Quatzow (a village of about 500 people in 1939 and located about 2½ miles or 4 km south of the city of Schlawe) is now known by the Polish name Kwasowo. Schlawe, the seat of the Kreis in which Quatzow was located, is now known by the Polish name Slawno. It is about 20 miles west of Stulp
1917 Jan 17. Danzig Camp Commandant meets Gaffney in Berlin. Gaffney sanctions removal of 10 men from Danzig-Troyl to a small camp in which only Russians are internted. It was decided to remove all privileges from these men till the end of the war. The NCOs appear to have drawn up a black list of grumblers and men branded as English. And some days later a fully armed section of German troops entered the barracks, and the Irish Brigade NCOs seemed aware of what was happening. Ten names were read out, and the men ordered to have their kit ready to leave in 5 minutes. They were then marched out of the camp under guard and into as Rahilly says "slavery", a punishment camp.
Quinlisk says that grumbles among the men about their treatment at Danzig led to some of them demanding to be internted as "normal" POWs. "For daring to make such an appeal six ringleaders were transported to a Russian punishment camp, where they were starved,beaten and treated like slavers to work in a canal every day in three feet of muddy water"
A letter that Burke wrote to Gaffney about their treatment confirms the state of affairs given by Rahilly. The official list from Hahn gives:-
They went by train and road until they found themselves in a hut built near a river at Quadsow (now Kwasowo in Poland) in a wilderness. Quadsow was a punishment camp, and I am not clear how these men had been selected to be taken there. This was their home. They slept on damp mud and the walls of the hut were damp. They worked from dawn to dusk, reinforcing the banks of the river. All they ever had for meals were hot drinks, no food. Two months later 5 of these men returned (these must have been Fulford, McMahon, McCabe, Patrick Keogh, Thomas McGrath, P Carr). Their appearance had changed, they were now bearded and pale, their eyes full of fear, their bodies bloated from hot drinks but no food. They were bullied by the guards, butted with rifles. Later that evening of their return Rahilly found that one had cut his own throat with a rusty razor. He made a recovery, but not a full recovery, and died later in 1918 "during the armistice". This man has to be Peter Carr as he is the only man whose death fits - 15 Sep 1918, and he was one of the group sent to Quadsow
The episode effected the morale and the bearing of all the Brigade. They feared being removed to the punishment camp meant that few dared to speak to any of their comrades for fear of being denounced for some reason. "Often men would not speak a word during the day, but sat watching their comrades across the room, always watching each other, always each other for none knew who the informers were. " They formed their own secret society to counter the threat of informers and from this they sent word to one of the sergeants of the danger of the whole brigade breaking down under the threat of informers and Quadsow. For some reason this solved the problem, and they were able to talk freely again without the punishment camp hanging over them.
The episode effected the morale and the bearing of all the Brigade. They feared being removed to the punishment camp meant that few dared to speak to any of their comrades for fear of being denounced for some reason. "Often men would not speak a word during the day, but sat watching their comrades across the room, always watching each other, always each other for none knew who the informers were. " They formed their own secret society to counter the threat of informers and from this they sent word to one of the sergeants of the danger of the whole brigade breaking down under the threat of informers and Quadsow. For some reason this solved the problem, and they were able to talk freely again without the punishment camp hanging over them.
1918 May 1. Zerhusen tells Gaffney that he heard from Kavanagh that Keogh was behaving badly, had been drunk, misbehaved in Dresden, and that Keogh had misappropriated the St Patricks Day funds from the previous year that Gaffney had sent the Brigade In addition there were 7 men from the Brigade in Neuhammer a/Queis in Silesia for punishment (note this is modern Świętoszów and is some 200 miles south west of Danzig)
1917 Jun 20. A letter in Burkes hand and signed by him from Quasdow to The Honourable T St. John Gaffney. Sir, We Irishmen desire to know if you are aware of our position here! Properly speaking we have not unduly committed ourselves to deserve this treatment. The only conclusion we can arrive at after studying the matter carefully is that we are sent here at the instigation of some of the Irish NCO'S in Danzig-Troyl. These men are largely responsible for other men misconducting themselves. When the NCO's in question steal parcels on their comrades who are out working is it any wonder that other men should try to expose the matter. Also when the same NCO's bring in bread and lager and sell it to the Russians for 6 to 7 per loaf. There are men here who are at present under going punishment for practically nothing at all. The writer of this letter was in the foregoing year basely convicted and punished though not tried of a charge of which I am innocent. ...It has grown a habit in Danzig for punishment without any explanation as to why they are being punished. The men on joining the Irish Brigade were given to understand that they would in every respect be treated in the same manner as German soldiers. If our original and courageous leader Sir Roger Casement were alive today he would not fail to see that that understanding was adhered to. We receive the same food as the Russian prisoners. Excellent treatment indeed for Irishmen from our German friends. We request that you take the matter in hand in order to have us" Verpflight" in the same manner as our German guard. This all the more reasonable as we are engaged daily on heavy work. The rate of pay was ordered to be 30 pfg per day but our employer considered this a very poor remuneration for the amount of labour done and of his own free will offered to pay 1/- per day.We trust that you will give this letter your kind attention.We beg to Remain, Yours etc. H.Burke, G Fulford, T Mc Mahon, G Mc Cabe, Patrick Keogh, Thomas Mc Grath, P Carr
1917 Summer. Letter from O'Toole to Gaffney. In this letter the writer having accused Keogh of stealing and beating a woman when under the influence goes on to state. There are some Irishmen suffering horrors in a punishment camp at Quasdow who have never done half so much hidden harm. By the way these men at Quasdow are suffering through some of this underhand little battle accusations. Some of them are hopeless blaguards but not all. They have all been punished for each offence as it was committed but now in addition should they have to undergo months long imprisonment of a type worse than being sent to a Festung. 20 times worse for in a Festung they could look forward to it being over at a certain date but not so at Quasdow. I basically agreed with the removal of some men to a different camp that would have been a good arrangement for everybody but I disassociate myself from sending them to such a place of torment as Quasdow has proved to be. I think a man should not be punished twice for one offence and such punishment - starvation, underground dwelling bugs and worst of all hopelessness. Most of them are Irishmen and I am sorry to say it is Irishmen who sent them to that Hell on Earth. I know what I am talking about as there are 4 men here who have been released namely Ryan, Callaghan, Sweeney, and Burke. I saw them the 1st morning of their release - they were the picture of misery & weak as cats. I believe you signed the order for their removal from Troyal. Its a pity you didn't make yourself acquainted with the nature of the charge. I am certain you would never have sanctioned it. When poor Sir Roger found we were put into Wiensdorf Lager with the coloured prisoners of war he left no stone unturned until he forced the German Authorities to take us out of it. I say forced advisedly but Sir Roger visited us regularly & kept well in touch with us. We have not had a visit from you since some time before we left Zossen. Weren't very well treated at Zossen & I objected to the removal - now everyone of us knows it was a ghastly mistake.
1917 Jul 6. Keogh writes to Gaffney from Hotel Alte Post in Limburg, explaining his presence in Limburg