Timeline
Aug 1914
Nov 1914
Jan 1915
May 1915
Jul 1916
Feb 1917
Jul 1917
Nov 1917
Jan 1918
Feb 1918
Mar 1918
Jul 1918
Sep 1918
Nov 1918
Feb 1919
Jun 1919
Jun 1919
Aug 1919
Oct 1919
Jun 1920
Oct 1920
May 1936
Mar 1938
Jan 1964
Nov 2015
Aug 2016
Outbreak of the First World War
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.’
Bradford Pals arrive

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.
Bradford Pals move on

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.
Battle of the Somme

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.
U-boat campaign intensifies

German submarine attack on British merchant ship© IWM (Q_020343)
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare, eventually drawing the US into the war.
Battle of Passchendaele

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.
Battle of Cambrai

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.
Arrival of POWs

Arrival of new prisoners© Kriegsgefangen in Skipton
First German officers arrive in Skipton from Colsterdale Camp near Masham.
Camp inspection
Raikeswood Camp receives its first inspection by Swiss Embassy where the conditions are described as “not particularly pleasant”.
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.
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.
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’
Armistice
Armistice marks the end of fighting on the Western Front.
Spanish flu

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.
Camp sports day

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).
The Treaty of Versailles

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

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.
POW book published

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.
Hindenburg drop

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.
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.
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.
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.
Archaeological dig

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.