This topic is to share information and pictures of Belton Park
training camp where the Pals Battalions of the Manchester Regiment
went after their training at Heaton Park
On 4 August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany. Throughout
what became known as the First World War (1914 to 1918)
Heaton Park played a significant role. It became the training
camp for the Manchester Regiments 'Pals' Battalions. These
battalions comprised recruits who enlisted with friends, neighbours
and work colleagues. The response was overwhelming. Many of these
were local men from the boroughs surrounding the park.
By early 1914 these volunteers became part of the 16th, 17th,
18th and 19th “City” Battalions. Originally Heaton Park was a
tented camp (later replaced by hutments). Each battalion occupied
their own section of the park. As training intensified in the vast open
spaces, the men were dressed in blue uniforms due to the absence
of Khaki Service Dress. This unusual attire earned them the nickname
of 'tram guards'.
On 21 April 1915 a crowd of 20,000 attended a full sports day featuring
boxing matches. Though not normally allowed at these events, many
families of the serving men were present.
On 24 April 1915 the last 'City' Battalion (19th) left Heaton Park,
marched to Manchester and entrained at London Road Station, Piccadilly.
Following further training at Belton Park, Lincolnshire and later at Salisbury
Plain, they crossed the Channel enroute for the Western Front.
(On You Tube there is a Video on the pals Trianing at Heaton park)
The following is from the National trust web site.
Adelbert, 3rd Earl Brownlow, had considerable political experience of war, not least as Under-Secretary of State for War (1889-1892). He had seen the need for a strong army and good training through Britain's involvement in the Boxer Rebellion and Second Boer War. It therefore came as no surprise that he offered the use of his estates at Belton and Ashridge to the War Office soon after war was declared in 1914.
Belton Park and the First World War
Walking across the park at Belton you'll discover a place away from the bustle of town life, where you can watch the fallow deer grazing peacefully. As you enjoy the tranquillity of this scene you may occasionally come across an old pipe, some concrete or a hollow in the ground that doesn’t quite seem natural. These are the clues of a different scene 100 years ago, of Belton Park Camp when 20,000 men at a time were training before heading off to the Front Lines.
A Kitchener Camp is built
Despite the popular belief that the war would be over by Christmas, Field Marshal Kitchener, Britain’s new Secretary of State for War, predicted long, drawn out hostilities, and that the British Army would need more men. On 21 August 1914, under Army Order No.324 the formation of the first six new divisions in Kitchener’s New Army was authorised. One of these was the 11th (Northern) Division.
Almost 2.5 million men volunteered to join the New Army, and it wasn’t long before the government realised that they didn’t have the infrastructure to house and train them all. Schools and warehouses were requisitioned and locations for new, temporary training camps were sought.
It came as no surprise when Adelbert, 3rd Earl Brownlow, donated the use of his estates at both Belton and Ashridge to the War Office soon after war was declared. He was a prominent gentleman in the local community, had served as Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and Mayor of Grantham, and was involved in politics throughout his long tenure as Earl Brownlow. As a Privy Counsellor (from 1887), Under-Secretary of State for War (1889-1892) and Volunteer Aide-de-Camp (from 1897) to three monarchs, Adelbert had seen the need for a strong army and good training through British involvement in the Boxer Rebellion and the Second Boer War.
From September 1914, bell tents were erected within Belton Park for the temporary accommodation of thousands of soldiers. By April 1915 however, a small town had been built for around 20,000 men of Kitchener’s Army, a military base hospital, churches, YMCA huts, a cinema and its own railway line. New electricity, water and sewerage services were provided and, in a change from the traditional design, each regimental line had separate barracks, latrines, wash houses and mess huts.
The photo's are plans of the original site at Belton and the areas where the pals Bn were billeted.
I've had to resize them to get them on our site.
Neil
To be continued.
