A swift solution

The government then hastily converted the former Territorial Army camp at Knockaloe Moar Farm, on the west coast, south of the miniature city of Peel with its ancient castle and cathedral, into a fully fledged internment camp. It opened on 17 November 1914 and ultimately held no fewer than 24,000 prisoners, housed in 23 compounds inside 695 miles of encircling barbed wire.

The government drafted in more than 4,000 retired soldiers as an armed guard, while at least 250 civilians were employed in running the camp, which was three miles in