A visit to Knockaloe

Recently, while overseas, I undertook travel to the Isle of Man and during my time there included a visit to Knockaloe. I had not fully realised the extraordinary story of the Knockaloe Internment Camp. This camp was located on the Isle of Man and was one of the largest internment camps during World War I. It housed over 23,000 prisoners of war and 3,000 guards between 1914 and 1919.

Aspects of Interest

Firstly, no internment camp, whether Knockaloe or any other, is a place that anyone would ever wish to be. Despite there being some quite positive aspects to the Knockaloe Internment Camp, the conditions were still harsh.

Internees faced psychological strain as it was a camp that was heavily guarded as well as being quite isolated. In addition, escape attempts were difficult and generally without success.

Knockaloe had some progressive welfare initiatives, while also having in common many of the hardships found in other internment camps. The internees at Knockaloe faced significant mental health challenges, often referred to as “barbed-wire disease”. This captured the sheer depression and anxiety felt by internees as a result of prolonged confinement.

The Camp’s Organisation

The organisation of the camp reveals some interesting aspects which particularly contributed to its successes in terms of internee welfare.

1. A Vision, Plan and Execution strategy

Firstly, the camp operated in an orderly and planned manner, demonstrating efficiency and an effective organisation. This was in large part due to there being a clear camp structure which was underpinned by widespread clarity around roles and responsibilities, and an understanding of the day-to-day functioning of the camp.

2. Seeking to Achieve a Sense of Normality

One key objective of the camp was a focus on various rehabilitation programs, even being open to the innovative program suggestion. These programs included a range of educational and vocational training for the internees. It ensured that internees had various options to be both productively engaged during the day and also to explore acquiring new skills. In addition, in the main all of these skills could be used by the internees upon their release from Knockaloe.

One innovative rehabilitation program was the development of various fitness and exercise routines by Joseph Pilates. Pilates even resorted to using makeshift equipment to create his resistance-based designed exercises. The significant benefit of this program was it helped maintain both the physical health of internees while also offering them a mental and emotional outlet.

3. Community and Cultural Activities

While not viewed as part of the rehabilitation programs, community and cultural activities, such as sports, music and theatre, were highly supported and promoted. This, too, ensured that internees were kept occupied, not just with mindless activities, but with activities that facilitated a real sense of community among the internees.

What cannot be under-estimated is the positive impact on the mental well-being of the internees and more broadly the creation of a more positive tone throughout the camp environment.

4. Humanitarian Efforts

Finally, various humanitarian organisations had a major role in supporting internees through the provision of aid, also acting in the role of a go-between in communications with families, as well as pushing for better living conditions in the camp.

Joseph Pilates

One internee of this camp was Joseph Pilates. While here helping patients in the infirmary, Pilates invented various innovative exercises and rehabilitative machines. Through his Knockaloe experiences, Pilates further refined his system of exercises, which he named “Contrology.”

Joseph Pilates brought several distinctive insights to his work, which have significantly influenced the field of physical fitness and rehabilitation. These insights were:

1. Holistic Approach to Fitness – balancing the mind and body. It is about achieving overall well-being, not just physical fitness
2. Core Strength and Control – focus on the core musculature or “powerhouse” of the body as this is key to overall physical health
3. Innovative Equipment and Techniques – develop equipment that offers unique ways to enhance strength and flexibility
4. Emphasis on Breathing and Precision – undertake movements along with proper breathing techniques as it achieves optimal performance of exercises as well as an improvement in overall health
5. Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention – helping injured soldiers and later dancers and athletes recover and improve their performance, a good choice for physical therapy

Knockaloe’s Successes

In looking at the stories of Knockaloe there seemed to emerge a sense that as a camp it managed some successes as far as the welfare of internees is concerned. What might be the reasons for this?

The success of Knockaloe Internment Camp can be attributed to all of the earlier comments but there is more.

It seemed to have also relied upon several interconnected factors that contributed to the well-being of the internees. These factors were:

1. involvement of internees in self-governance
2. provision of meaningful activities and
3. support systems

The Knockaloe Internment Camp established internee committees. These committees engaged the internees in actively managing their daily lives. So, camp life, involving the distribution of resources, maintenance of order and coordination of cultural and educational activities, were dependent on the proper and effective functioning of these internee committees.

This empowering of internees through offering them meaningful involvement in decision-making matters that directly impacted the lives of the internees, meant that there was developed a sense of both ownership and responsibility for the life of the camp as well as their own and others’ lives.

Through offering meaningful work including agriculture and handicrafts, internees achieved a sense of purpose while also enabling internees to contribute to the running of the camp. In addition, the camp provided internees with multiple educational opportunities as well as cultural activities ensuring that people had an outlet for creativity and emotional expression.

Importantly, healthcare services were offered through both British and qualified internees which sought to provide the level of medical care that was necessary to adequately maintain the general health of those at the camp. On a proactive side, there was also a focus on maintaining proper cleanliness and hygiene to achieve an acceptable level of general welfare throughout the camp.

Finally, in addition to the sense of community among the internees gained via the self-governance model, other social bonds and mutual support networks were established i.e. presence of religious services, seeking to meet the spiritual needs of the internees, while also offering a sense of normality within a suspended reality environment.

Conclusion

When reflecting on this camp’s history and the individuals who made a life there, it is hard not to admire the spirit of so many who managed to move past this experience after 1919. Joseph Pilates went on to further develop his life’s work.

Clearly not bowed by the enormity of the circumstances he faced, Pilates explored what was within his reach and capability and endeavoured to make the most of what opportunities were on offer.

Finally, organisationally, there seem some obvious messages for today’s managers especially in the empowering of staff offering clarity for their roles and support structure and systems for them to engage and deliver successful products/services as part of the holistic plan.

DISCLAIMER: This article is general only in nature and is not advice.