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The Materiality of Mental Health at the Morrissey World War I Internment Camp

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Abstract

To date, very little is known archaeologically about First World War–era internment camps, especially in Canada, where this history was actively erased through the destruction of the federal internment records in the 1950s. This research focuses on the Morrissey Internment Camp, one of Canada’s 24 World War I internment camps, with the aim of using the material culture record at the camp as a point of access to examine the coping strategies prisoners of war adopted to help mitigate mental-health issues triggered by confinement. Fieldwork involved surveying, mapping, the deployment of ground-penetrating radar, and excavation within the grounds of the internment camp. A formal walking traverse of the site was conducted to map the surface collections of archaeological material. In addition, archival materials that included government reports, maps, and photographs complemented interviews conducted with the descendant community. The findings indicate that arts and handicrafts, religion, communication, resistance, tobacco, alcohol, and purchased comforts may have helped prisoners of war stave off depression and sustain a degree of mental health.

Resumen

Hasta la fecha, se sabe muy poco en términos de arqueología sobre los campos de internamiento de la era de la Primera Guerra Mundial, especialmente en Canadá, donde esta historia fue borrada activamente mediante la destrucción de los registros federales de internamiento en la década de 1950. Esta investigación se centra en el Campo de Internamiento de Morrissey, uno de los 24 campos de internamiento de la Primera Guerra Mundial de Canadá, con el objetivo de utilizar el registro de cultura material en el campo como un punto de acceso para examinar las estrategias de afrontamiento de los prisioneros de guerra adoptadas para ayudar a mitigar los problemas de salud mental provocados por el confinamiento. El trabajo de campo involucró la topografía, el mapeo, el despliegue de un radar de penetración terrestre y la excavación dentro de los terrenos del campo de internamiento. Se realizó un recorrido formal a pie del sitio para mapear las colecciones superficiales de material arqueológico. Además, los materiales de archivo, que incluyeron informes gubernamentales, mapas y fotografías, complementaron las entrevistas realizadas con la comunidad descendiente. Los hallazgos indican que las artes y artesanías, la religión, la comunicación, la resistencia, el tabaco, el alcohol y las comodidades compradas pueden haber ayudado a los prisioneros de guerra a evitar la depresión y mantener un grado de salud mental.

Résumé

À ce jour, on dispose de très peu de connaissances archéologiques sur les camps d'internement datant de la Première guerre mondiale, en particulier au Canada, où cette histoire a été effacée de manière active par la destruction des dossiers d'internement fédéral pendant les années 1950. Cette recherche s'intéresse au camp d'internement de Morrissey, l'un des 24 camps d'internement de la Première guerre mondiale au Canada. Elle a pour but d'utiliser les éléments de culture matérielle du camp comme un point d'accès afin d'examiner les stratégies d'adaptation mises en œuvre par les prisonniers de guerre pour atténuer les problèmes de santé mentale déclenchés par la détention. Le travail de terrain a impliqué des relevés, une cartographie, le déploiement d'un géoradar et des fouilles des sols du camp d'internement. Une traversée à pied formelle du site a été conduite pour cartographier les collectes de surface des matériaux archéologiques. De plus, les supports d'archives comprenant les rapports, cartes et photographies du gouvernement sont venus compléter des entretiens menés avec des membres de la communauté des descendants. Les constatations indiquent que les arts et l'artisanat, la religion, la communication, la résistance, le tabac, l'alcool et l’achat de sources de réconfort ont pu aider les prisonniers de guerre a surmonter la dépression et a préserver une certaine santé mentale.

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  1. University of the Fraser Valley, 3384 King Road, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M7, Canada

    Sarah E. Beaulieu

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Beaulieu, S.E. The Materiality of Mental Health at the Morrissey World War I Internment Camp. Hist Arch 56, 482–503 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-022-00366-z

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