Hoppergarten, William Warne and jockey Aylin, are both land proprietors in Germany.  Warne owns real estate to the value of 100,000 M., and Aylin to the value of 40,000 M.  Warne is a resident of Germany for twenty years, and formerly lived in Austria.  Aylin has been in Germany for the last ten years, and formerly domiciled in Austria.  Both are married, Aylin to a German Woman

Further information on Warne was posted on this site's guest book, by his great niece's husband John Constable in Bishop Auckland in September 2010:

My wife and I were fascinated to read of the internment of her great uncle William Warne the famous jockey. We knew so little, however we can confirm that he did survive the ordeal of Ruhleben as we have an orginal centrefold of the Daily Mirror dated 13th October 1924 in which there is a photograph taken at Newmarket including Willie under the title "Old Time Jockeys". Thanks for the info your site has provided.

 
 

C. P. Warner
 
C. P. Warner was thanked for articles written for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
 
L. P. Warner
 
L. P. Warner was interned in Barrack 8 and is noted as playing on the England side, led by Steve Bloomer, in a mock international between England and the Rest of the World on May 2nd 1915. Kick off took place at 4.30pm, and a document with the teams listed was recently discovered amongst some Foreign Office files by the National Archives, in November 2005.
 
Warner was noted in the second issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (April 1916, p. 29) as having been the referee of a football match between teams led by John Cameron and Steve Bloomer on March 3rd 1916, Cameron's side winning.
 
Warner played for the barrack football team against Barrack 20 in the RFA cup final in April 1917, as noted in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917). The first match was a draw, 1-1. In the replay, three days later, Barrack 8 lost, 3-0.
 
Warner was also noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that he was a civilian, and interned in Barrack 8.
 
 

William Walter Brooks Warner
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/26 and FO383/27 regarding the release for treatment of W. W. B. Warner, an incapacitated British subject in the camp, and former superintendent of the Eastern Telegraph Company.
 
 
John Warr
 
John Warr was named in an undated Foreign Office document contained within file FO 369/710, entitled Russenlager Ruhleben (Ruhleben Russian Camp), implying it was compiled at the outbreak of internment in 1914. He was described as a 26 year old chemist previously at work in Berlin.
 
Simply as Warr he is further noted in another document in FO 369/710 as having been sent to Ruhleben on 9 SEP 1914. He had been residing at 23 Nassauischestrasse in Berlin. The information was originally compiled by the American Embassy in Berlin.
 
Warr was also named in a list in FO 369/710 dated 11 OCT 1914, as communicated to the Foreign Office by a Nurse Coe (with thanks to Simon Fowler).
 
As J. Warr he was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as Moorgate, Staleybridge.
 
 

Warren
 
Warren was noted in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.58) as having played for the losing A side in a second division match between the A team and the B team on October 3rd 1916. The score was B: 4 to A: 1.
 
 

John Wassenaar
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/60 regarding the death of John Wassenaar, formerly a British teacher at Cassel, who was interned at Ruhleben and who subsequently died at Dr Weiler's Sanatorium. The documents contain a report of the circumstances and his funeral, and details of arrangements for the return of his property.
 
 

Eric Watkins
 
The son of Harry Watkins - see below.
 
 

Harry Watkins
 
Harry Watkins is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Watkins is recorded as having been born on January 28th 1873 in London, and is described as having been a theatre decorator prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 5 Hochmeisterstr., Berlin, N. At the time the register was recorded, Watkins was noted as staying in loft B, having transferred there from Barrack 1 on April 19th 1915.
 
In January 2007, Harry's great granddaughter Helen Hayes sent the following in an e-mail:
My great grandfather Harry Watkins & my grandfather Eric Watkins (who was around 17 years) were civilians in the camp. Harry married Louisa Marie Josephina Adele Rossins who we think was German, or as the story goes & this is the reason they where in the camp. (they did escape but do not know when). Harry & Louisa married in England in 1903 but that's all I know of Louisa. Harry & Eric were both artists. I have a programme from the camp, of Cinderella dec 27th 1915, Harry Watkins was one of the scenery painters, also a Christmas 1916 programme The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan.
 
I also have paintings done by Harry where story goes were not done with paint, but the colours from the ground/plants.
Many thanks to Helen.
 
 

T. W. Watkins
 
T. W. Watkins, of Wareham, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
 

B. Watson
 
B. Watson, of Seaham Harbour, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
 
Fred Watson
 
Fred Watson was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 116 Berlington Avenue, Oldham.
 
 
Fred Watson
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Fred Watson was noted as being from Maisie House, Rawcliffe Bridge, and as having been born in 1894. He worked as a mariner and was arrested in Hamburg on 16 OCT 1914. After a brief spell imprisoned on the hulks in Hamburg, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 8.
 
Marcus Bateman also notes from TNA files in MT9/1238 that Watson was a cook on the Winterton.
 
 

Murray Watters
 
The National Archives holds documents from 1915 at FO383/26 regarding Murray Watters, including correspondence for his sister, Mrs MacRae of Edinburgh, and later correspondence regarding his death, presumably in Ruhleben.
 
 

Captain Edwin J. Wattley
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/27 regarding Captain Edwin J. Wattley, the former master of the SS Oswestry, aged over 60 years of age and interned in Ruhleben. They specifically deal with an enquiry from Messrs Sivewright, Bacon and Co regarding his possible release, following the case of Henry Karle of Manchester, and include a newspaper extract to this end (in docket no.176395).
 
 
James William Watts
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that James William Watts was resident at 100 Grove Park, Camberwell, was a tailor arrested in Hamburg on 6 NOV 1914, and after a brief stint on the hulks in Hamburg, was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 1.
 
 
Oscar Watts
 
From this site's guestbook, a post by Andrew Longridge in December 2010: 

I would like to add my grandfathers name to the list of prisoners on the Ruhleben site. His name was Oscar Watts and was interned from the ship Sappho 111305 along with the rest of the crew. The only other ship crew member listed is G. Meadows who was released 7/3/1918. I have several photographs of my grandfather inside the camp. He was an able seaman and home address Frampton, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. After the war he built a railway carriage home (still lived in) and later that's when I came in as I lived with my grandparents. I feel he should be listed and remembered on the prisoner list.

Oscar's presence at Ruhleben is confirmed in the MT9/1238 records at the National Archives - he was an able bodied seaman on the Sappho (with thanks to Marcus Bateman).
 
 

Arthur Waudby
 
Arthur Waudby is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Waudby is recorded as having been born on February 8th 1868 in Hull, and is described as having been a groom prior to his internment. His home address was listed as Acomb, Yorkshire. At the time the register was recorded, Waudby was noted as staying in box 11. He returned to England on January 2nd 1918.
 
 

Alec Waugh
 
Alec Waugh was a British horse trainer working in Hoppegarten, who was interned in Ruhleben at the beginning of November 1914, as noted in the Scotsman newspaper on 9/11/1914 (p.9), and in The Times of the same day ("British Interned in Germany", p. 7, col. E).
 
In April 2008 I received the following additional notes from Jochem Heicke in Germany, to whom I am extremely grateful:
The Waugh brothers are  said to be descendants of Rob Roy, if the biography of their grandfather James Waugh, a respected trainer of horses in the U.K. and on the continent is right. Their sister Lucy Waugh was married to trainer Edward Chapman who was also interned with his brother H.Chapman. Their sister Nellie Waugh was married to Hermann the brother of Christine Althoff, wife of George Arnull. Maria Althoff, sister of them was married to James William Waugh.
 
Percy Waugh became a trainer in Denmark and won the Scandinavian Derbies in 1935 when his cousin Frank Butters had unbeaten Derby winner Bahram in England and his cousin George Arnull had Sturmvogel the German Derby winner that year.

(My family is a little bit involved as Sturmvogel was ridden by my father's uncle, whose uncle had been apprenticed to James Waugh and Manfred Chapman grandson of Lucy Waugh succeeded my father as racing commentator in Germany).

R.A. Waugh was soon released to train horses in Hoppegarten
 
Alec (button #94)  and Percy Waugh were brothers and sons of former Graditz trainer Richard Waugh. Their married brother James William, born 1884 in Graditz #130 trained under condition.

Percy Waugh
 
Percy Waugh was a British horse trainer working in Hoppegarten, who was interned in Ruhleben at the beginning of November 1914, as noted in the Scotsman newspaper on 9/11/1914 (p.9) , and in The Times of the same day ("British Interned in Germany", p. 7, col. E).
 
 

Richard Alexander Waugh
 
Richard Alexander Waugh was a British horse trainer working in Hoppegarten, who was interned in Ruhleben at the beginning of November 1914, as noted in the Scotsman newspaper on 9/11/1914 (p.9), and in The Times of the same day ("British Interned in Germany", p. 7, col. E).
 
From Jochem Weiche:
Richard Alexander Waugh was born Roxburgh, Scotland 8 Nov 1869, and died at Hoppegarten 26 Nov 1930. He was the cousin of the father of Alec and Percy Waugh, and having been orphaned at the age of 8, grew up with his uncle James in Austria. He was released and trained under condition.
 

G. Weadwood
 
G. Weadwood, of West Hartlepool, was one of fifteen men released from Ruhleben who arrived in neutral Holland on June 7th 1916, as noted in the Times of June 8th 1916 ("War Weariness in Germany", p.7, col.C).
 
 
Weathers
 
Weathers was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
His initials are not clear, but his name may be H. H. Weathers.
 
