The British Interned in SwitzerlandPicot, Henry Philip
History
The British Interned in Switzerland
Picot, Henry Philip
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, Swiss
On Lord Sandwich's return to London, arrangements were made to give
effect to the amended scheme, and, at my request, Major Charley and
Lieut. Wallis were nominated by the War Office to take their place on my
Staff, the former as Officer in Charge of Technical Training, the latter
to resume charge of the Motor Engineering School at Vevey. These
officers, further, represented the interests which the "B.R.C.S.,"
London, had in the scheme.
In September, 1917, the repatriation of some of the British Interned
somewhat delayed arrangements, but at last, in October, expert managers
and instructors arrived from England, sent by the firms mentioned, and
work was seriously begun by November, 1917.
The men displayed considerable aptitude, and achieved a standard of
efficiency which should enable them to keep their situations on their
return to England. Remuneration was made to each apprentice in
proportion to his work, and was sufficient to give him a personal
interest in the output.
The Tailoring Class was conducted by a West-end tailor, late
Sergt.-Instructor in the Army. The workshop was located in an annexe of
the Hôtel Flora, at Meiringen, and was fitted with four machines
electrically driven. Attention was mainly directed to the making of
uniforms, the raw materials for which were supplied by the Army Clothing
Department. The garments, on completion, were taken over by that
Department, ordinary rates being paid for the work, the men receiving a
proportionate remuneration.
The Advanced School of Motor Engineering, opened at Vevey by Lieut.
Wallis in March, 1917, owed its origin to the success of the elementary
motor class founded by that officer at Mürren. It was, further, made
possible by the splendid generosity of the well-known firms of Peter
Cailler, Kohler and Co., Messrs. Nestlé and Co., and other Swiss firms
in the Jura, surplus machinery, moreover, being given or lent by Messrs.
Picard and Pictet, Geneva, and Messrs. Müller and Co., Lausanne, and
others.
The expenses of the School, beyond the money gifts made to Lieut. Wallis
for that purpose, were met by the "B.L.R.C.O." and the Central P. of W.
Committee, until October, 1917. From that date, the expenses were
guaranteed by the management of the "Auto-Car," London, who further
provided material and machinery, and whose keen interest in the
enterprise was of inestimable value.
The training, which included electrical instruction in connection with
motor-car work, was of a thoroughly practical nature, and should be of
great value to the men later; as also the Metal Work Class, opened in
connection with the Vevey School at Château d'Oex, and instructed by a
skilled Interned, Chief Petty Officer Harpe. In this class, various
kinds of sheet metal work, welding, and brazing, were taught with great
success.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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