“A man who wants constant watching”: Karl Hens (1872-1948) and the politics of wartime internment in South Africa, 1914–1918

Figures & data

Table 1. Five German residents of East London identified for internment on September 2, 1914 with the essence of their declarations. Hens’s time in GSWA is conveniently omitted.^144.

Serial	German Subject
1	Hens, Carl: Aged 43, 18 St Andrews Rd., East London. States he was born in Germany. Has been in South Africa last 22 years, i.e., Delagoa Bay 2 yrs. Transvaal 3 yrs. Delagoa Bay 2 yrs. Transvaal 6 yrs. Kimberley 3 yrs. Cape Town 2 yrs. Natal 1 yr. East London 3 yrs. Never served in German Army, never reported to German Consul.
2	Perlitz, Oswald: aged 26 yrs. 20 St Paul’s Rd., East London. States he has been in East London last 5 months, previously in London for 10 yrs. Left Germany where he was born when he was 15 yrs old. Never served in Army and never reported to Consul. Married English woman and has one child. Wife and child now in London.
3	Bartosch, Johannes: aged 43 yrs. Lilyfontein District, East London. States he was born in Germany. Arrived in East London when 6 years old – with parents. Never reported to Consul. Has British wife and six children. Mother lives in East London. Father died in E. London. Cannot read or write.
4	Becker, Charles Julius: aged 40 yrs. 8 St John’s Rd., E. London. States he was born in Germany. Been in Cape Province since 1895. Left Germany when 17 yrs old. Served in Boer War for British for two years and obtained medal for service. Married British woman. Belongs to English church. Never reported to German Consul.
5	Huss, John Alfred: Schoolmaster, Bluewater School, District East London. States he has been in S.A for 12 years and that he is not registered with the German authorities as willing to serve in the German Army.

Table 2. Schedule of goods Mrs Marie Hens possessed as of March 26, 1917.

Item	Estimated value	Remarks
One horse	£20.0.0	The horse was on a farm, the owner of which had the use of the animal in return for its keep.
A large tickey-in-the-slot organ, which stands in the Orient Beach Tea Rooms at East London	£100.0.0	Mrs Hens received no return from the organ in the Beach Tea Room. The Proprietor requested her to take it away, but she said she had no place to put it.
Bedroom Suite (good quality)	£30.0.0
Suite of furniture	£7.0.0
Brass Bedstead	£7.0.0	No possibility of raising money on public auction.
Two Cooling Fans	£5.0.0
Various other articles of furniture	£8.0.0
Total	£177.0.0