 

Charles Henry George Weber
 
Charles Henry George Weber was noted in the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp as having been voted onto the committee of the newly formed Ruhleben Music Society, at a meeting on Thursday June 15th, attended by some 36 musicians in the camp (p.11 & p.41). 
 
In the first issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (March 1916, p.26), Weber is noted as having given performances of Tschaikovsky's "Serenade" and Saint Saens' "Danse Macabre".
 
In the musical notes section of the fourth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (August 1916, p.25), the following notes a forthcoming contribution by Weber:
Orchestra concerts will be given on every third Sunday, the intervening Sundays being devoted to chamber and vocal and instrumental recitals. The first three Symphony Concerts will be conducted by Messrs. Bainton, Weber and Macmillan, among the works promised being Schumann's Pianoforte Concerto (with Mr. Lindsay as soloist), and Mozart's Symphony in E. flat.
Weber is further listed in the same issue as to soon be giving a lecture for the Arts and Science Union:
The present arrangements include two lectures by Mr. Short on the Development of Chamber Music, with musical illustrations on each occasion, while Mr. Leigh Henry, Mr. Hunt and Mr. Weber are respectively undertaking similar evenings on works of Debussy, MacDowell and Verdi.
A further example of Weber's musical contribution to life in the camp was noted in issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917):
"The gradual improvement of the orchestra under the splendid training of such fine musicians as Mr. Peebles Conn, Mr. McMilland and Mr. Weber paved the way for the regular orchestral concerts which have proved such a welcome feature of our captivity."
Weber passed away in 1954, and his obituary was carried in The Times of July 29th 1954 ("Obituary", p.8, col. E):
OBITUARY
 
MR. CHARLES WEBBER (sic)
 
Mr. Charles Webber, for many years conductor of the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company, died in hospital in London yesterday at the age of 79.
 
Charles Henry George Webber was born in London and was eductaed at Leipzig. He later went to Dresden, where for three years he was a coach under Schuch. He conducted at Chemnitz and Lubeck, and when war broke out in 1914 he was interned in Germany. He recalled that one of his greatest triumphs in that period was in singing the role of the Mikado at the internment camp at Ruhleben, with Sir Ernest MacMillan conducting. When he returned to England he joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company and remained with the company for many years. He also conducted at Covent Garden, and broadcast on several occasions. He proved himself to be an admirable coach, especially in German opera, and a conductor who could encourage the artists under his direction to their best endeavours.
 
A. Webster
 
A. Webster is noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Webster was a merchant seaman on board the S. S. Hull, and interned in Barrack 8.
 
Marcus Bateman's merchant seamen POW site lists Webster as having been resident at 4 Wharum Street, Hull, as a fireman on board the S. S. Hull, and as released from the camp on March 7th 1918.
 
 
Arthur Webster
 
Arthur Webster was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 64 Devonport Avenue, Withington.
 
 
W. Webster
 
W. Webster was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 78 Chatsworth Avenue, Orrell Park, Liverpool. 
 
 

Wechsler
 
Wechsler was noted in the first issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (March 1916) as soon to be give a lecture to the M.E.A. Circle entitled "Oxi-Acetylene Welding".
 
Wechsler is also noted as having stayed in Barrack 6 on a postcard dated 22 FEB 1916 (with thanks to Dr. Manfred G. Heber in Grand Canaria, who holds a photocopy in his collection).
 
 

Charles Weickert
 
Charles Weickert was one of nine men released from Ruhleben in January 1917, as reported in the Times of January 12th 1917 ("Nine Prisoners Released from Ruhleben", p.5, col. B).
 
 

Mathilde Weidig
 
The National Archives in London from 1915 at FO383/76 regarding Mathilde Weidig, the German born wife of naturalised British subject Edward Weidig, interned at Ruhleben, who had been held at Rotterdam and was wishing to proceed to the U.K. to her German aunt, Mrs. Wilhelmina Motter of Hackney Wick. The request was considered and the refused.
 
 

John Weijacko
 
John Weijacko was one of nine men over the age of 55 released from Ruhleben at the beginning of May 1916, as noted in the Times of May 9th 1916 ("British Prisoners from Germany", p.5, col.F).
 
 

Weinberg
 
Weinberg was in the Barrack 20 football team at Ruhleben, and according to issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) played in the cup final in April 1917. The first leg was a scoreless draw, and in the rematch three days later, Barrack 20 won, 3-0.
 
 

A. Weinberg
 
A. Weinberg advertised in the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp (June 1915, p.16):
A. Weinberg, Bar 6, Box 14, Watchmaker
 
 

Weiss
 
Weiss was noted as playing on the Rest of the World side, led by Cameron, in a mock international between England and the Rest of the World on May 2nd 1915. Kick off took place at 4.30pm, and a document with the teams listed was recently discovered amongst some Foreign Office files by the National Archives, in November 2005.
 
 

W. Welcome
 
W. Welcome was noted in the first issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (March 1916) as soon to be giving a lecture to the M.E.A. Circle entitled "Propellers".
 
It was obviously a favoured topic of his, for Welcome is again listed in the Nautical Notes section of the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as having recently given a "very practical and instructive lecture" on the workings of the screw propeller.
 
 

Ralph Archibald Welland
 
Ralph Archibald Welland is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Welland is recorded as having been born on February 5th 1888 in London, and is described as having been an engraver prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 20 Isledon Road, Holloway, London, N. At the time the register was recorded, Welland was noted as staying in box 16. He transferred to Barrack 2 on January 2nd 1918.
 
Welland is noted in the first issue of The Ruhleben Camp Magazine (March 1916, p.8) as having appeared in the play "The Great Adventurer" in the camp.
 
He is further noted in the fourth issue of the magazine (August 1916, p.34) as having produced the play "Milestones".
The season closed well. We are happy to have this opportunity of congratulating Mr. Welland and his cast on their successful production of "Milestones". They handled a tall proposition with great energy and skill. The scenic possibilities of the play were realised to the full, the cast well chosen and very thoroughly trained, the movement controlled with a precision that gave the action a very clear outline. The players without exception did extremely well, acting with unusual confidence and charm.
Welland is further noted in issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as having produced the plays "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor" whilst in the camp.
 
Welland also had the honour to be lampooned by way of a monogram drawn in the same publication by artist CMAW.

 
 
 
Benjamin W. Wenman
 
The Liddle Collection of Leeds University holds various items on former inmate Benjamin W. Wenman, under reference RUH 57. These are a letter to a Mr. Chester from J. White, dated November 2nd 1914; typescript extracts regarding conditions in POW camps, from 1914 to 1918; four letters from Warings Factories, from November 13th 1914 to January 20th 1916; a supplement to the 'Ruhleben Daily News' (June 1915); a letter in German dated february 17th 1915; an issue of 'The Ruhleben Camp Magazine' (June 1917); four pamphlets 'The Ruhleben Prisoners: The Case for their Release, 'The Ruhleben Prisoners: A Reasoned Plea for Immediate Release, Pamphlet No. 2' and 'The Ruhleben Prisoners: The Government Attitude, Pamphlet No. 3' (1917), 'The Ruhleben Prisoners: Some Recent Parliamentary References, Pamphlet No. 4' (1917); a Ruhleben Exhibition catalogue from 1919; eleven postcards from January 27th 1917; two Christmas cards from 1917; two photographs; a wallet, inscribed with 'Prisoner of War Ruhleben Camp 1914/16' and containing a postcard and a receipt dated July 16th 1918; a French vocabulary book from 1917; a manuscript diary covering August 4th 1914 to September 16th 1915; an open letter from the Ruhleben Prisoners' Release Committee, dated february 8th 1917; a fragment of a note in French; a seat reservation for a demonstration in London relating to British Civil Prisoners of War on February 26th 1917); a programme of a demonstration in London relating to British Civil Prisoners of War on February 26th 1917; an off-print from 'The Daily Mail', dated November 6th 1917; a receipt dated October 14th 1918; and a letter to W. E. Swale, dated April 19th 1978.
 
The online index tells us that Wenman resided in Barrack 2 whilst in Ruhleben.
 
 

Alick West
 
Alick West was noted as a former inmate at Ruhleben in his obituary in The Times of July 20th 1972 ("Mr. Alick West", p. 18, col. F).
"Born in 1895 of a strongly religious family, he was educated at Highgate School. Early in 1914 he went to Germany, meaning to enter Balliol College in the autumn to read classics. In August he was interned in Ruhleben Camp for the duration of the War..."
 
 

Frank E. West
 
Frank was noted in the first issue of The Ruhleben Camp Magazine (March 1916, p.8) as having appeared in the play "The Great Adventurer" in the camp.
 
West was thanked in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.37) for his contribution to the theatre during 1916.
 
A postcard from Frank West, written to his wife in German on February 22nd 1918, was reproduced in Frank Bacchenheimer's "A Postal Study of... The Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp 1914-1918" (Fig 6.4). Mrs West was resident at 42 Hemingford Road, London N1.
 
Additional correspondence held by Dr Manfred G. Heber in Grand Canaria lists Frank E. West as being in Barrack 7 Box 10. The correspondence, all sent to London, is dated 25 AUG 1916 (letter), 24 JAN 1917 (letter), 13 APR 1917 (postcard), 27 SEP 1917 (letter), 23 MAY 1918 (letter) and 18 OCT 1918 (letter). (With thanks to Dr Heber). 
 
 
G. West
 
G. West was noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that West was a merchant seaman on board the Euclid, and interned in Barrack 17.
 
