Historian2 Posted 17 May , 2016 Share Posted 17 May , 2016 I'm researching for a book. I see that there was a comment posted mentioning a list of internees at the Hotel Palace in Murren during WWI - does anyone know how I could find this? I want to know if anyone from the 51st or 256 brigade were sent there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neill Gilhooley Posted 22 July , 2016 Share Posted 22 July , 2016 (edited) On 28/04/2016 at 22:20, Bruce Taylor said: Here is postcard of Jungfrau hotel not postal used but must be between 1916-18. Note the YMCA sign above door, dog also centre pic... Excellent photograph, looks like it is directly opposite the YMCA hut http://interned-in-switzerland-1916.ch/envira/ww1-photos/ and http://calmview.bham.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XYMCA%2fK%2f1%2f9%2f136 The YMCA hut is described in May 1917, so must pre-date then (Reverend R. Bulstrode http://www.switzerland1914-1918.net/blog/a-painting-by-british-soldiers-interned-in-switzerland) Edited 22 July , 2016 by Neill Gilhooley add extra link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Jackson Posted 22 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 22 July , 2016 On 17 May 2016 at 17:05, Historian2 said: I'm researching for a book. I see that there was a comment posted mentioning a list of internees at the Hotel Palace in Murren during WWI - does anyone know how I could find this? I want to know if anyone from the 51st or 256 brigade were sent there. Hi did you manage to find a list of internees at The Grand Palace Hotel. I had thought about contacting the hotel direct as I have been told that many hotels hold historic records hotel visitors/patrons even during this war time period Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 24 July , 2016 Share Posted 24 July , 2016 My great uncle (see previous posts), who was interned at Mürren, states that the YMCA was opened around September 1916: ‘About this time the Y.M.C.A. was opened. It was situated on the ground floor of a vacant hotel, the Jungfrau. In it one could buy tinned milk, cakes and other refreshments. It was run by a Mr. Whitwell ...'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Jackson Posted 25 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 25 July , 2016 22 hours ago, Acknown said: My great uncle (see previous posts), who was interned at Mürren, states that the YMCA was opened around September 1916: ‘About this time the Y.M.C.A. was opened. It was situated on the ground floor of a vacant hotel, the Jungfrau. In it one could buy tinned milk, cakes and other refreshments. It was run by a Mr. Whitwell ...'. Hi Interesting snippets! How long was he there? Any possiblity of seeing more of what you have. Never know what may link up with other sources. Especially interested in the period from December 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 8 August , 2016 Share Posted 8 August , 2016 Paddy, Thank you. My great uncle was in the 1st Canadian Division and I have his extensive WW1 memoires. He was in Murren from August 1916 to December 1918, having arrived there from Gottingen POW camp, with wounded arm received at St. Julien in April 1915. I'm currently 'contextualising' his words and will try to get the result published, but I'm happy to answer any questions. Sadly, he mentions only a few fellow internees' names and they are hard to identify. Best wishes, Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neill Gilhooley Posted 9 August , 2016 Share Posted 9 August , 2016 Morning Acknown, Sounds like a great project, I'm sure we are all looking forward to seeing it. My interest is in Pte William Ross, arrived Murren May 1916 'in the first batch'; and Pte Andrew Lees, arrived Murren end-1916; both 9th Royal Scots. Regards, Neill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 9 August , 2016 Share Posted 9 August , 2016 There are references to Murren in Vol,1Randal Nichol's fascinating new history of Scots Guards at war and a chapter specifically on Prisoners of War (Vol 1) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Jackson Posted 10 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 10 August , 2016 On 09 August 2016 at 08:54, Neill Gilhooley said: Morning Acknown, Sounds like a great project, I'm sure we are all looking forward to seeing it. My interest is in Pte William Ross, arrived Murren May 1916 'in the first batch'; and Pte Andrew Lees, arrived Murren end-1916; both 9th Royal Scots. Regards, Neill Neill Small point Randall Nicol states that Murren was first used 13 August 1916 and that is probably right though not sure of his source. See this extract from his new book "From the Spring of 1916 there was an agreement that seriously wounded or sick British and German officers and men who were prisoners of war in each other's hands might be interned in Switzerland, subject to the Swiss authorities being satisfied that individuals' medical conditions justified it and subject to undertakings being given by other governments that in the highly unlikely event of any internee escaping and being apprehended, in Italy, for example, he would be returned to Switzerland. The internees