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  • POW camp
    • Arrival
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    • Cultural life
    • Educational activities
    • Letters & parcels
    • Escape attempts
    • Spanish flu
    • German prisoners
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    • Hindenburg drop
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Timeline

Global events
Skipton events
Aug1914

Aug 1914

Outbreak of the First World War

×
Nov1914

Nov 1914

Building of camp begins

Work begins to erect a military training camp behind the girls high school in Skipton, to become known locally as ‘Raikeswood Camp.’

×
Jan1915

Jan 1915

Bradford Pals arrive

Bradford Pals outside Raikeswood Camp hut, Skipton 1915

Bradford Pals outside hut© K. Ellwood, V. Rowley, and NYCC, Skipton Library

The 1st Bradford Pals regiment (16th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment) march from Bradford to Skipton to start training at Raikeswood Camp.


  • Find out more about the Bradford Pals at Raikeswood Camp
×
May1915

May 1915

Bradford Pals move on

21st West Yorkshire Regiment (Wool Textile Pioneers amongst the other regiments who trained at Raikeswood

21st West Yorkshire Regiment (Wool Textile Pioneers amongst the other regiments who trained at Raikeswood© K. Ellwood, V. Rowley, and NYCC, Skipton Library

The Bradford Pals transfer to Ripon Camp and 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Bantams) takes up residence at Raikeswood, followed by a number of other regiments throughout 1915 and 1916.


  • Find out about other regiments based at Raikeswood
×
Jul1916

Jul 1916

Battle of the Somme

soldiers marching towards front line waving

Soldiers heading to the front line during the Battle of the Somme© IWM (Q 1516)

Start of the Battle of the Somme. Men from the Bradford Pals who trained at Raikeswood Camp suffer heavy losses.


  • Find out about the Bradford Pals at Raikeswood Camp
×
Feb1917

Feb 1917

U-boat campaign intensifies

submarine attacks ships in sea

German submarine attack on British merchant ship© IWM (Q_020343)

Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare, eventually drawing the US into the war.


  • Find out more about the German U-Boat commanders who were imprisoned in the camp
×
Jul1917

Jul 1917

Battle of Passchendaele

soldiers walking across duckboards on muddy western front during world war one

Passchendaele’s water filled shell holes© IWM (E(AUS) 1220)

During the mudbath that was Passchendaele, more Raikeswood Camp prisoners were captured than in any other battle during the war.

 


  • Find out more about some of the Raikeswood prisoners captured at Passchendaele
×
Nov1917

Nov 1917

Battle of Cambrai

german prisoners of war with arms up in surrender

German prisoners captured on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917© IWM Q3173

Local soldiers from the 62nd West Riding Division play their part on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai (20 November 1917) in capturing 73 of the German officers who would end up at the camp, the largest number of Raikeswood prisoners to be captured on any one day.

 


  • Find out more about some of the Raikeswood prisoners captured on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai
×
Jan1918

Jan 1918

Arrival of POWs

Illustration of German prisoners arriving at the camp

Arrival of new prisoners© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton

First German officers arrive in Skipton from Colsterdale Camp near Masham.


  • Find out more about the prisoners arrival
×
Feb1918

Feb 1918

Camp inspection

Raikeswood Camp receives its first inspection by Swiss Embassy where the conditions are described as “not particularly pleasant”.

×
Mar1918

Mar 1918

Spring Offensive

The Big Push© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, p. 71

Start of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front. The prisoners follow the progress of their comrades closely.

×
Jul1918

Jul 1918

Escape attempt

Two prisoners who escaped from the camp are recaptured at a pub near Clitheroe after posing as members of the Royal Flying Corps.


  • Find out more about the escape attempts from the camp
×
Sep1918

Sep 1918

Camp theatre

The camp theatre

The camp theatre© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, p.190

The camp theatre group is set up and the officers put on plays such as Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and Puccini’s opera ‘Turandot’


  • Find out more about the cultural life inside the camp
×
Nov1918

Nov 1918

Armistice

Armistice marks the end of fighting on the Western Front.

×
Feb1919

Feb 1919

Spanish flu

german officers at funeral of spanish flu victims saluting

Funeral of some of the 47 German officers who were victims of the Spanish Flu epidemic© Ian Dewhirst

The second wave of Spanish flu is observed at the camp, killing 47 of the prisoners who are buried at Morton Cemetery in Keighley.

 


  • Find out more about the Spanish flu
×
Jun1919

Jun 1919

Camp sports day

german prisoner football team group photo

The Raikeswood Camp football team© Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv, Freiburg im Breisgau, MSG2002730

The prisoners hold a 2 day multi-sports festival, which includes sports such as football, athletics and “Faustball” (similar to Volleyball).


  • Find out more about the sporting activities that the prisoners took part in.
×
Jun1919

Jun 1919

The Treaty of Versailles

photo showing men sat around long tables in hall of palace at first world war peace treaty conference

Scene at the signing of the Peace Treaty in the Hall of Mirrors; Trianon Palace, Versailles, 28 June 1919. © IWM (Q 14996)

The Treaty of Versailles agrees the terms of the German prisoners’ release, but it would be another 4 months before they could return home.