 
John West
 
John West was named in an undated Foreign Office document contained within file FO 369/710, entitled Russenlager Ruhleben (Ruhleben Russian Camp), implying it was compiled at the outbreak of internment in 1914. He was described as a 19 year old student previously at work in Berlin.
 
He is likely to be the West listed elsewhere in a file in FO 369/710 dated 11 OCT 1914. The name was included in a list communicated to the Foreign Office by a Nurse Coe (with thanks to Simon Fowler).
 
 

Joseph R. Weston

The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO 383/22 on the possible exchange of John Herbert Spottiswoode and Joseph R. Weston, British subjects interned at Ruhleben.

 

J. Wheeler

J. Wheeler noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Wheeler was a merchant seaman on board the Duke of Wellington, and interned in Barrack 17.

 

C. M. A. Whitaker
 
C. M. A. Whitaker was thanked for his illustrations for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
 
Arthur J. White
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Arthur J. White is noted as being from Ilford in Essex, and as having been born in London in 1889. He was a marine engineer (MEA) and was arrested 2 AUG 1914 and after a brief period held on the hulks was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 4.
 
 
Boy White (aka Boy Wyte)
 
Boy White was named in an undated Foreign Office document contained within file FO 369/710, entitled Russenlager Ruhleben (Ruhleben Russian Camp), implying it was compiled at the outbreak of internment in 1914. He was described as a 25 year old actor who had been working in Berlin.
 
Boy White is also noted in a document in FO 369/710 as a 22 year old English cinema actor (kinoschauspieler) sent first to Berlin's Stadtvogtei on 21 AUG 1914 and then to Ruhleben on 9 SEP 1914. He had been residing at 13 Schlegelstrasse in Berlin. The information was originally compiled by the American Embassy in Berlin.
 
As Boy Wyte he is also listed as being at Ruhleben in another file in FO 369/710 dated 11 OCT 1914. The list was communicated to the Foreign Office by a Nurse Coe (with thanks to Simon Fowler).
 

George White
 
George White, of 167 Fountain Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, was a fireman on board the Borderland, which was captured by a German torpedo boat and escorted into the port of Hamburg, from where after an initial stay on board their vessel, they were removed and sent to Ruhleben. White was released in January 1918, and a short interview with him appeared in the Scotsman newspaper on January 9th 1918, where he described his capture and the conditions of life at the camp ("Lfe in Ruhleben - Stories of Returned Civil Prisoners", p.5).
 
 

H. W. White
 
H. W. White was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
 
 

J. White
 
J. White is listed in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as co-craftsman responsible for a clock and inlaid box photographed for the publication as an example of camp craftsmanship, his colleague being A. E. Licence.
 
 

Letham Kay White (1897 - 1950)

lethamkaywhite1922.jpg
Letham photographed in 1922 (click to enlarge)

Letham Kay White was the son of Councillor White of Edinburgh Town Council, and was interned at Ruhleben after being arrested whilst on his summer holidays in 1914. White continued his education whilst in Ruhleben, and was noted in issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as having satisfied the examiners at the London Matriculation Examination, held in the camp in December 1916. The Scotsman newspaper had previously reported the achievement on February 7th 1917 ("British Prisoners in Germany", p.5).
 
In addition to the information above, the following short biographical entry was supplied by Letham's daughter, Kay White, in January 2006, for which I am extremely grateful!  Kay can be contacted at kaywhite@tesco.net.

 

My father, having left the Royal High School in Edinburgh aged 17, went to Germany in order to learn German. At that time, there was a compulsory paper in German to get a degree in engineering. He was interned throughout the time there did not hinder a good education and career. war in Ruhleben POW camp. During that time he did learn the language, but also learnt the art of sketching from fellow prisoners C.M.Horsfall and Healey Hislop.

 

After the war he graduated with a first class honours degree in civil engineering with the gold medal, and then went abroad in the oil industry. Initially during the twenties in Burma with the Burmah oil company (where he married my mother in Rangoon) and then during the thirties in Trinidad as Field Manager of TPD. He was in charge of producing the oil, building roads, building bungaloes, supplying water, just about everything. Even the Home Guard during WW2.

 
Unfortunately he died aged 53 and never talked about his experiences during the captivity.
 
 

Moresby White
 
Moresby White was noted in the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp (June 1915, p.22) as being the captain of the losing Scottish side of the rugby international between the Scots-Colonials and the Welsh.
 
White was thanked for articles written for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
 

Sandy White
 
Sandy White was noted in the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp (June 1915, p.22) as being one of the forwards on the losing Scottish side of the friendly international between the Scots-Colonials and the Welsh.
 
 

William A. White
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/26 on William A. White, namely an enquiry from his wife, Mrs. Clara A. White of Gloucester.
 
 

A. Paget Whitehead
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that Paget Whitehead was previously resident in 41 Chilton View, North Shields, was born in South Shields in 1887, and was a ship's officer arrested in Hamburg and after a period of being interned on the hulks, was sent to Ruhleben where he was interned in Barrack 2.
 
As A. P. Whitehead, he was noted as of South Shields in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
Marcus Bateman's merchant navy POW site has him listed as First officer of the Garesfield, born 1887, and resident at 49 Churton West View in North Shields.
 
 
 
Thomas Whitehead
 
The National Archives in London holds documents from 1915 at FO383/26 concerning the question of recognition of Ruhleben inmate Thomas Whitehead as a British consular official. FO383/68 then contains statements by Thomas Whitehead after his recent release from Ruhleben in 1915.
 
 

C. M. A. Whitehouse
 
C. M. A. Whitehouse was thanked for articles written for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
This is possibly the Whitehouse recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as Gibson Road, Heaton Moor.
 
 

Whitfield
 
Whitfield is noted in the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp (June 1915, p.14) as having played for the Rest of Ruhleben team against the Varsities, in the Ruhleben Cricket League.
 
 

Albert Whitley
 
Albert Whitely is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Whitley is recorded as having been born on April 22nd 1884 in London, and is described as having been a seaman on the "Dunkerque" prior to his internment. His home address was listed as Neptune Street, Rotherhithe, London, S.E. At the time the register was recorded, Whitley was noted as staying in Box 11.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Whitley is noted as being from 80 Neptune Street, Rotherhithe, and as having been born in Rotherhithe in 1884. He worked as a seaman in Crefeld, where he was arrested on 3 AUG 1914. After a brief period held in Crefeld and Duisburg, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 5.
 
 
T. Whittaker
 
T. Whittaker was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 25 Crescent Road, Bolton.
 
 

C. Whittall
 
C. Whittall was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
 
John Whitwell
 
John Whitwell was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as St. Albans Terrace, Rochdale.
 
 

E. Whitworth
 
E. Whitworth was interned in Barrack 8 and played for the barrack football team against Barrack 20 in the RFA cup final in April 1917, as noted in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917). The first match was a draw, 1-1. In the replay, three days later, Barrack 8 lost, 3-0.
 
Whitworth was noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that he was a merchant seaman on board the May Scott, and interned in Barrack 8.
 
 
Harold Whyte
 
Harold Whyte was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as c/o Livingstone Whyte, Wilmslow.
 
 

William John Arnold Whyte
 
William John Arnold Whyte is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Whyte is recorded as having been born on April 21st 1892 in Aberdeen, and is described as having been a student prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 46 Gray Street, Aberdeen. At the time the register was recorded, Whyte was noted as staying in loft A, having been there since arriving from Celle.
 
 

Lewis James Widdowson
 
Lewis James Widdowson is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Widdowson is recorded as having been born on March 18th 1896 in Nottingham, and is described as having been a clerk prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 19 Ford Street, Nottingham. At the time the register was recorded, Waring was noted as staying in loft A, having transferred there from Barrack 12 on August 2nd 1916.
 
Widdowson is also recorded as having spent some time in the Schonungsbaracke between July 24th 1918 and July 26th.
 
The Liddle Collection at Leeds University holds items relating to Widdowson's internment, which he deposited in 1977 and 1978, and which are now accessible under reference RUH 58. These are a diary from 1913; a wallet; a catalogue of music played by the Ruhleben Camp Orchestra; a photocopied manuscript of recollections entitled 'The Story of Ruhleben Camp 1914-1918'; ten postcards from March 3rd 1915, and 1918; a theatre programme for 'Liberty Hall'; two group photographs relating to theatre productions; a list of Ruhleben Association members; two books of manuscript notes; a fragment of a letter to his sister Hettie, dated March 18th 1917; an open letter in English and German to Ruhleben prisoners after the revolution in 1918; an identification card dated January 7th 1920; German banknotes; a fragment of a leaflet from Nazi Germany; and a typed transcript of an interview recorded with Peter Liddle in October 1977, the original audio recording being held on tape 467.
 
The online index tells us that Widdowson was born in 1896 in Nottingham. He was arrested at Plauen, near Leipzig, whilst working in the lace trade at the outbreak of the war. During his stay at Ruhleben, Widdowson resided in Barrack 12.
 
 

Wiener
 
According to the Times of December 10th 1921, Wiener was an English subject who ran a colliery business in Hamburg prior to the war, and who was subsequently interned in Ruhleben. The article concerned a slander action taken by Wiener's brother, Edward Augustus Wiener, against Lord Wavertree of Horsley Hall, who had allegedly slandered Wiener as being a German. The Wieners' father had been a German, but had naturalised as a British subject in Sunderland, where he had married an English wife and ended his days in 1883 as a highly respected Justice of the Peace.
 