were subject to Swiss military discipline, exercised when it arose by Swiss Army doctors. The first British parties from Germany, totalling thirty-two officers and four hundred and twenty other ranks, arrived by train at the end of May 1916. They were settled initially at Chateau D'Oex or, if they had TB, at Leysin. From 13 August Murren also started to take those who were badly injured. All were Alpine villages, beginning to be known as resorts. Wives were allowed out for limited visits, limited because of the shortage of suitable accommodation, fifty at a time at Chateau D'Oex, ten at Leysin, none at Murren." Still hoping to see what Acknown's Great Uncle wrote about Murren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Jackson Posted 10 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 10 August , 2016 On 08 August 2016 at 19:08, Acknown said: Paddy, Thank you. My great uncle was in the 1st Canadian Division and I have his extensive WW1 memoires. He was in Murren from August 1916 to December 1918, having arrived there from Gottingen POW camp, with wounded arm received at St. Julien in April 1915. I'm currently 'contextualising' his words and will try to get the result published, but I'm happy to answer any questions. Sadly, he mentions only a few fellow internees' names and they are hard to identify. Best wishes, Acknown Acknown Hope you are following this thread. Would you have anything I could see at this stage if I private message you. Does sound like a very rich resource you have. Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neill Gilhooley Posted 10 August , 2016 Share Posted 10 August , 2016 (edited) Thanks Paddy, good information. My error to suggest Murren. Ross is interviewed in WO 161/99/22 and was in Ingoldstadt until 26th May 1916 then "left with the first party to come to Switzerland about the end of May 1915" [clearly 1916 from context]. His Red Cross papers in fact state Chateau d’Oex. Lees specifies Murren in WO 161/99/123, he was in Cassel (Kassel) up to 20th December 1916. Andrew Gray Lees: From John Duncan's fine collection http://www.newbattleatwar.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=50634931 Further info https://neillgilhooley.com/9th-royal-scots/index/ Edited 10 August , 2016 by Neill Gilhooley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 14 August , 2016 Share Posted 14 August , 2016 Dear Paddy and Neill, According to his memoirs, my great-uncle crossed the border into Switzerland during the evening of 11th August 1916. He and his colleagues left Mannheim POW Camp early in the morning, where they had staged for two months, collected officers at Heidleberg, left Konstantz at 8.30 pm and shouted themselves hoarse as they arrived in Switzerland. They passed through Zurich, where they were cheered and provisioned by the 'English colony', got to Zurich at 1 am (on the 12th), where they had a meal, left Berne at 6 am and arrived at Interlaken where they boarded a cogwheel mountain train for Lauterbrunnen. Having been addressed by the British Minister for Switzerland, they took the steep funicular railway to Grutschalp and from there on a short tram to Mürren. Having stayed on to tend to the influenza casualties at Murren in late 1918, my great-uncle left there on 20th December stating: 'thus was on the first funicular of interned to come to Mürren and on the last to leave’. He doesn't mention anyone called Ross or Lees. I hope you will understand that, as I intend to try to get these memoirs published, I will not be sharing them at this stage. But I'm still happy to search them for any specific details you might need. Best wishes, Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neill Gilhooley Posted 15 August , 2016 Share Posted 15 August , 2016 Thank you Acknown, good of you to check these two names for me. Looking forward to it being published, best of luck with the project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Jackson Posted 15 August , 2016 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2016 Yes thank you Acknown. I have a list of Cheshire Officers who arrived on same date if you are interested. None from Mannheim however. Can't seem to upload it here but could email if you pm me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 15 August , 2016 Share Posted 15 August , 2016 Paddy, I'm most grateful, but not necessary thanks. My great-uncle mentions, and I have researched, the principle officers at Murren and he was a Canadian (though born in England) private soldier. He was incarcerated in Gottingen from May 15 to Jun 16, then those there who were selected for Switzerland (by a medical board that assessed their injuries) were sent to cool their heels at Mannheim for two months whilst they were inspected again, this time by a Swiss commission and, I presume, the paperwork was completed. Having been told that they were going straight to Switzerland, this was a blow. Best wishes, Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neill Gilhooley Posted 27 September , 2016 Share Posted 27 September , 2016 There are some lists of men transferred to Switzerland in this record: