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Prisoner of War , Internment Camps and Gibraltar Camp , Jamai ca .

Section X. Women' s Internment Camp .

As mentioned there is no phi latelic evidence of women enemy aliens in World War I
but the few there may have been were probably confined to local hotels or placed on
parole, in both cases under police supervision, must likely the latter.
Although there are many references to a Women' s Internment Camp during Worl d War II
the ladies and some of the Children were l odged at 93, Hanover Street , Kingston, a
former girl ' s school; below it is now referred to as "Hanover Camp" .

In World War II it appears that initially there were only four ladies and their
children, long time residents , and although of they had been naturalized British
subjects for some years they were imprisoned as they were of German extraction.
These families were probably not connected with the former German residents and their
descendants living in the isolated villages mentioned earlier . The ladies now
mentioned stood trial in July, 1940, to argue their case against internment on the
grounds of their British Citizenship - their application was turned down and they were
interned.

It was at this stage that it was decided there must be separate accommodation for
the women and men prisoners and Hanover Camp was requisitioned; the building was
considered suitable as although in the business area of Kingston it was surrounded by
a high wall and easy to control.

The situation soon changed with the arrival of the women and children from West
Africa, at it's maximum the inmates comprised some 85 German women and 46 children ,
and there were also the Italian contingent, numbers not recorded here .

The quarters were said to be cramped compared to the men' s quarters at Up Park Camp,
and the Supervising Power (Switzerland} made complaints as to the quantities of food
and arranged for money to purchase additional supplies through the German Red Cross,
after which conditions were remedied . When the original women had appealed they had
also requested the formation of family units, as did the West Africans, so they could
be together with their menfolk.

Unt il the arrival of the West Africans life at Hanover Camp was probably quite
peaceful, suddenly 63 families arrived, unfamiliar and alien. The original families
having grown up in Jamaica's cosmopolitan population were suddenly forced to absorb
the West African people, who were more used to a servile population of Negroes, and
the newcomers therefore resented having to take orders from Jamaicans - a situation
that spelled trouble !

Indeed, there was a hunger strike after which the idea of family units was agreed,
the building of such uni ts was a gradual process , but as Hanover Camp was closed down
during 1942, it seems likely that by that time family and other units were available
although these were reported not be completed until 1944. It should be added that the
men were allowed to visit their wives and families and were ferried in coaches and
occasionally the roles were reversed so that the women could used the sport facilities .
Ever week or so excursions for the women and children were allowed and a kindergarten
was established by the local YMCA; amongst the women were three doctors and seven
nursing s isters who undertook medical car e , serious cases went to Kingston hospital and
several children were born in the Kingston Maternity Home .

It was thought that Hanover Camp was guarded by the Jamaican ATS as it was early
decided that males should not be involved in internal security. However, internal
security was the duty of female staff of the Prison Service and later female recruits.
These officers were not popular with the West Africans, whilst the police provided the
outside guard .