 

John Wiggin
 
John Wiggin was an artist who was interned in Ruhleben for two years.
 
The Scotsman newspaper of February 20th 1918 briefly describes his visit to the king at Buckingham Palace with two other former Ruhleben prisoners, after their release from the camp ("King Receives Repatriate Prisoners", p.4).
 
The Times of April 27th 1918 gives an account of an exhibition that he held at the Carfax Gallery in Bury Street, London, depicting his visual impressions of Ruhleben. Amongst the images of display were "The End of Another Day", and "Good-bye to Ruhleben" (depicting Bishop Bury's departure from the camp).
 
A model of the camp was made by Wiggin and submitted to the Ruhleben Exhibition at the Central Hall of Westminster, as noted in The Times of January 14th 1919 ("Life in Ruhleben", p.11, col. F).
 
Wiggin was also recorded at the Ruhleben Exhibition on the day that the Crown Princess of Sweden visited. The article appeared on January 30th 1919 in the Times ("Ruhleben Exhibition", p.11, col. F). The Times of February 5th 1919 also tells us that the princess returned on February 4th to the exhibition, and purchased 40 paintings, with the painters selected including Wiggin ("Court News", p.11, col. B).
 
He is possibly the Wiggin noted as having resided in Barrack 2 Box 4 on a postcard dated 3 MAR 1916, as held in a private collection by Dr. Manfred G. Heber in Grand Canaria (many thanks to Dr. Heber).
 
 
 
J. Wiglesworth
 
Many thanks to Karen Hadley for informing me that the Foreign Office Card Index holds the following entry:

1916 (128-56458/885)

William Hadley possibility of securing exchange of J Wiglesworth interned at Ruhleben.

Kare came across this whilst looking for information about her grandfather and great grandfather, both of whom were civilians in Fiume, Hungary.

 

Robert Wilcox
 
Robert Wilcox is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Wilcox is recorded as having been born on December 6th 1890 in Wavre, Belgium, and is described as having been a clerk prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 31 Rue Henri Vanhieran, Brussels. At the time the register was recorded, Wilcox was noted as staying in loft B, having transferred there from Barrack 16 on November 26th 1917.
 
 
Fred Wild
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that Ruhleben POW Fred Wild was from 20 Smith Street, London E.C. and was born in London in 1890. He was a photographer, arrested in Berlin on November 6th 1914 and after imprisonment in the city's Stadtvogtei priosn was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 2.
 
 

Frank G. Wilgaus
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Frank Wilgaus was noted as being from 165 Willingham Street, Grimsby, and as having been born in Sheerness in 1893. He worked as a seaman and was arrested in Hamburg on 16 OCT 1914. After a brief spell imprisoned on the hulks in Hamburg, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 8.
 
Wilgaus was again noted as interned in Barrack 8, and as having played for the barrack football team against Barrack 20 in the RFA cup final in April 1917, in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917). The first match was a draw, 1-1. In the replay, three days later, Barrack 8 lost, 3-0.
 
Marcs Bateman notes from MT9/1238 that he was listed as F. G. Wilgaus, an AB seaman from 163 Hainton Avenue in Grimsby. He served on the City of Bradford.

F. A. Wilhelm
 
F. A. Wilhelm was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
The National Archives in London hold documents at FO 383/16 concerning F. A. Wilhelm. He is noted as being in London following his release from internment at Ruhleben camp, and requested the Foreign Office to send a message to his wife in Brussels.
 
 

Albert Wilkinson
 
Albert Wilkinson was listed in The Times of January 8th 1916 ("Released Civilians" p.5, col. D) as one of 69 men released from Ruhleben on Thursday, January 6th, 1916, who subsequently travelled to Flushing for their return trip to England.
 
 
Edgar Wilkinson
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Edgar Wilkinson was noted as being from Cardiff, and as having been born in 1897. He was an apprentice in Bremen and was arrested in mid-July 1914. He was later sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 7.
 
 

Neville Stanley Wilkinson
 
Neville Stanley Wilkinson is listed in the surviving register which he kept for Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), written in approximately 1916. In the register, Wilkinson is recorded as having been born on January 3rd 1888 in London, and is described as having been a correspondent prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 30 Ringmer Avenue, Fulham, London, S.W. At the time the register was recorded, Wilkinson was noted as staying in R.2 (i.e. Box 2).
 
Whilst interned in Barrack 5, Neville looked after the register for the barrack throughout his stay, and after the war kept the document as a memento of his time there. His son Norman recalls his father telling him that as a fluent German speaker, he often attended meetings with the Germans to act as an interpreter.
 
Norman has kindly offered to produce a small biographical entry for his father in the near future, and for this I am extremely grateful.
 
Nevilee was noted as having resided in Barrack 5 Box 2 on a postcard dated 3 JAN 1917, as held in a private collection by Dr. Manfred G. Heber in Grand Canaria. (Many thanks to Dr. Heber).
 
 
W. E. Will
 
W. E. Will is noted as being in Barrack 9 Box 10 on two postcards to Edinburgh dated 10 JAN 1917 and 18 JAN 1917, as held now by Dr. Manfred G. Heber of Grand Canaria (with thanks to Dr. Heber).
 
 
J. Willetts
 
J. Willetts is noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Willetts was a merchant seaman on board the Saxon Prince, and interned in Barrack 9, loft.
 
 

Williams
 
Williams was thanked by B. J. D. in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) for his recent musical perfomance at the camp:
"...Mr. Arthur Dodd, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Williams, Mr. Philips, Mr. Schlesinger and others, who, in solo and ensemble work, have given of their best."
 
 

Arthur Williams
 
The National Archives in London holds a document from 1915 at FO383/27 regarding the despatch of the medical certificate of Arthur Williams, invalided at Ruhleben.
 
Williams was listed in The Times of January 8th 1916 ("Released Civilians" p.5, col. D) as one of 69 men released from Ruhleben on Thursday, January 6th, 1916, who subsequently travelled to Flushing for their return trip to England.
 
Williams is later recorded in The Times of November 8th 1917 as being a member of a musical group called "An English Trio" which had just played its first ever concert at the Wigmore Hall, playing Brahms in C minor, Schubert in B flat and Haydn in C major ("An English Trio", p.11, col. E).
 
He was also recorded in The Times as being about to give a concert at the Ruhleben Exhibition on Friday, February 7th, with fellow former Ruhleben musicians, all of whom had been professional musicians captured in Bayreuth. The article appeared on January 30th 1919 in the Times ("Ruhleben Exhibition", p.11, col. F).
 
In June 2006 I was contacted by Dr. David Roberts, who was able to provide some additional information on Williams. The Welshman apparently played in a concert at the Wigmore Hall, London, on 4
March 1919, and had apparently emerged from his ordeal in Ruhleben with a permanent tremor which made it difficult for him to play in public. Soon after, he retired to teach and coach chamber ensembles,
although he continued to play chamber music privately.
 
 

C. H. Williams
 
C. H. Williams, of Cardiff, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
 
David Williams
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, David Williams is noted as being from Liverpool, where he was born on 14 JUN 1893. He was a seaman, and was arrested in August 1914 in Hamburg, and after a brief imprisonment in the city was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 4.
 
 

Edward Williams
 
Edward Williams was listed in The Times of January 8th 1916 ("Released Civilians" p.5, col. D) as one of 69 men released from Ruhleben on Thursday, January 6th, 1916, who subsequently travelled to Flushing for their return trip to England.
 
 

Edwin Williams
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO 383/25 concerning Edwin Williams. The documents concern a signed petition from members of the Reform Club in Pall Mall, London, requesting his release from Ruhleben. The release of Edwin, in exchange for Julius Wegeler, was later noted in records held at FO383/72.
 
The story of Edwin's release was covered in The Times of September 10th 1915 ("5s Per Week for German Recruits", p.10, col. F). the article mentions that Williams lived on Berkely Street, and had been arrested in Nauheim upon the outbreak of the war.
 
Additional information was provided by Nicola Mellersh, who wrote an article about Williams for Reform Review, the magazine of the Reform Club, for the Spring 2007 edition ("Guest of the Kaiser", p.4). Williams was a member of the Reform Club, and upon his internment in Ruhleben (after his arrest in Bad Nauheim, where he had been attending the famous Spa waters to treat a heart problem), the club gathered a petition which they sent to the Government, demanding his return to Britain. It is unclear whether it was this petition that secured his release, but he was certainly exchanged for a British interned German prisoner, Julius Wegeler, in August 1915. The petition can be viewed at the national Archives under accession number FO 383/25. Many thanks indeed to Nicola for this information.
 
 
E. R. Williams
 
E. R. Williams was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as Aubrey Road, Withington.
 
 

E. W. Williams
 
E. W. Williams, of Birkenhead, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
Williams was also recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 35 Kirkland Avenue, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead.
 
 

G. Williams
 
G. Williams, of Grimsby, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
 

Henry Hector Williams
 
The National Archives in London hold records from 1915 at FO383/72 concerning Henry Hector Williams, an Army Service Corps driver, now interned at Ruhleben.
 
 

Reverend H. M. Williams
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1916 at FO383/206 regarding an enquiry from Mary Smith-Dampier about her brother, the Reverend H. M. Williams, in Ruhleben, and regarding authorisation for her to send weekly parcels to him.
 
