Somes Prisoners
1917 Alien Register
The following 'list in progress' is the Somes Island section of the Alien Register compiled under the Registration of Aliens, 1917. This list covers the men interned on Somes Island in late 1917, and consequently a significant number of people who spent time on the island in the course of the war will be missing from it.
These include men who were released on parole (who instead had to report weekly to their local police station) and those interned throughout 1918. The last year of the war was a time when the impact of the huge number of Kiwi deaths at Passchendale (1917), and the sinking of the trans-Tasman passenger steamer Wimmera by a mine laid by a German raider, greatly heightened passions against Germans in particular who were living in New Zealand. This significant group of 'omitted' (mostly 1918) men includes such high profile POWs as the legendary German raider captain Count Felix von Luckner (who was NEVER on Somes Island, though some of his crew were), Karl Joosten and George Dibbern.
An expanded list of known POWs will follow in due course, however, the files of the people who were paroled and who did nothing further to draw attention to themselves, appear to have at some stage been purged.
Other men were also interned on Motuihi Island near Auckland at this time. Most of these men were captured in Western Samoa. Another small group were held at the Devonport Detention Barracks at the time the Alien Register was compiled. Those lists will follow in due course.
The column headings are: Name, sex, age (in late 1917), marital status, where born, number of years in NZ, national allegiance (Foreign or British National [incl. NZ]), occupation, address at time of arrest.
Total shown here: 277 men, of whom 234 (84%) were German
(Note: The entries below will be completed shortly)
| Name | Sex - Age - Marital Status | Born - time in NZ - Nationality | Occupation - Where captured |
| Allmeritter, Fritz | Male, 24, single | Germany, 2 yrs, Foreign | waiter, Wellington |
| Andersen, Frederick | M, 32, single | Germany, 7 yrs, F | farmer, Birkenhead |
| Anderson, Fred | M, 44, single | Germany, 18 yrs, F | wharf labourer, Hobson St., Wellington |
| Appelt, Wilhelm | M, 37, single | Germany, 3 yrs, F | labourer, Palmerston North |
| Arndt, Albert Fritz | M 32, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | able seaman, 'SS Orari' |
| Arnold, Paul | M, 30, single | Germany, 3 yrs, F | labourer, Taihape |
| Baer, Philipp | M, 28, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | steward, 'SS Matatua' |
|
Ballin, Max |
M, 67, single | Germany, 37 yrs, British National | book-keeper, Whangarei |
Bast, Karl R. |
M, 33, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Matatua' |
|
Beermann, Theodore |
M, 52, married | Germany, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
Bein, Gustav Adolph |
M, 38, single | Germany, 1 yr, F | fireman, Lyttelton |
Bellman, Christoph |
M, 39, single | Germany, 15 yrs, F | cook, Masterton |
Bercic, Antonio |
M, 28, single | Austria, 10 yrs, F | cook, Wellington |
Berger, Linus |
M, 29, single | Austria, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Opawa' |
Bilke, Edward |
M, 23, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | able seaman, Auckland |
Biller, Felix |
M, 42, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Pakeha' |
|
Blank, Julius August |
M, 21, single | Germany, 3 yrs, F | clerk, Napier |
Blinn, Gustav |
M, 31, single | Germany, 13 yrs, F | cook & baker, Christchurch |
Bock, Fred Martin |
M, 54, married | Germany, 13 yrs, F | upolsterer, Auckland |
Bollenbacher, Rudolph |
M, 43, married | Germany, 4 yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Bornhold, Adolph Max A. | M, 54, married | Germany, 18 yrs, BN | watchmaker etc., Mangaweka |
| Borck, Karl | M, 47, single | Germany, 23 yrs, F | able seaman, 162 Taranaki St., Wellington |
| Boro, Jacob | M, 42, single | Austria, 22 yrs, BN | labourer, Auckland |
| Borschel, George | M, 41, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Opawa' |
| Bougard, Otto | M, 41, single | Germany, 15 yrs, F | labourer, Auckland |
| Boyens, Christian | M, 25, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | planter, Samoa |
| Brenner, Gustav | M, 32, married | Germany, 0 yrs, F | manager, Samoa |
| Bunz, Theodor | M, 33, single | Germany, 13 yrs, F | sheepfarmer, Kaipara |
| Benzel, Max Edward | M 37, single | Germany, 15 yrs, BN | cook, Wellington |
| Cannes, Frank | M, 33, single | Germany, 3 yrs, F | baker, Wellington |
| Christmann, Ludwig | M, 39, married | Germany, 4 yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Cirtanovic, Ivan | M, 34, single | Austria, 21 yrs, F | shopman, Wellington |
| Crell, Arthur | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Dalchow, Reanbard | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Derkmann, Fritz | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Dethloff, Olfred | M, 32, single | Germany, 15 yrs, F | able seaman |
| Devcich, Marian Anton | M, , married | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Deynzer, Louis | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
| Diehl, Edmund | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
| Diester, Ernst | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Dragicevich, Jure | M, , married | Dalmatia, yrs, BN | Wellington |
| Dubois, Louis | M, , single | France, 4 yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
| Duerkop, Heinrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Eberhardt, Adolf | M, 46, married | Germany, ? yrs, F | planter, Samoa |
| Eder, Michael | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
|
Eder, Otto |
M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Eilender, Lothar Richard | M, 33, single | Germany, 6 yrs, F | secretary, Auckland |
