Kinmel Camp

Kimnel Camp was located in the grounds of Kinmel Hall near Abergele in North Wales. The camp complex consisted of twenty sub-camps (with their own canteens and messes), a small hospital, Post Office, Bakery, Theatre, Wesleyan, Free Church, Salvation Army and three YMCA buildings. The Railway Station, Kinmel adjacent to the main camp entrance was a small collection of civilian-owned shops, nicknamed 'Tintown'.
No physical barriers separated the camp from the surrounding countryside, even the stone wall that marked the extremity of the camp was pierced to allow ready access to the sub-camps. It was protected to its southerly parts by concrete and wire posts. The upper, southerly area off the A55 contained the HQ and the permanent buildings, whilst the area lying northwards, containing the bell tent arrangements was left open. Bodelwyddan village itself showed evidence of the military layout, with street names such as Artillery Row, Fusilier Close (still in use). The Marble Church at Bodelwyddan, apart from containing the Canadian Graves (those who died during the March 1919 Mutiny and the forty or so who died in the Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1919), also contain the graves of other service men and women who died at intermittent times during the war - killed in training, died of wounds etc. The camp layout consisted of fields containing the concrete foundations of admin, guardhouse, buildings, and the level earthworks on which timber huts were laid, basic concrete and metal surface of connecting roads to the main pathways and The cinema, Kinmel Camp connecting routes. The huts were built of weather clad timber on basic concrete bases, bunked to hold about 180 men. Every fourth hut also had cookhouse facilities containing the original brick chimneys. The practice trench area was in the easterly part of the camp and were easily accessible and well cared for. They were replicas of those to be expected in France which companies spent days being 'acclimatised' by living in them.

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Those known to have trained at
Kinmel Camp
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Blackmore Frank Wesley. Pte.
Clitheroe Harry. Pte.
Keylock Alfred James. Pte. (d.29th Sep 1919)
Pearce Alfred Ernest. Sgt. (d.10th Aug 1915)

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253993

Sgt. Alfred Ernest Pearce 1/7th Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (d.10th Aug 1915)

Born in 1893, my Great-uncle Alfie Pearce joined the Merioneth and Montgomery section of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Newtown in July 1914. His unit trained at Kinmel Bay near Abergele, North Wales, after which he was stationed at a number of Army bases in England until the following year.
At the end of July 1915 his Regiment was sent to Gallipoli. It landed at Suvla Bay on the evening of 8th August. Early on the morning of 10th, three Battalions, 1/5th, 1/6th and Alfie's battalion, 1/7th RWF, were sent to relieve 159 Battalion on the front line below Chocolate Hill with a view to advancing a further half mile upwards. Despite gaining the initial advantage of surprise over the Turkish forces on 8th August, the allied troops had been rested for a day, so by the 10th, the Turkish forces had re-grouped and re-armed. In order to reach the trenches, the three Welsh Battalions had to cross a dry salt lake where they encountered extremely heavy fire. Despite widening the line there were heavy casualties, added to which they met the 159 Battalion already retreating. In the chaos, the lines were broken and there were many more losses. Nevertheless the Fusiliers reached the front line and held it for a further two days before being relieved. Much depleted, they were unable to make further progress up the hill as intended.
My Great-uncle was among the casualties that day. His body was never recovered and his name is listed amongst those missing in action on the Memorial overlooking the Dardenelle Straits. I'm sure his story is not unique and that many young soldiers lost their lives prematurely in this and other conflicts.
Alison Shotbolt

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247032

Pte. Alfred James Keylock 11th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers (d.29th Sep 1919)

My grandmother Emmeline Price was the sweetheart of Alfred Keylock. He was one of several siblings who had been orphaned in early life and raised in a home in Bristol, although he had been born in Tewkesbury. Emmelineâ€™s father Richard Price had adopted Alfred and at the date of his enlistment he was working as a Farm Labourer at Noyadd in Rhayader. He enlisted at Knighton on 1st of July 1916 and sent to Kinmel Park near Liverpool for training. He embarked on the Franconia at Devonport for the Balkan theatre on 1st of September 1916, and joined his unit on the 13th of that month. The 11th Battalion were involved in fighting against Serb forces at Dorian just before the armistice with Bulgaria was declared at the end of September 1918. Alfred lost his battle with pneumonia and malaria at the 4th General Hospital just days before. He was buried at Lambert Road Military Cemetery in Salonika.
Gil

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238018

Pte. Harry Clitheroe 8th Btn. King's (Liverpool) Regiment

I thought I would try and piece together my great grandfather Harry Clitheroe's World War 1 and World War 2 history. I'll be happy to receive any input from people.
Harry was born in 1898. In 1917 he is 18 years old and he joined up and was at 60th Training Battalion, 20th Welsh Regiment, Kimmel Barracks, North Wales. (Not sure what date he joins up for here.) But he then joins the 8th Battalion King's Liverpool (Irish) Regiment, enlisting at Preston on 24th February 1917. (I will be looking at which battles he took part in.) He was a private and his service number was 88329.
Harry was discharged after service on 18th February 1919: remarks 2 Blue Chevrons in France. The day after - 19th February 1919 - he enlists in the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, as a Private, with the service number 3435140. He served for 2 years and 41 days and was discharged on 31st March 1921. He was a 1st Class rifle shot and 1st Class Lewis Gunner.
When World War 2 started he found himself with the RASC in Belgium. When the Germans invaded he narrowly escaped and had to get to Dunkirk - some 20 miles away.
John Melling

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231419

Pte. Frank Wesley Blackmore No. 6 Stationary Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps

Frank Blackmore was born at 14 Worrall Road, Clifton, on Saturday July 19th 1890. He was the son of Frederick Charles and Augusta Susan Wesley Blackmore (nee Smith), who were lodging there at the time. He was later educated at Summerhill Council School, St. George, Bristol and by 1911 was working as a clerk in Packers, a local chocolate factory in Greenbank. He enlisted in Bristol on Monday 8th February 1915. At the time he was still living with his parents at 'Fillwood', 334 Church Road, St. George, Bristol.
His medical records show that Frank was 24 years 6 months of age, 5 feet 8 inches tall with a 35 1/2 inch chest. He was appointed Private 52165 in the Royal Army Medical Corps and would be paid 1s. 2d. per day. He was sent to Llandrindod Wells, Wales in April 1915 for two anti-typhoid inoculations and to commence his basic training. Before being posted abroad Frank received additional proficiency pay of 4d. per day as from 11th May 1915. He was to land in Le Havre, France on Wednesday 9th June 1915 with No. 6 Stationary Hospital, RAMC, part of the British Expeditionary Force along with Lieutenant A. Jamieson and other volunteers who were placed in No. 6 Ward.

On 25th February 1917 he applied to join the infantry and was sent to No. 16 Officer Training Battalion at Kimnel, North Wales. In their 28th November 1917 edition the London Gazette announced that as of 31st October 1917 Frank Blackmore had been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. He was later to be attached to 4th (Reserve) Battalion, "The Queen's" Royal West Surrey Regiment. He never saw active service again and was demobilized on Saturday 22nd March 1919.

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Kinmel Camp

Want to know more about Kinmel Camp?

Those known to have trained at Kinmel Campduring the Great War 1914-1918.

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Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- Kinmel Camp during the Great War -

Those known to have trained at
Kinmel Camp
during the Great War 1914-1918.