 

J. Williams
 
J. Williams was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
 

Richard Gray Williams
 
Many thanks to Richard Williams for supplying the following information in July 2007, regarding his grandfather Richard Gray Williams:

"My grandfather was called Richard Gray-Williams and was born in 1883, (died 1946).  He may have been known simply as Richard (or Dick) Williams for everyday use.  Richard was a textile engineer working for Platt Brothers, a then well known engineering company in Oldham.  He was in Germany installing Platt's machinery in cotton mills in 1914.
 
"There are, I am afraid, very few items of family memory of his internment, and much too late I regret not asking my own father much about his father.  However snippets I can remember are as follows:
 
1    Richard did not find his internment desperately bad, aside from being away from home and my grand-mother for so long.  His relationship with the Germans was fairly cordial.  I think it was said that he came home slightly plumper than when he had left.
 
2   There was at least one particular time of tension when a British merchant seaman (possibly a captain) was tried and executed for having shot and killed a German U-boat officer after surrendering to the U-boat.  (There may be mention of this on your site, as I said I have not read it in detail yet.)
 
3  In the days immediately before the war, Richard approached the local British Consulate and asked if it was advisable to leave Germany.  He was told to stay because advising British nationals to leave would give the impression that the UK firmly expected to go to war.  It was said though that he noticed that Consular staff appeared to be packing for a journey.
 
4  He arrived home, I think, on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day 1918.
 
5  He had a few gold sovereigns stitched into an item of his clothing.  These would have been confiscated if found, but he brought them home with him.
 
6   There is some information about his capture in a copy of the "Oldham Evening Chronicle."  He and a colleague tried to get to the Dutch border after war had been declared, and were picked up quite near the border.  I remember handling the article myself many years ago, but my mother thinks it was probably lost in a house-move.  The Oldham Library Local Interest Centre holds full records of the Oldham Chronicle on microfilm. 
 
7   There was something of a fashion for wives of POWs/internees to have a cutting of their hair platted into a watch-fob for their husbands.  I have the one that my grand-mother sent to Richard.
 
8   He brought home a full set of the camp newspaper.  Unfortunately my mother threw these away in the 1950s.  She regrets this now, but I understand her reasoning.  The '50s was the height of the Cold War with real fear of nuclear destruction.  Her generation had very fresh memories of WWII, and her parents generation had lived through an earlier war, still well within memory for many people in the '50s.  So there was a real view that putting wars and thoughts of wars behind us was a good thing.
 
9   After internment, Richard resumed work at Platt Brothers and continued to travel Europe and the USA on their behalf.
 
Many thanks to Richard for this information, for which I am indebted.
 
Williams was also recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 14 Minton Street, Windham.
 
 

S. Williams
 
S. Williams, of Sidmouth, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
 
 
Sergeant Williams
 
Sergeant Williams (not a rank, but his actual name) was Chief Officer of the City of Bradford, and was born in 1878. At the time of his arrest his address was given as 273 Brereton Avenue, Grimsby, as noted on Marcus Bateman's Prisoner of War index.
 
In February 2010 I was contacted by Sergeant's granddaughter Diane Taylor, who kindly offered the following write up on her grandfather's time at Ruhleben:

Sergeant Williams, left of image

My Grandfather was interned at Ruhleben in 1914. I have come across a photo of him with another person taken at Ruhleben and stamped on the back with the prison camp stamp. I also have a photograph sent to him at the camp with his full camp address, Barrack 10, Box3.

My grandfather is on the left. He was called Sergeant Williams ( Sergeant was his first name, not a military rank) He was born in
Grimsby in 1878. He trained before the mast on a large sailing bargue called the SS Garsdale which was to sink of the coast of Africa in 1905. In 1914 he was Chief Officer on the SS City of Bradford, a ferry in the service of the Grand Central Railway service between Grimsby and Hamburg. He was taken from his ship in Hamburg in 1914 and sent to Ruhleben. He is on the Grimsby absent voters list in 1919 and listed as in Ruhleben. He developed asthma in the camp and never fully regained his health.

 

He was not released until 1919. He did return to sea as we have a postcard from the Achlibster,leaving Legarno for home via Odessa in 1921. He died in 1923 aged 46 of, I believe heart failure. He left a widow, Florence and four children, Leslie aged 14, Charles(my father) aged 12, Pat aged 10 and Colin aged 2. I have a full crew list from the SS City of Bradford, all interned at Ruhleben. The cabin boy was sent home 12/12/15 and 5 others were released in 1918.

 

 
 
T. G. Williams
 
T. G. Williams was noted in the first issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (March 1916) as having given a lecture to the M.E.A. Circle entitled "Fuel".
 
 
Tom Williams
 
The Manchester Guardian of January 8th 1916 carried the following letter from a Tom Williams within the camp (P.9, "Welsh Prisoners in Germany"):
Dear Sir, Very many thanks for the large number of Welsh books you so kindly collected for us. We now run classes in Welsh language, literature, history, Irish literature, and popular science. we have a large number of Englishmen too, learning our language. A few of our number left for home this week. We gave them an absolute Cymric concert as a send-off. With best wishes and the heartiest thanks of the Gymdeithas Gymraeg, I beg to remain, sir, yours sincerely, TOM WILLIAMS. 
 
 

W. Williams
 
W. Williams was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
 
 

William John Williams

William's wedding photo from 1912 (with thanks to the Williams family)

William John Williams is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Williams is recorded as having been born on December 26th 1883 in London, and is described as having been a correspondent prior to his internment. His home address was listed as Scharnhorststr. 2, Opladen, b/ Koln. At the time the register was recorded, Williams was noted as staying in box 18.
 
Between November 17th 1917 and December 7th, Williams spent some time in the camp's Schonungsbaracke. He is also recorded as having spent a further period there between April 1st 1918 and April 8th, and from May 4th to May 8th. From May 10th 1918 to May 19th, Williams was recorded as having had leave from the camp. Between June 9th 1918 and June 13th he is further recorded as having spent some time in the Schonungsbaracke, and again between July 5th and July 9th.
 
In September 2007, William's son, Dr. H. Paul Williams, kindly got in touch to add the following information:
 
"Yes, he was born in London on 26.12.1883 but the family returned to Wales and so he grew up in Bury Port.  He obtained a degree in English from the University of Aberystwyth.  At some point after this he went to Germany where he taught English to adult learners.  One of his pupils was to be my mother.  They married in 1912 and I was born in 1913 in Opladen.  I was to remain the only child of their marriage.   The following year the war broke out.  By this time my father was no longer teaching, but working for Bayer, the pharmaceutical company.  This was a stroke of luck, because Bayer paid my mother a good part of my father’s salary all through the war while my father was interned in Ruhleben.
 
"Unfortunately I know little about how my father spent his time in internment.  One story he liked to tell was of a group of prisoners on a very hot summer’s evening who decided to take a late shower, although they should already have been in their dormitories.   They were spotted by a guard who wrote their names down and then disappeared.  However, he had missed one, as someone felt his shoulder being tapped and a voice said: “That’s the first time in my life I glad I black!”
 
"I can tell you why my father had leave from the camp from 10th- 19th May 1918.  I was dying of pneumonia, and he was given leave to see his little son once more.  As you can see: I did not die.  A gypsy had given my mother some medicine which she said would save me.  My mother had not given it to me, and had certainly not said anything about it to my father.  However, one evening, after the doctor had said that I would not survive the night, she gave me the medicine in desperation, and I started to recover.  So perhaps I owe my life to a gypsy?  It is known that gypsies knew about herbal medicines which had the properties of antibiotics, so it is quite credible.

William in 1932 (with thanks to the Williams family)

"After the war my mother and I managed to get a Red Cross train in February 1919 which took 4 days to travel across France.  From the coast we caught a ferry to Britain where we settled.  The first months were spent with my grandparents at Bury Port.  My father joined us a little later, having travelled by boat via the Baltic with other ex-prisoners.  My father said that on arrival in the docks in Britain many prisoners were telling the waiting press all sorts of exaggerated and untrue stories about the horrors of the prison camp.   In actual fact, my father told me, the prisoners had been treated quite humanely.  Remarkably my father had received 240 food parcels from the Red Cross, and as far as can be ascertained not a single one was lost.
 
"My father continued to work for pharmaceutical companies, often dealing with German companies including Bayer.  He died in Hitchin aged 81 in 1965.  Sadly we have no memorabilia of Ruhleben.  My father had remarried twice after my mother’s death in 1953, and his third wife never communicated with me after his death so that, apart from what we already had, all treasured possessions, photographs etc were lost."
 
I am indebted to Dr. Williams for sharing his father's and his own remarkable story on this site.

Willy Williams, second from right at the back - who are the others?

 
 
W. W. Williams
 
In an article in the Scotsman newspaper of October 27th 1915, W. W. Williams was listed as captain of Barrack 10, a duty he had taken over from Captain of the Camp, J. Powell, on September 15th 1915 ("Ruhleben Camp - Success of Civil Administration", p.9).
 
 

Williamson
 
Williamson was interned in Barrack 8 and played for the barrack football team against Barrack 20 in the RFA cup final in April 1917, as noted in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917). The first match was a draw, 1-1. In the replay, three days later, Barrack 8 lost, 3-0.
 
 

Charles Frederick Williamson
 
The Scotsman newspaper reported on March 9th 1916 that Charles Frederick Williamson had been released from Ruhleben a couple of days earlier ("Released from Ruhleben", p.5).
 
 
J. Williamson
 
J. Williamson was second engineer on the 'Borderland', and was resident at 3 Ronald Road, Waterloo, Liverpool prior to his internment. (Many thanks to Marcus Bateman.)
 
