The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present a set of 8 stamps to document the postal history of the Knockaloe Internment Camp on the Isle of Man. (A Miniature Sheet is also available). For the duration of the First World War there were two large camps on the Island: a requisitioned holiday camp in Douglas, holding some 3000 internees, and Knockaloe, a mile south of Peel, which was purpose-built using prefabricated huts and included its own railway link. 

Almost 24,000 men classified as ‘enemy aliens’ were detained at Knockaloe with a military and civilian workforce of around 3,000 individuals looking after them. Many persons of note from the Manx community were employed, the most famous of whom was Archibald Knox, Manx-born artist and designer for Liberty & Co, London. From 1914 until 1918 he served at the camp as a mail censor. Another well-known figure was local politician Arthur Binns Crookhall MHK & MLC, a caterer and philanthropist who was awarded the contract to feed some 28,000 people every day for the duration of the war, initially at the Douglas camp and later Knockaloe. The camps closed at the end of the War, the buildings were sold and Knockaloe returned to farmland. “The Isle of Man Post Office would like to thank everyone who has provided assistance, guidance and permissions to reproduce artwork during the preparation of this stamp issue: Mr Kerry Kemp and Mannin Collections”.

This issue can be viewed and purchased through WOPA, under Isle of Man 2011 Stamp Issues, Postal History Knockaloe Camp

Technical Details

Issue Date: 08.08.2011
Designer: Kcreative
Printer: Cartor Security Printing
Process: Offset lithography
Colours: 4-colour offset
Size: 42 x 28mm
Values: GBP4.96, GBP5.71, GBP5.66

 Source: WOPA 

published September 1st, 2011