| Ellis, Bernard | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | Wellington |
|
Evart, Fredernad Karl |
M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
|
Feierabend, Gottlieb |
M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
|
Ferris, Matthew Arthur |
M, , married | Dalmatia, yrs, BN | |
|
Fisher, Arthur |
M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Fitz, Joseph | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman, Wellington |
| Foeke, Eberhart | M, 63, married | Germany, 39 yrs, BN | merchant, Wellington |
| Franckenberg, Antonio | M, , widower | Austria, yrs. F | Wellington |
| Frank, Georg | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman, Wellington |
| Fraub, Johannes | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Frey, Rudolf | M, , widower | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
|
Fritz, Karl |
M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Fuihs, John | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Gaisebock, Johann | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Garchow, Erich | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Gathermann, Ernst | M, , divorced | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Gayen, Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Gebaner, Paul | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Geipel, Adolf Friedrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Goedecke, Heinrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Gonnenberg, Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Gönning, Hermann Albert | M, , widower | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Gottschalk, Karl Max | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Graw, Albert Otto | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Grenz, Gottfried | M, , single | Luxemburg, 2 yrs, F | |
| Grossmann, George | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Groth, Yens Henry | M, 44, married | Germany, 10 yrs, F | showman, Wellington |
| Hadler, Carl | M, 31, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | marine fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Haffer, Pome | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Hall, Robert | M, 38, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | opals buyer, San Francisco, USA |
| Hannappel, Heinrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
| Hansen, Hans | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Hanson, Karl Jacob | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Harges, Henry E. | M, 28, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | marine fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Hartwig, Paul | M, 28, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | marine fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Hebenstreit, Emil A.W. | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Hecht, Edward | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Heidel, Max Albert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Heintz, Richard | M, , married | Austria, yrs. F | Wellington |
| Heinsens, Gottfried | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Heintz, Julius | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Hener, Walter | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Hennig, Curt | M, 34, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | marine fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Henricks, Paul | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
| Hewald, Charles | M, , divorced | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Heyen, Bernard | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
|
Hinkelmann, Willi |
M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
|
Hinz, Arnold Emil |
M, , widower | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
|
Hofmer, Charles Clark |
M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
|
Hoher, Joseph |
M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
|
Husler, August |
M, , single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | Wellington |
| Ibelshauser, Arthur | M, 31, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | able seaman, 'SS Verdale' |
| Johannsen, Andreas | M, 43, married | Germany, 22 yrs, F | wood-sawyer, Northern Wairoa |
| Johannsen, George | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Kabierske, Paul | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Kainler, Frederick | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Kashenholz, Albert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Kazmierski, Shanislaus | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Keller, Theodor | M, 24, single | Germany, 5 yrs, ? | able seaman, Wellington |
| Kellermann, Franz | M, 38, single | Germany, 4 yrs, F | baker, Mangaroa |
| Kessler, Wellybald Otto | M, 41, single | Germany, 2 yrs, BN | ship's storekeeper, 'SS Star of India' |
| Kienle, Christian | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Kippner, Joseph | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | marine fireman |
| Kirchner, Adolph Reinhold | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Kirdorf, Conrad | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Klemmer, George | M, , widower | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Klimendahl, Harold | M, , single | England, 2 yrs, F | able seaman |
| Kloch, Otto | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | seaman, Wellington |