Willamson was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". 
 
 

John Williamson
 
Many thanks to John Roberts for the following information retarding his grandfather, John Williamson, who was interned in Ruhleben for the duration of the war in barrack 8, box 16:
"John Williamson... was 2nd Mate of the SS Vienna. I have some of my Grandfather’s photos and documents as well as a number of memories which my mother told me before she died in 1992.
 
"My Grandfather was born in 1862 in Shetland and spent his working life at sea. In August 1914 the Vienna was leaving Hamburg homeward bound to Leith from where my Grandfather was to join his family in North Berwick for the summer holiday. However, the Vienna was detained in the Hamburg estuary for a fortnight until war was declared. The crew were then transferred to Ruhleben where he was detained for the entire war period. The family did not find out he was still alive until November that year.
 
"The Vienna was the biggest of James Currie and Co’s ships and the Germans took it to convert to a mine layer (renamed the Meteor) but it was sunk by the British shortly after."
 
In addition to this John also mentioned a funny practice regarding the avoidance of censorship by his grandparents when communicating to each other to and from the camp. Whenever they wrote to each other, they would do so in broad Scots and with Shetland words to communicate without alerting the censors!
 

The seamen of the Currie Line interned at Ruhleben - John Williamson is 3rd from left, top row

 
 
W. Williamson
 
W. Williamson was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as Friargate, Preston.
 
He is also named as an independent member of the new camp entertainments committee (after a strike in the camp) in IRC issue 7, p.8 (Sep 1915).
 
 
W. Williamson
 
W. Williamson was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 26 Treborth Street, Admiral Street, Liverpool.
 
 
Willis
 
Willis was noted as the referee in a mock international between England, led by Bloomer, and the Rest of the World, led by Cameron, on May 2nd 1915. Kick off took place at 4.30pm, and a document with the teams listed was recently discovered amongst some Foreign Office files by the National Archives, in November 2005.
 
 

Frank Willmot
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1916 at FO383/206 regarding a request by a Mr. Charles Gardener for permission to send material for making leather goods to Ruhleben inmate Frank Willmot, and authorisation for the despatch of materials up to the value of £25 to be sent, along with a further consignment.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that Willmot was from 57 Melbourne Avenue, Bowes Park London, and born in Croydon on 28 MAR 1882. He was a commercial traveller, arrested in Wesel on 11 AUG 1914, transfered to Frankfurt and then to Sennelager on 6 NOV 1914, and onto Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 2.
 
 

Lionel Wills
 
Lionel Wills is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Wills is recorded as having been born on July 27th 1893 in London, and is described as having been a seaman on the "Glencarn" prior to his internment. His home address was listed as Queen Victoria Rest, Poplar, London. At the time the register was recorded, Wills was noted as staying in loft A, having transferred there from Barrack 17 on November 20th 1916.
 
Wills is also recorded as having spent some time in the Schoningsbaracke between February 2nd 1918 and March 3rd.
 
 

Wilms
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/71 regarding Mrs F. H. Wilms, living in Berlin in order to be near her son interned in Ruhleben, and her application for remittance.
 
 

Werner A. Wilms
 
Werner A. Wilms is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Wilms is recorded as having been born on July 24th 1895 in Berlin, and is described as having been a student prior to his internment. His home address was listed as "Downs View", Warwick Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. At the time the register was recorded, Wilms was noted as staying in loft B, having transferred there from Barrack 15 on April 19th 1915.
 
Wilms is also recorded as having spent some time in the Bird Cage between January 28th 1918 and January 31st.
 
 
Wiln
 
Wiln is noted as having been in the Teahouse on a letter dated 20 DEC 1915, held by Dr. Manfred G. Heber of Grand Canaria (with thanks to Dr. Heber).
 
 
W. P. Wilshire
 
W. P. Wilshire was first engineer on the Iris prior to his internment. He was born in 1878, and resident at 16A Horace Road, Forest Gate.
 
Wilshire was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
 
 
 

Alec Wilson
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Alec Wilson is noted as being a teacher from Sudbury near Derby. He was arrested in Bremen on 6 NOV 1914 and sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 6.
 
He may be the Wilson noted in the second issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (April 1916, p. 29) as having been a member of a football team led by John Cameron, which defeated an opposing side led by Steve Bloomer on March 3rd 1916. Likewise, he may be the Wilson noted in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.58) as having played for the losing Brearley's XI side against Cameron's XI on October 7th 1916. The score was 4-2 to the Cameron team. However, there was another Alexander Wilson in the camp who was also a footballer, so this is not confirmed.
 
 

A. G. Wilson
 
A. G. Wilson was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
 
Wilson had the honour to be lampooned by way of a monogram drawn in the sixth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917), by artist CMAW.
 
 
Alexander Wilson
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Alexander Wilson is noted as being from Leith, where he was born in February 1896. He was a seaman and was arrested 9 SEP 1914 and after a brief period held in Danzig, Butow, Stettin and Doberitz, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 4.
 
He may be the Wilson noted in the second issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (April 1916, p. 29) as having been a member of a football team led by John Cameron, which defeated an opposing side led by Steve Bloomer on March 3rd 1916. Likewise, he may be the Wilson noted in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.58) as having played for the losing Brearley's XI side against Cameron's XI on October 7th 1916. The score was 4-2 to the Cameron team. However, there was an Alec Wilson in the camp who was also a footballer, so this is not confirmed.
 
 

Arthur William Wilson
 
Arthur William Wilson is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Wilson is recorded as having been born on August 27th 1884 in Leicester, and is described as having been a fitter prior to his internment. His home address was listed as Schwanheim, a/ Main. At the time the register was recorded, Wilson was noted as staying in Loft A.
 
Wilson is also recorded as having spent some time in the Schonungsbaracke between July 13th 1918 and July 27th.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Wilson is noted as being from 56 Beatrice Road, Leicester, and as having been born in Leicester in 1884. He worked as a machine fitter in Frankfurt, where he was arrested on 6 NOV 1914. After a brief period held in Frankfurt and Giessen, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 5.
 
 
B. Wilson
 
B. Wilson was noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Wilson was a merchant seaman on board the Barque Anna, and interned in Barrack 13.
 
 
J. R. Wilson
 
J. R. Wilson was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 2 Back Edward Street, Lancaster.
 
 

Thomas W. Wilson
 
Thomas W. Wilson was noted in the fourth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magzine (August 1916, p.34) as having appeared in the play "Knight of the Burning Pestle":
If everyone had shewn the same careless, high spirited fun as Mr. Wilson when he did the sergeant we should certainly have laughed too; but a certain pedantic restraint left the caricatures too weak, the action too genteel.
Wilson was thanked in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.37) for his contribution to the theatre during 1916.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Wilson is noted as being from Knebworth, Herts, and as having been born in Leith, Scotland, in 1894. He was a woollens representative for Binberrys, and was arrested in Breslau on 15 AUG 1914. After a brief imprisonment in Breslau and Berlin, he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 4.
 
 

G. Wiltshire
 
G. Wiltshire was an English racehorse trainer, who, according to the Scotsman newspaper of February 7th 1916, was released from Ruhleben at the beginning of the month after a request by the Committee of Racehorse Owners, the original report being made in the Berliner Tageblatt ("English Trainer Released from an Internment Camp", p.4). The story was also carried in the Times of February 7th 1916 ("Imperial and Foreign News Items" p.7, col. F).
 
 

Maximilian Wimpfheimer (also Wimpheimer)
 
Maximilian Wimpfheimer was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 1 Garden Court Temple, London, E.C.
 
In the seventh issue of In Ruhleben Camp, he is noted as Mr. M. Wimpheimer Bar-at-Law, and was responsible for the commercial section of the camp's school (Sep 1915, p.18).
 
Wimpheimer received a package from Knockaloe POW camp on the Isle of Man, whilst interned at Ruhleben. The wrapper of this was reproduced in Frank Bachenheimer's "A Postal History Study of...The Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp 1914-1918", and states that he was interned in Barrack 7, Box 11. Wimpfheimer is also noted on account slips dated 13 DEC 1915 and 4 FEB 1916 as being in Barrack 7 Box 11. The slips are held by Dr Manfred G. Heber of Grand Canaria, who contacted me in early 2010 with a list of his Ruhleben holdings - many thanks to Dr. Heber.
 
Wimpfheimer is referred to in the second issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (April 1916, p.24) as having at some stage in the camp written to his friend A. T. Davies, the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Department's Education Board to ask for books for the camp library, and in the process secured four crates of books.
 
 

Winter

The National Archives in London hold documents from 1916 at FO383/206 regarding advice for Mr. R. C. Winter to continue sending regular parcels to his son at Ruhleben, pending the release of prisoners.

 

Frederick Neville Winter
 
Frederick Neville Winter, son of Fred Winter senior, was born in 1895, and became a jockey who was interned in Ruhleben when the war broke out in August 1914. For more on Fred, visit Mark Humphry's Family History page.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that Winter was from Feltham in Middlesex, born in 1895 in Feltham, worked as a jockey and was arrested on September 14th 1914. He was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 2.
 
From Jochem Weicke in April 2008, I also received the following:
F.Winter was listed in the 1914 racing calendar  with 14 wins out of 58
rides which put him at #11 in the jockey statistics.
 
