Only weeks after war was declared anti-German feeling in the town prompted Mr Degenhardt, owner of Degenhardt’s store on South Street, to write to the paper informing people that, despite his Germanic name, he was a British citizen by birth.
He was not the only person arousing suspicion locally. In early September a German maid, Dora Victoria Wickmann, was arrested and charged with having breached the five-mile restriction on movement imposed on her by the Alien Act. She had been brought by her London employer to the family’s country home at Frolbury at Felday, Abinger.
In November local concerns that foreigners had allegedly bought or rented houses in strategic positions on surrounding hills prompted police to investigate. They found nothing of concern.
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