 


  • Find out more about the prisoners' frustrating wait to be repatriated
×
Aug1919

Aug 1919

Balloon leaflet drop

In an attempt to secure their freedom, the prisoners release a paper balloon which they stuff with leaflets expressing their wish to be repatriated. The balloon finds its way to Sheffield where it lands in the garden of local businessman, John Biggin.

.


  • Find out more about the prisoners struggle to be repatriated
×
Oct1919

Oct 1919

POWs repatriated

German prisoners are repatriated back to Germany and the camp closes.


  • Find out more about the prisoners repatriation
×
Jun1920

Jun 1920

Dismantling of camp

wooden hut village hall

One of the camp huts used as Tosside village hall until the 1960s.© Tosside Community Link and Slaidburn Archive

The camp is dismantled and the huts are sold at auction. They would be used for many different purposes, including village halls and school classrooms.


  • Find out more about how the huts were used after the camp closed
×
1920

Oct 1920

POW book published

Front cover of the book - Kriegsgefangen in Skipton

Front cover of the book - Kriegsgefangen in Skipton© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton

Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, a book about the German officers’ experiences of imprisonment at Raikeswood Camp, is published in Munich in 1920.


  • Find out more about the book.
×
May1936

May 1936

Hindenburg drop

hindenburg airship flying over houses

The Hindenburg flying over Yorkshire© Unknown

The German airship, the Hindenburg, makes a surprise visit to Keighley where a parcel containing a bouquet of carnations, a small silver cross and a letter is dropped by Father Schulte who requests that the flowers and cross be placed on the grave of his brother, Franz Schulte, a Raikeswood prisoner and victim of the Spanish flu pandemic.


  • Find out more about the Hindenburg drop.
×
Mar1938

Mar 1938

Nazi salute given at POW memorial service

Nazi salute been given at graves of POW victims of Spanish flu© www.findmypast.com

At a memorial service to the 47 prisoners who died from the Spanish flu, a party of 50 Germans who attended from various parts of Yorkshire raise their hands in the Nazi salute.

 


  • Find out more about the Spanish flu
×
1964

Jan 1964

POW graves moved

The graves of the Spanish flu victims are moved from Keighley’s Morton cemetery to the German Military Cemetery in Cannock Chase.


  • Find out more about the Spanish flu
×
2015

Nov 2015

Translation of POW book

The University of Leeds start work on a translation of Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, a book written by the German POWs about their time in Skipton.


  • Find out more about the translation project
×
Aug2016

Aug 2016

Archaeological dig

metal detecting on site of former camp

Local students metal detecting on the site of the camp

Students from Skipton schools work with professional archaeologists to begin excavating part of the Raikeswood Camp site.


  • Find out more about the dig
×
Aug1914

Outbreak of the First World War

Nov1914

Building of camp begins

Work begins to erect a military training camp behind the girls high school in Skipton, to become known locally as ‘Raikeswood Camp.’

Find out more
Jan1915

Bradford Pals arrive

Bradford Pals outside Raikeswood Camp hut, Skipton 1915

Bradford Pals outside hut© K. Ellwood, V. Rowley, and NYCC, Skipton Library

The 1st Bradford Pals regiment (16th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment) march from Bradford to Skipton to start training at Raikeswood Camp.


  • Find out more about the Bradford Pals at Raikeswood Camp
Find out more
May1915

Bradford Pals move on

21st West Yorkshire Regiment (Wool Textile Pioneers amongst the other regiments who trained at Raikeswood

21st West Yorkshire Regiment (Wool Textile Pioneers amongst the other regiments who trained at Raikeswood© K. Ellwood, V. Rowley, and NYCC, Skipton Library

The Bradford Pals transfer to Ripon Camp and 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Bantams) takes up residence at Raikeswood, followed by a number of other regiments throughout 1915 and 1916.


  • Find out about other regiments based at Raikeswood
Find out more
Jul1916

Battle of the Somme

soldiers marching towards front line waving

Soldiers heading to the front line during the Battle of the Somme© IWM (Q 1516)

Start of the Battle of the Somme. Men from the Bradford Pals who trained at Raikeswood Camp suffer heavy losses.


  • Find out about the Bradford Pals at Raikeswood Camp
Find out more
Feb1917

U-boat campaign intensifies

submarine attacks ships in sea

German submarine attack on British merchant ship© IWM (Q_020343)

Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare, eventually drawing the US into the war.


  • Find out more about the German U-Boat commanders who were imprisoned in the camp
Find out more
Jul1917

Battle of Passchendaele

soldiers walking across duckboards on muddy western front during world war one

Passchendaele’s water filled shell holes© IWM (E(AUS) 1220)

During the mudbath that was Passchendaele, more Raikeswood Camp prisoners were captured than in any other battle during the war.

 


  • Find out more about some of the Raikeswood prisoners captured at Passchendaele
Find out more
Nov1917

Battle of Cambrai

german prisoners of war with arms up in surrender

German prisoners captured on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917© IWM Q3173

Local soldiers from the 62nd West Riding Division play their part on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai (20 November 1917) in capturing 73 of the German officers who would end up at the camp, the largest number of Raikeswood prisoners to be captured on any one day.