My father saw his son riding when he had been bringing a Schlenderhan mare to be covered in England. I have two photographs showing Fred III on Mandarin in Auteuil winning that great steeple chase without reins only having his stick to point the way. 
In May 2008, I was also contacted by Doug Johnson, who has kindly supplied some further biographical information on Winter, for which I am also grateful: 

Correspondence with the United States Ambassador respecting the Treatment of British Prisoners of War and Interned Civilians in Germany Miscellaneous No 14 (1915) (Cd 7959) HMSO

 

...Similar cases are those of Jockey Winter, an employee of the Royal Graditz stables, who in consequence of his employment by the German government should obtain his liberty, but should not be permitted to leave Germany

Fred Winter in Ruhleben drama performance - far right

In June 2008 I was then contacted by Fred's grandson, Michael Peevey, who also offered the following:
My GFather was an English jockey retained to ride for the German Royal Studs in 1913. From my grand fathers point of view the whole debacle was a terrible thing. He had been champion apprentice and got offered a job riding for the royal stables for Kaiser Bill. He had not been there very long and war broke out. He was given a sporting 24 hours to get out of the country but couldnt make it so he ended up spending the duration in the Ruhleben. When he came out his weight had gone up and he found it difficult ot re-establish himself again as a jockey. He did win the Irish Derby though after the war.
Michael also sent an article from the New York Times, date unknown, which quotes Fred Winter:
A letter has been received in London from Fred Winter, a well-known English jockey, who before the war was first jockey to the Kaiser, and who is now a prisoner in Ruhleben camp, in which Winter asks for bread and biscuits. He says:
 
"Oh, I do wish I could get my freedom. You can't realize what it is like to be caged up as we are. Just think, from 6 in the morning until 9 o' clock at night we have nothing whatever to do but walk about. It preys on the mind."
 
Winter does not explain the circumstances of his internment.

Fred Winter at Ruhleben (seated, far right)

 
 
Paul Winter
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Paul Winter is noted as being a furrier from Gauden Road, Clapham, S. W. London. He was arrested in Leipzig on 6 NOV 1914 and sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 6
 
 
W. Winter
 
W. Winter was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
 
Jos. Winterhalger
 
Jos. Winterhalger was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as c/o H. Williamson Ltd., 81 Farrington Road, London.
 
 

Charles Freegrove Winzer
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/27 regarding the possible release of Ruhleben prisoner Charles Freegrove Winzer, as a member of French Red Cross.
 
Winzer was also noted in the third issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (May 1916, p.43) as having surprisingly not exhibited in the camp's third art exhibition.
 
Winzer was thanked for his illustrations for the Ruhleben Camp Magazine by its editor, C. G. Pemberton, in the fifth issue (Christmas 1916, p.62).
 
After the war, Winzer was also recorded at the Ruhleben Exhibition on the day that the Crown Princess of Sweden visited. The article appeared on January 30th 1919 in the Times ("Ruhleben Exhibition", p.11, col. F). The Times of February 5th 1919 also tells us that the princess returned on February 4th to the exhibition, and purchased 40 paintings, with the painters selected including Tooby ("Court News", p.11, col. B).
 
In May 2008, I was contacted by Doug Johnson, who has kindly supplied some biographical information on Winzer, for which I am extremely grateful:

Correspondence with the United States Ambassador respecting the Treatment of British Prisoners of War and Interned Civilians in Germany Miscellaneous No 14 (1915) (Cd 7959) HMSO

 

Mr Freegrove Winzer, a British subject, whose domicile is at Paris, is the brother of Baroness Goetz von Seckendorff, whose husband was an officer in the Dragoon Regiment N o 2, and was killed in action at Cambrai last August.  Mr Freegrove Winzer worked at the time in the French and Belgian Red Cross.  He received a passport from the German military authorities at Namur which placed him in the position to cross the German frontier and to go up to Cologne, and this passport contained the request to the military physician-in-chief at Cologne, at whose disposal he was placed, to give him permission for a four days’ trip to Brunswick to visit his sister and then to return to Cologne.  However, Baroness Seckendorff came to Cologne and requested permission to leave Germany.  Mr. Freegrove Winzer received his original passport back with the confirmation by the military authorities that no reason existed to deny him permission for crossing the frontier to Basle.  On his arrival at Leopoldshoe on the Swiss frontier, permission was refused for him to continue on his trip, and he was detained in the ambulance station at Freiburg up to the 8th November 1914.

 
 

Wiseman
 
Wiseman was released from Ruhleben in January 1917, as reported in the Scotsman newspaper on January 31st 1917 ("British Civilians From Ruhleben", p.6).
 
 
Albert Edward Henry Witt
 
Albert Edward Henry Witt was noted as having been transferred from the Lazarette to Barrack 1 on March 5th 1918, in a file held at the National Archives in Kew under accession number MT9/1238. Many thanks to Marcus Bateman.
 
 

Wittkowski
 
Wittkowski was released from Ruhleben in January 1917, as reported in the Scotsman newspaper on January 31st 1917 ("British Civilians From Ruhleben", p.6).
 
 
Oscar Wittman
 
Oscar Wittman is noted as having been resident in Barrack 1 on 16 DEC 1915 on a letter held in the private collection of Dr. Manfred G. Heber in Grand Canaria. He is also noted on a letter dated 20 JAN 1916 and anther dated 15 FEB 1916 (with thanks to Dr. Heber).
 
 
Stanley Wolfski
 
Stanley Wolfski was recorded by fellow internee Christopher Cornforth in 1916, in an autograph book now held at the Imperial War Museum. 
 
Many thanks to Christopher's granddaughter Sue Pierce who provided this information in December 2007.
 
Wolfski is also noted as an addressee on a letter dated 20 JUL 1916 as held by Dr Manfred G. Heber of Grand Canaria, which notes him in Barrack 6 Box 18 (with thanks to Dr. Heber).
 
 

Mr. and Mrs. Wollen
 
The National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 at FO383/52 regarding Mr. and Mrs. Wollen of Annaberg, British subjects interned at Ruhleben, and partners of Messrs C. Knapp & Company. The documents regard the transmission of letters addressed to companies indebted to Knapp & Co.
 
 

Sam Wolstenholme
 
Sam Wolstenholme was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 1 Cemetery Road, Farnworth.
 
Wolstenholme, interned in Barrack 9, and "late of Everton", was referred to in an article on April 21st 1915 in the Scotsman entitled "Football Among War Prisoners in Germany", where it was noted that he had refereed the final in a football tournament held in November 1914 at the Ruhleben camp.
 
He was also noted in the Times of April 20th 1915 (p.5, col B) as having refereed a cup tie in November 1914 at the camp. He is described in this article as being lately of Everton Football Club.
 
Wolstenholme is then noted as playing on the England side, led by Steve Bloomer, in a mock international between England and the Rest of the World on May 2nd 1915. Kick off took place at 4.30pm, and a document with the teams listed was recently discovered amongst some Foreign Office files by the National Archives, in November 2005.
 
He was also named in an article in the Manchester Guardian of Auguist 19th 1915 (p.6) as having participated in a Lincolnshire versus Yorkshire cricket match at Ruhleben.
 
Wolstenholme was described in the Scotsman newspaper of January 10th 1916 (p.10) as being a professional footballer interned at Ruhleben.
 
Wolstenholme was further noted in the second issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (April 1916, p. 29) as having been a member of a football team led by John Cameron, which defeated an opposing side led by Steve Bloomer on March 3rd 1916.
 
Wolstenholme is further recorded in the fourth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magzine (August 1916, p.37) as playing cricket for the Barrack 9 side.
 
A picture of Wolstenholme at Ruhleben can be viewed online at the following link: Steve Bloomer's Farewell Match.
 
 
A. Wood
 
A. Wood is noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Wood
was a merchant seaman on board the Coralie Horlock, and interned in Barrack 9.
 
 
George K. Wood
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, George K. Wood was noted as being from Cranston Road, Forest Hill, London, and as having been born in London in 1887. He worked as a valet and was arrested in Bad Nauheim on 18 AUG 1914. He was held in Bad Nauheuim and Giessen before being sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 7.
 
 

Percy P. Wood
 
Wood is noted in issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) as having given an exhibition of humorous drawings in the Studio at Ruhleben in April 1917, alongside fellow artists Wade and Walker.
"The thanks of the Camp are due to the artists whose genuinely funny but unobtrusive gifts have done so much to show us that there is a humorous side even to Lager life, and it affords us very much pleasure to put on record these few words of appreciation."
Wood also contributed a series of sketches to the Poet's Corner in the same publication.
 
 
S. Wood
 
S. Wood was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 61 Park Road, Dukinfield.
 
 
C. Wood-Springel
 
Dr. Horst Pöethe, president of the Herrigsche Gesselschaft (Germany's oldest literary society), contacted me in May 2008 to say that he had found many books in second hand stores in Berlin which had previously been part of the Ruhleben Camp Library. Inside the covers of some of these books were names of former prisoners, which he has kindly forwarded to me. The following is the signature of C. Wood-Springel of Barrack 10, box 1:

 
 
E. Woodcock
 
E. Woodcock was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 121 Edward Street, Oldham.
 
 
Albert Edward Woodgate
 
Albert Edward Woodgate was one of sixteen men released from Ruhleben in January 1917, as reported in the Times of January 29th 1917 ("Changed Conditions in Germany", p.8, col. G).
 
 
E. Woodhead
 
E. Woodhead is noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Woodhead was a merchant seaman on board the S. S. Hull, and interned in Barrack 4.
 
