A THIRST for knowledge, an investigative nature and some good fortune combined to enable Bowral man John Simons to unveil the secrets of a bygone era in his book Prisoners in Arcady, German Mariners in Berrima 1915-1919.

The book was launched in 1999 after seven years of research into the German internment camp that saw a total 327 German nationals - mostly engineers and officers from the German Merchant fleet - detained in Berrima during World War I.

The mariners were detained by night in Berrima Jail but allowed to roam free within a three-kilometre radius during the day.

The wives and children of some detainees moved into the village to be closer to their semi-confined loved ones and the Wingecarribee River, that flowed through the village, became a site of work and play as the new German community evolved.

It is hard to believe that little more than a decade ago very little was known about this community that dominated the streetscape of Berrima for several years.

But it is clear the eagerness of retired scientist Dr Simons’ to learn more about the German internees - who left Berrima in 1919 almost as quickly as they arrived - has opened the flood gates for information about the camp that forms an integral part of Berrima village’s history.

It was 1992 and Dr Simons had just taken on the role of archivist with the Berrima District Historical and Family History Society.

A collection of black and white photographs and a small booklet, written by a lieutenant in the guard that supervised the internees, were the only solid records of the camp’s existence.

Dr Simons set about learning more about the camp almost as soon as he found the photographs in the society’s archives.

He said he was so impressed by the artwork, that promoted village performances in some of the photographs, he wanted to learn more about the camp.

The German detainees whiled away much of their day playing on the river and creating musical and theatrical performances for entertainment.

“The photographs highlighted the promotional posters for entertainment drawn by one of the internees, warrant officer Monkedieck from the German warship the Emden, and I knew I wanted to learn more about the skilful drawings, the artist and the German internees,” Dr Simons said.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Friday, December 5

jackie.meyers@ruralpress.c om