 


  • Find out more about some of the Raikeswood prisoners captured on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai
Find out more
Jan1918

Arrival of POWs

Illustration of German prisoners arriving at the camp

Arrival of new prisoners© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton

First German officers arrive in Skipton from Colsterdale Camp near Masham.


  • Find out more about the prisoners arrival
Find out more
Feb1918

Camp inspection

Raikeswood Camp receives its first inspection by Swiss Embassy where the conditions are described as “not particularly pleasant”.

Find out more
Mar1918

Spring Offensive

The Big Push© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, p. 71

Start of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front. The prisoners follow the progress of their comrades closely.

Find out more
Jul1918

Escape attempt

Two prisoners who escaped from the camp are recaptured at a pub near Clitheroe after posing as members of the Royal Flying Corps.


  • Find out more about the escape attempts from the camp
Find out more
Sep1918

Camp theatre

The camp theatre

The camp theatre© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, p.190

The camp theatre group is set up and the officers put on plays such as Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and Puccini’s opera ‘Turandot’


  • Find out more about the cultural life inside the camp
Find out more
Nov1918

Armistice

Armistice marks the end of fighting on the Western Front.

Find out more
Feb1919

Spanish flu

german officers at funeral of spanish flu victims saluting

Funeral of some of the 47 German officers who were victims of the Spanish Flu epidemic© Ian Dewhirst

The second wave of Spanish flu is observed at the camp, killing 47 of the prisoners who are buried at Morton Cemetery in Keighley.

 


  • Find out more about the Spanish flu
Find out more
Jun1919

Camp sports day

german prisoner football team group photo

The Raikeswood Camp football team© Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv, Freiburg im Breisgau, MSG2002730

The prisoners hold a 2 day multi-sports festival, which includes sports such as football, athletics and “Faustball” (similar to Volleyball).


  • Find out more about the sporting activities that the prisoners took part in.
Find out more
Jun1919

The Treaty of Versailles

photo showing men sat around long tables in hall of palace at first world war peace treaty conference

Scene at the signing of the Peace Treaty in the Hall of Mirrors; Trianon Palace, Versailles, 28 June 1919. © IWM (Q 14996)

The Treaty of Versailles agrees the terms of the German prisoners’ release, but it would be another 4 months before they could return home.

 


  • Find out more about the prisoners' frustrating wait to be repatriated
Find out more
Aug1919

Balloon leaflet drop

In an attempt to secure their freedom, the prisoners release a paper balloon which they stuff with leaflets expressing their wish to be repatriated. The balloon finds its way to Sheffield where it lands in the garden of local businessman, John Biggin.

.


  • Find out more about the prisoners struggle to be repatriated
Find out more
Oct1919

POWs repatriated

German prisoners are repatriated back to Germany and the camp closes.


  • Find out more about the prisoners repatriation
Find out more
Jun1920

Dismantling of camp

wooden hut village hall

One of the camp huts used as Tosside village hall until the 1960s.© Tosside Community Link and Slaidburn Archive

The camp is dismantled and the huts are sold at auction. They would be used for many different purposes, including village halls and school classrooms.


  • Find out more about how the huts were used after the camp closed
Find out more
1920

POW book published

Front cover of the book - Kriegsgefangen in Skipton

Front cover of the book - Kriegsgefangen in Skipton© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton

Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, a book about the German officers’ experiences of imprisonment at Raikeswood Camp, is published in Munich in 1920.


  • Find out more about the book.
Find out more
May1936

Hindenburg drop

hindenburg airship flying over houses

The Hindenburg flying over Yorkshire© Unknown

The German airship, the Hindenburg, makes a surprise visit to Keighley where a parcel containing a bouquet of carnations, a small silver cross and a letter is dropped by Father Schulte who requests that the flowers and cross be placed on the grave of his brother, Franz Schulte, a Raikeswood prisoner and victim of the Spanish flu pandemic.


  • Find out more about the Hindenburg drop.
Find out more
Mar1938

Nazi salute given at POW memorial service

Nazi salute been given at graves of POW victims of Spanish flu© www.findmypast.com

At a memorial service to the 47 prisoners who died from the Spanish flu, a party of 50 Germans who attended from various parts of Yorkshire raise their hands in the Nazi salute.

 


  • Find out more about the Spanish flu
Find out more
1964

POW graves moved

The graves of the Spanish flu victims are moved from Keighley’s Morton cemetery to the German Military Cemetery in Cannock Chase.


  • Find out more about the Spanish flu
Find out more
2015

Translation of POW book

The University of Leeds start work on a translation of Kriegsgefangen in Skipton, a book written by the German POWs about their time in Skipton.


  • Find out more about the translation project
Find out more
Aug2016

Archaeological dig

metal detecting on site of former camp

Local students metal detecting on the site of the camp

Students from Skipton schools work with professional archaeologists to begin excavating part of the Raikeswood Camp site.


  • Find out more about the dig
Find out more
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