 

Woodliffe
 
Woodliffe was noted in the football section of the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.58) as being a member of Barrack 22.
 
 

Woods
 
In the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp (June 1915, p.18), Woods' participation in the camp's Debating Society is discussed:
"The Debating Society had a snappy meeting on the 16th. Mr. Rutland put it to the house that civilization had not improved our happiness in the least, which Mr. Woods opposed."
 
 

Woodthorpe
 
Woodthorpe was noted in the second issue of In Ruhleben Camp (June 1915, p.19) as being newly elected to the committee of the Ruhleben Dramatic Society, as a replacement for Mr. Anderson, who had just resigned.
 
 

A. Woodward
 
A. Woodward was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 29 Worsley Street, Rochdale Road, Manchester.
 
Woodward is made fun of in a sketch in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.37), when it is suggested that after the war, he should become a dancer in the Grand Opera.
 
 
E. Wooley
 
E. Wooley was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 10 Groby Street, Stalybridge.
 
 

William Woolhouse
 
William Woolhouse is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Woolhouse is recorded as having been born on November 27th 1866 in Goole, and is described as having been a stoker on the "Edwin Hunter" prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 74 Edinburgh Street, Goole. At the time the register was recorded, Woolhouse was noted as staying in loft A, having transferred there from Barrack 14 on April 19th 1915. He returned to England on January 2nd 1918.
 
 

F. Woolner
 
F. Woolner, of South Shields, was named in a list of merchant seamen interned at Ruhleben, as published by the Scotsman newspaper on 7/1/1915 (p.7).
 
 
R. Woolridge
 
R. Woolridge is noted on a list of prisoners of war on a document entitled 'Men in Englander Lager, Ruhleben', held by Hull Local Studies Library (provisional catalogue entry: Hohenrein Collection F 10b), supplied by senior local studies librarian David Alexander Smith in July 2008, for which I am grateful. The document notes that Woolridge was a merchant seaman on board the Euclid, and interned in Barrack 17.
 
 
W. Wornpener
 
W. Wornpener was recorded as being in Barrack 14 on a postcard dated 10 MAR 1916, now held by Dr. Manfred G. Heber in Grand Canaria (with thanks to Dr. Heber). 
 
 
A. Y. Worthington
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, A. Y. Worthington is noted as being from Hillesdon, Leeks, Staffordshire. He was a student in Marburg, arrested on 6 NOV 1914, and sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 6.
 
As A. Worthington he was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as c/o E. Sutton, Broughton House, Manchester.
 
 
Wright
 
Wright was recorded by fellow internee Christopher Cornforth, in an autograph book now held at the Imperial War Museum. He was interned in Barrack 11.
 
Many thanks to Christopher's granddaughter Sue Pierce who provided this information in December 2007.
 
 

Sergeant C. Wright
 
The National Archives in London holds documents from 1915 at FO383/51 regarding Sergeant C. Wright, of the Royal Engineers, who had been in the employment of the Sudan Government before his internment at Ruhleben. The documents concern an enquiry from his brother, Henry Wright of Thornton Heath, Surrey, regarding the possible allotment of pay from the Sudanese Government.
 
NB: This may be either of the above unknown Wrights.
 
 
David Wright
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, we learn that David Wright was previously resident in 81 Felixstowe Road, Lower Edmonton, was born in 1895, and was a gardener arrested in Hamburg. After a period of being interned in Meldorf, he was sent to Ruhleben where he was interned in Barrack 2.
 
A gent called Wright was further noted in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.58) as having played for the losing Brearley's XI side against Cameron's XI on October 7th 1916. The score was 4-2 to the Cameron team.
 
A gent called Wright was also in the Barrack 20 football team at Ruhleben, and according to issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) played in the cup final in April 1917. The first leg was a scoreless draw, and in the rematch three days later, Barrack 20 won, 3-0. However, another footballer was known in the camp by the name Wright - Percy Wright - so this being David remains unconfirmed.
 
 

J. Wright
 
J. Wright was noted in The Times of December 8th 1915 as having been one of the 160 prisoners released from Ruhleben on the previous day who had travelled by train to Flushing ("Returning Civilians" p.9, col.F).
 
 
Percy Wright
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Percy Wright is noted as being a clerk from 3 Rue Clementine in Brussels. He was arrested in Brussels on 30 JAN 1915 and sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 6.
 
A gent called Wright was further noted in the fifth issue of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (Christmas 1916, p.58) as having played for the losing Brearley's XI side against Cameron's XI on October 7th 1916. The score was 4-2 to the Cameron team.
 
A gent called Wright was also in the Barrack 20 football team at Ruhleben, and according to issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) played in the cup final in April 1917. The first leg was a scoreless draw, and in the rematch three days later, Barrack 20 won, 3-0. However, another footballer was known in the camp by the name Wright - David Wright - so this being Percy remains unconfirmed.
 
A P. Wright won first prize at Ruhleben in a one mile race in 1915. The cup is currently held by David Cohen, who kindly supplied the following photo in January 2008:

P. Wright - First Prize 1915

 
Captain W. Wright
 
The National Archives in London holds documents from 1915 at FO383/78 concerning an appeal by Lt-Col The Hon Sir Newton James Moore for the release of Captain W. Wright, a prisoner at Ruhleben.
 
 
A. R. Wust
 
A. R. Wust was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 17 Amherst Street, Withington.
 
 

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Yarnold
 
Yarnold was in the Barrack 20 football team at Ruhleben, and according to issue six of the Ruhleben Camp Magazine (June 1917) played in the cup final in April 1917. The first leg was a scoreless draw, and in the rematch three days later, Barrack 20 won, 3-0.
 
 

F. Willson Yeates
 
The National Archives in London hold records from 1915 at FO383/76 regarding F. Willson Yeates, a British subject interned at Ruhleben, with a request that six £10 circular notes belonging to him and left with the U.S. Consul General at Frankfort, be sent to his wife, Mrs. Mary Yeates of Leicester Gardens, London.
 
 

W. Youngson
 
W. Youngson was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as 21 Brookdale Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool.
 
 
A. Ysenberg
 
A. Ysenberg was one of the Ruhleben prisoners to sign a message of greeting to Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary of English Freemasons, postmarked December 9th 1914, and printed in the Times of December 28th 1914 (page 3, col. B). The message stated:
"Worshipful Sir & Bro.,
 
We the undersigned brethren, at present interned with other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben - Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."
 
 
David Yule
 
David Yule is listed in the surviving register from Barrack 5 at Ruhleben (register number 2), recorded by Neville Stanley Wilkinson in approximately 1916. In the register, Yule is recorded as having been born on June 25th 1895 in Grevenbroich, Germany, and is described as having been a student prior to his internment. His home address was listed as 24 North Gate, Regents Park, London, N.W. At the time the register was recorded, Yule was noted as staying in Box 24.
 
From the handbook of the Ruhleben Football Association Season 1915, Yule is noted as being from Bedfont Lodge, Bedfont, Middlesex, and as having been born in Cologne in 1895. He was a student in Cologne, where he was arrested on 5 SEP 1914. After a brief period held in Cologne he was sent to Ruhleben, where he was interned in Barrack 5. 
 
Yule was recorded as a member of the Ruhleben Lancastrian Society in the Manchester Guardian of January 15th 1915 (p.12). The article is entitled "Interned in Germany: Lancashire's Civilian Prisoners: Full List of Those Detained at Ruhleben". His address was recorded as Hulme Hall, Victoria Park, Manchester.
 
Between November 12th 1917 and December 11th, Yule spent some time in the camp's Schonungsbaracke, with a further stay between March 18th 1918 and April 25th. He later relocated to Holland on April 25th 1918.
 
Many thanks to Janine Thorp in England for her contribution to this site via the guestbook in February 2008:
My husband was adopted, but his maternal grandfather was David Yule, who was studying in Germany, until it was discovered his mother was Jewish. He apparently escaped at some point, family has it he was perhaps helped by his uncle, Sir David Yule.
 
 

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Z
 
 
P. Zabel
 
A postcard written by P. Zabel was illustrated in Frank Bachenheimer's "A Postal History Study of...The Ruhleben P.O.W. Camp 1914-1918", printed by The German Philatelic Society in 1980 (Fig 5a,b).
 
The card indictaes that Zabel was a prisoner in Barrack 3, box 14, and was addressed to L. Crooks, Esq, at 28829 Threadneedle Street in London, and written on November 16th 1915.
 
The text is difficult to read, but most of it as follows:
Dear Crooks. Its a long while since I haad heard from you. I trust that you are well. Did you get my p.c where I asked you to get me a pair of ..???... riding breeches and patties? Many thanks for sending mother a ..???... They are made more regularly now. Things are just about the same here, nothing to do and plenty of us to do it in. Please remember me to everybody.
 
Yours P. Zabel
 
 

Jacob Zemachovitz
 
Jacob Zemachowitz was named in an undated Foreign Office document contained within file FO 369/710, entitled Russenlager Ruhleben (Ruhleben Russian Camp), implying it was compiled at the outbreak of internment in 1914. He was described as a 32 year old businessman previously at work in Africa.
 
Zemachowitz is also listed as being at Ruhleben in a list in FO 369/710 dated 11 OCT 1914, communicated to the Foreign Office by a Nurse Coe (with thanks to Simon Fowler).
 
The National Archives in London holds another document from 1915 at FO383/27 regarding Jacob Zemaehovitz, namely with regard to enquiries from the Government of the Union of South Africa.
 
 

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