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The 1910s

11/ 6/2003

Regiment camps at Lake and prepares for war

SOLDIERS camped at Hollingworth Lake before they set off to the Great War.

Ealees Valley was turned into a sea of tents together with horses, vans and military equipment as members of the Manchester Regiment, known as the Pals, prepared to fight the Axis powers.

Word spread quickly around the town about the base and people from all over Rochdale travelled to Littleborough to see the camp.

The soldiers proved immensely popular with local people, giving food away from their trucks. Their relatives went to see them regularly at their base and stayed with local people.

The men eventually left the area to do battle in the Dardanelles in Turkey.

Warm welcome home for wounded heroes

SOLDIERS wounded in battle were treated to tender loving care in Rochdale.

The Ambulance Drill Hall, Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Castleton House, the Crippled Children's Memorial Home in Norden and Mount Pleasant at Facit were all used to treat soldiers.

The first casulaties started to arrive in November 1914. Having been treated in Manchester they were transferred to Rochdale to continue their convalescence.Belgian soldiers who had served in the trenches at Dixmude and Nieuport were taken to the Ambulance Drill Hall. Great crowds flocked to Summer Street and Milnrow Road to welcome the brave men of Rochdale.

At the same time about 17 British soldiers were taken to the Norden children's home. They were wounded in fighting near the French towns of Lille and La Bassee on the Belgian border.

The following year all the other institutions started treating soldiers as the numbers of wounded increased.

End-of-war celebrations

ROCHDALE rejoiced as news of the end of the Great War reached town on Monday 11 November 1918.

Prime Minister Lloyd George's announcement that war was over quickly reached the town's mills, workshops, schools and municipal offices and a public holiday was declared.

More than 30,000 people rushed into the town centre and were stood outside the Town Hall as the mayor, Councillor Davidson, made his speech on this great news. Such scens had not been seen in the town since the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1913.

At first people were cautious about celebrating too much with the false hope raised a week before. But as the news was confirmed that hostilities had ceased, flags were put up all around the town.

Councillor Davidson said that although only an armistice had been signed, the fighting was definitely over. He called upon people to remember those who had made great sacrifices during the war.

He added that although the peace had been bought at a great price, the Allied victory meant a lot to minkind, quoting United States president Woodrow Wilson by saying: "The world has been made safe for democracy".

Key events - 1910 to 1919:

1910 - The Labour Exchange, Moore Street, opened for the registration of unemployed; Foundation stone of Mitchell Street church laid by Mrs Turner; Junior Unionists Association formed in Rochdale.
1911 - Announced that postal authorities were in negotiation for site on the corner of The Esplanade and Newgate; First police dog arrives at Town Hall; Lock-out starts in cotton trade.
1912 - Rochdale Cattle Market closed due to cattle plague; Boy Scouts founder Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell addressed meeting at the Town Hall; Pavilion Picture Palace opened, the first hall in Rochdale built expressly as a picture hall.
1913 - Boer War hero Sir George Kemp created a baron; Alderman Samuel Turner presented an organ to the Town Hall; St Ann's Church, Belfield, consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester.
1914 - Alderman Samuel Turner knighted; First meeting of Rochdale Town Council at which three knights are present, Sir James Duckworth, Sir Samuel Turner and Sir James Jones; Rochdale Territorials embark for overseas as World War One starts.
1915 - Rochdale Territorials' first battle in the Dardanelles; Ceylon picture palace opened; Diptheria epidemic causes several deaths.
1916 - A German field gun, captured at Loos, arrived in Rochdale; Strict lighting restrictions brought into force; Ernest Poles, who had lost his speech through the war, recovered it in an accident at Kelsall and Kemp's Mill.
1917 - Chief Constable Leonard Barry summoned himself for a breach of the lighting order; Ramsay Macdonald MP addressed meeting at the Pioneers Hall on trade unionism after the war; Resolution to prohibit alcoholic liquors during the war and for six months afterwards was passed at meeting at Rochdale Town Hall.
1918 - Forced descent of aeroplane near Crowshaw Farm, Milnrow; Rochdale Tank Week raises £1,726,485; Halle Orchestra gave first concert at the Town Hall for nealrly 40 years.
1919 - Cec Parkin, leading cricket professional of the day, joins Rochdale Cricket Club; Rochdale bakers on strike for nine days.