| Kloren, Josef | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Knapek, Wilhelm | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Knzel, Hans | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Koch, Martin | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Kohler, Otto Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Kosel, Hugo | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Krausch, Walter | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Krause, Ernst | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Kraut, Alfred | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Kryci, Wenzel | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Lane, Robert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Laudin, Wilhelm F. | M, 45, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Lemke, Cornelius G.F. | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Lenaz, Luciano | M, , married | Hungary, 16 yrs, F | |
| Lendich, Luka | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Leonhardt, Arthur | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Lorenz, Alfred | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Löscher, Wilhelm | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Lossau, Albert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Lottlamp, Bernhard | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Lucenan, August L. | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Ludwig, Fredrich Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Lunnerhirt, Reinhold | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Martinae, Tom | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Matyke, Berthold C.R. | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Medewald, Carl W.P. | M, 43, single | Germany, 3 yrs, F | greaser, 'SS Star of India' |
| Meissner, Theodor | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Mersy, Rudolf | M, , married | England, 4 yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Merz, Christian | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Meyer, Hans | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Michael, Walter | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Michelon, Joseph | M, , married | Turkey, 1 yr, F | |
| Michler, Gustave Willy | M, 32, single | Germany, 13 yrs, F | labourer, Lyttelton |
| Milicich, Ivan | M, , married | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Missatt, Ivan | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Mitlacher, Hugo | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Mix, Carl | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Moeller, Ernst J.T. | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Montwell, Otto | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Monzheimer, Emil | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Moormeister, Walter | M, 26, single | Germany, 3 yrs, F | goldminer, Wellington |
| Mortens, Paul A.W. | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Motzkus, Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Müller, Alase | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Müller, Max | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Mumme, Carl Frierich Robert | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Narvrath, Adolf | M, 35, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | fireman, 'SS Opawa' |
| Nauer, Adolf | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Necnikonski, Adam G. | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Neissner, Frank ?? | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Neitzert, Frank | M, , single | United States, 10 yrs, F | |
| Neshmann, Max | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Never, August | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Newmann, Otto | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Nickel, Conrad | M, 40, married | Germany, 4 yrs, F | cook, Wellington |
| Nikolich, Ivan | M, , married | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Novak, Antonio | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Ober, Philip | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Oelstatter, Albert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Oemeke, August | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Oemeke, Ludwig | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Oemeke, Rudolf | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Ohing, Wilhelm | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | waiter, Wellington |
| Olsen, Harry | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Oschar, Heinrich F.W.C. | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Pablioke, Willi | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Passehl, Erich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Paulsen, Hans | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Paulsen, Hermann | M, , widower | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Petersen, Henry | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Petersen, Nicholas | M, , single | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Pottkaemper, Edward | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Pregler, Toh | M, 51, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | able seaman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Prizmich, Stipe | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Pulse, Fred | M, 45, single | Germany, 9 yrs, F | painter, Wellington |
| Rabenstein, Kurt | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Radloff, Fred | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Radojkovich, Ante | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Rangeloff, Stanka | M, , single | Bulgaria, 4 yrs, F | |
| Rather, Harry | M, 30, married | Germany, 23 yrs, F | showman, Wellington |
| Rauer, Willy | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Reich, Hermann | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Reichwein, Willy | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Reifsmann, Karl | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Reiher, Bernhard | M, 25, single | Germany, 4 yrs, F | labourer, Dunedin |
