Internment in South Australia in World War One

During the two world wars the Australian government confined 'enemy aliens' to internment camps. Under the War Precautions Act of 1914, 6,890 people, mainly German and Austro-Hungarian men, were classified as 'enemy aliens'. Some were naturalised British citizens (including second and third generation Australians, some with relatives serving in the Australian forces). Others were sailors of enemy nationality taken from ships in Australian ports when war broke out. South Australian internees were held at Torrens Island Internment Camp. A number of letters written by Wilhelm Reinhard while a prisoner of war (including one letter written at Torrens Island) are kept in the archival collection.