Digital Transgender Archive

British prisoners of war performing a circus act for "The Timbertown Follies", at a prisoner of war camp in Groningen. Photographic postcard, 191-.

The Timbertown Follies. Interned in Holland "Circus Kerry"

Part of James Gardiner Collection: photographs of military, naval, and prisoner-of-war camp drag.

In a splendidly elaborate circus act, the performers are directing animal props around the stage, including actors playing a sea lion and an elephant. lllustration of the time and resources available for these productions at this internment campOne of the many revues staged by some of the 1,500 or so members of the First Royal Naval Brigade, interned as prisoners of war in the camp outside Groningen, northern Netherlands, from 1914 to 1918, which they nicknamed HMS Timbertown. As they were not involved in any conflict and were housed in reasonable comfort with time on their hands, they were able to stage some very elaborate and professional theatrical revues which became famous back in the UK. Their performances included pastiches of many of the revues and musical comedies produced in England at this time