http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/1668323/1873/50406/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 19 October , 2018 Share Posted 19 October , 2018 On 31/03/2016 at 21:06, Maureene said: If you can't get the report from any other sources, Naval and Military Press have a reprint edition. Currently there is an Easter sale until 11 April. http://www.naval-military-press.com/voluntary-aid-rendered-to-the-sick-and-wounded-at-home-and-abroad-and-to-british_prisoners-of-war-1914-1919.html Originally issued as : Reports by the Joint War Committee and the Joint War Finance Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England on voluntary aid rendered to the sick and wounded at home and abroad and to British prisoners of war 1914–1919, with appendices, London 1921, HMSO Cheers Maureen The above reprint from Naval & Military Press, Reports by the Joint War Committee and the Joint War Finance Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England on voluntary aid rendered to the sick and wounded at home and abroad and to British prisoners of war 1914–1919, with appendices, originally published 1921 HMSO, is available as an online book on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3, titled Reports by the Joint War Committee and the (located in World War II/Military Books/Britain letter R) Cheers Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 19 October , 2018 Share Posted 19 October , 2018 Maureene, Many thanks. Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levens History Posted 10 March , 2019 Share Posted 10 March , 2019 On 03/12/2015 at 23:44, Svenja said: Bird Thomas, Korporal, Kings Own Royal Lancashire, zurzeit internierter Kriegsgefangener in Mürren, ledig, von Levens (England), mit ??wood, Isabella, ledig von Levens. This man is Tom HIRD. His marriage is reported in the Westmorland Gazette July 21st 1917 A prisoner of war's wedding One of the five weddings which took place in the English church at Murren, Switzerland on the 23rd May was that of Sergeant Tom Hird, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Hird of Force Cottages, Sedgwick and Isabella Ellwood, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellwood, Whitbarrow View, Levens. The Rev. E. Bulstrode performed the ceremony. The bride was dressed in a mole-coloured costume with a black hat trimmed with sea pinks and carried a bouquet of pink carnations presented by Capt. Stopart, the Swiss commandant. The bride was given away by Corporal Snowden, of the 13th Canadians and was attended by Miss May Russel who acted as bridesmaid, her dress being of pale blue silk and she wore a wreath of mountain flowers. Sergt. Hird was attended by Lance-Corporal Kingsworth who acted as best man. As the bridal parties entered the church to the accompaniment of Mendelssohn's wedding march and afterwards were entertained to a wedding buffet by Miss Hill, senior escort of the British Red Cross. Sergt. Hird has been a prisoner of war since the 15th June 1915. He was captured at the battle of Festubert and was badly wounded in the leg, but has since been transferred to Switzerland where he has quite recovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Jackson Posted 10 March , 2019 Author Share Posted 10 March , 2019 Very interesting info - I wonder how many more internees were married at Murren and whether the English church still exists? Hoping to see copies of BIM (British internee Magazine) a magazine produced in Murren which may shed some light on these and other activities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 11 March , 2019 Share Posted 11 March , 2019 There are more marriages mentioned in post 37 Cheers Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 11 March , 2019 Share Posted 11 March , 2019 Fascinating read. Recently published Keeping the Old Flag Flying is a memoir by British Canadian soldier, prisoners war and later internee at Murren. A very perceptive, enjoyable, unusual and worthwhile book by Mike Richardson based on notebooks, letters and documents of Kenneth Foyster. ISBN 978 1 912694 39. Happy to recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 11 March , 2019 Share Posted 11 March , 2019 3 minutes ago, David Filsell said: Fascinating read. Recently published Keeping the Old Flag Flying is a memoir by British Canadian soldier, prisoners war and later internee at Murren. A very perceptive, enjoyable, unusual and worthwhile book by Mike Richardson based on notebooks, letters and documents of Kenneth Foyster. ISBN 978 1 912694 39. Happy to recommend it. I agree. Just finished reading it, and have half-drafted my own review, which I hope to post later this week. It has more info about relatives visiting internees and a few marriages. Synopsis here Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 11 March , 2019 Share Posted 11 March , 2019 Mr m 👍 David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 12 March , 2019 Share Posted 12 March , 2019 (edited) It's a wet miserable day, so I've been able to complete my review sooner than anticipated. It's here. Moonraker Edited 12 March , 2019 by Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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