During the First World War, 26,000 prisoners were interned in two camps on the Isle of Man – Camp Knockaloe and Camp Douglas. Most prisoners were Austrian and German civilians who had been resident in Britain when war was declared. Of the two camps, Camp Douglas was smaller (only 2,700 of the 26,000 total prisoners) and reserved for those who could afford it; extra privileges such as separate huts or staff could be hired by internees.

As at Groningen, arts and crafts were a prominent part of camp life. Colonel Madoc, Commandant of Camp Douglas for the duration of the war, sent a number of objects made by internees to Queen Mary as he had heard from his sister that the Queen was interested in such objects.