Amherst Internment Camp

It was the largest internment camp in Canada during World War I; a maximum of 853 prisoners were housed at one time at the old Malleable Iron foundry on the corner of Hickman and Park Streets.

[1] Archived 2019-06-28 at the Wayback Machine When the First World War began in 1914, there was widespread suspicion in Canada that immigrants from enemy nations might be disloyal.

In response, the federal government passed regulations allowing it to monitor and intern anyone who had not become naturalized British subjects.

Further to the north, close to Patterson Street, was the large mess hall, recreation room, kitchen, and pantry stores.

An inquiry found that discipline had been lacking and the camp commander, Major G. R. Oulton, a veteran of the Second Boer War, was replaced by Colonel Arthur Henry Morris [ru].

Trotsky and his family were living in exile in New York City during World War I and decided in 1917 he wanted to return to Russia.