| Remts, Karl | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Retkonski, Johann | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Reuher, Karl | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Rinaldo, Joseph Zahn | M, 33, married | Austria, 2 yrs. F | entertainer, Wellington |
| Rinott, Mase A.G. | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Rodtnick, Friedrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Rohde, August | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Ronnau, Hans | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Rosenzweig, Mase | M, 29, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | marine fireman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Rudigoi, Wilhelm | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Sass, Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Schader, Ewald | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Scheifer, Philipp Paul | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Schleich, Frederic | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Schmidt, Karl | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Schneider, Walter | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Schober, Edward | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | |
| Schoch, Jakob | M, , single | Switzerland, 2 yrs, F | Wellington |
| Schulte, Gustav | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Schultes, Anton | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Schulz, Sigismund | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Schumacher, Fritz | M, 23, single | Germany, 4 yrs, F | able seaman, Wellington |
| Schwachtenburg, Otto | M, 44, married | Germany, 2 yrs, F | donkeyman, 'SS Star of India' |
| Schwarz, Friedrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Schwonke, Emil | M, 41, single | Germany, 8 yrs, F | brewer, Auckland |
| Seeger, Adolf | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman, Wellington |
| Seewald, Hugo | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Selter, Hugo | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Serinam, Hermich Lans | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman, Wellington |
| Skrzyperocke, Joseph | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Smrecnik, Aloys | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | Wellington |
| Spatz, Karl Rudolf | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Spiringer, Otto | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Steinbrügger, Hugo K.F.B. | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Stopper, Louis | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Stower, Paul | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Stoykoff, Costa | M, , single | Bulgaria, 6 yrs, F | |
| Stuparich, Giovanni | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | Wellington |
| Tenney, Fritz Eric | M, , single | Germany, yrs, BN | Wellington |
| Thielemann, Charles H. | M, , married | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Thoemer, Fritz | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Thome, Ernst | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman, Wellington |
| Tobn, Verner | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Topp, Carl | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Torn, Ernst | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Toyfer, Mae | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Trunt, Friedrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Tseke, Walter | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Tukich, Marin | M, , married | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Vegar, Luke | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Vlacich, Antonio | M, , single | Austria, yrs. F | able seaman |
| Vobbe, Johann Wilhelm | M, 34, single | Germany, 4 yrs, F | waterside worker, New Plymouth |
| Vodonovich, John | M, , single | Dalmatia, yrs, F | |
| Vogel, Robert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | able seaman |
| Volkman, Otto Johan | M, , single | Germany, yrs, BN | |
| Volkner, Walter | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Voss, Hermann Joseph | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wagner, Friedrich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Weber, Fredrich | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | musician, Auckland |
| Weidner, Oskar | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman, Wellington |
| Weingarth, Friedrich | M, , married | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wendelborn, Charles | M, , widower | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wenbold, Wilhelm | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | marine fireman |
| Werner, Paul | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wichers, Johannes | M, 54, married | Germany, 3 yrs, F | wharf labourer, Auckland |
| Wilke, Albert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wohnsiedler, Gottlieb | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | Wellington |
| Wolf, Max | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wolf, Paul | M, 32, single | Germany, 2 yrs, F | greaser, 'SS Star of India' |
| Wolf, Rudolf | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wolke, Edwin | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Wolter, Friedrich Franz | M, 42, single | Germany, 10 yrs, BN | scholar, Wellington |
| Zeitler, Christlich | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Zieger, Albert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Zingsheim, Johann | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Zink, Robert | M, , single | Germany, yrs, F | |
| Zörn, Karl | M, 35, single | Germany, 5 yrs, F | pork-butcher, Wanganui |
