George Kenner (1888-1971) was my maternal grandfather. I have posted albums of some of his early artwork in a collection here. He did 110 drawings between 1915 and 1919 while interned as a German Civilian Prisoner of War in England and the Isle of Mann in 3 camps during the First World War. The 1st, a tent camp in Frith Hill, Aldershot, Surrey. The 2nd was Alexandra Palace located in north London. The 3rd was in Knockaloe on the Isle of Mann in the Irish Sea.

Being an artist by profession, and wanting to stay in practice with his work, he negotiated to be allowed to create what has now become the most extensive collection of WWI internment scenes known, a little documented time in history.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Kenner

44 of his drawings and his journal were accepted into the Imperial War Museum, in London, in Oct. 2005.

Three other British museums acquired the art that was done in their particular area during the war: the Surrey Heath Museum, Manx National Heritage Museum, and Bruce Castle Museum.

George returned to Germany in 1919.

Married Margarete Bohne Sept 8, 1921.

Two of their first three children died in the 1920s due to bad post-war conditions in Germany.

They eventually were able to immigrate to the United States with the help of a sponsor, settling in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.

They wanted at least one more child, to replace the two lost earlier,

but bouts of ill health made it very difficult.

It was more than a decade later before my mother was born...