Surprising first-hand account of the Kinmel Camp Riots of 1919

Two Abergele Post readers – Doug Colter and John Michael Care – have been in touch with remarkable original accounts of the Kinmel Camp Riots (or Mutiny) of 1919. For background information you can read a BBC Wales account by Phil Carradice of the riot on the BBC Online website.

Doug Colter writes:

“My Grandfather John L. Colter(from Petrolia near London, Ontario, Canada) was born in 1898 and like most lads at the time was eager to sign up for action. So he enlisted on March 3, 1916 in London, Ontario, Canada.

“He trained in Camp Bordon, Ontario, then over to Britain for further training and preparation. He crossed the channel and traveled, and marched to Bourlon Wood in front of Cambrai, which was taken next day at a big price in men September 17, 1918.

“Fortunately (I suppose) he took a piece of shrapnel in his foot and had to find his way back on his own to a field hospital. That trip was quite the adventure as documented in his biography. From there, he eventually made his way to Mount Holly Convent, Tottington, to convalesce.

“Soon after the war was over and the long period of waiting to return to Canada had begun. This brought him to Kimmel Camp, where the famous riot took place.

“My grandfather kept a four volume diary from the time he enlisted to his return home. Most entries were very brief, and it would appear that it rained nearly every day while in the field in Europe.  Can’t imagine what it must have been like before Gortex…

John L. Colter
John L. Colter

“From his extensive writings and recollections is the following:

‘… “But all things come to him who waits.” Waiting is the thing we do mostly in the Army. We left Whitby 5:30 a.m., March 3 and bypassed London to get to Kinmel Camp, Wales, about 9:00 p.m. It is exactly three years ago today (March 3, 1916) that I enlisted in the Army at Petrolia (Ontario, Canada).

‘Now followed a period of “On Draft”, “Off Draft”. But finally the “On Draft” won. We left Abergele about 10:00 a.m., March 3 for Liverpool and boarded the S.S. Regina about noon. About midnight we sailed away from dear old Blightly.

‘Now came a time of boredom and frustration. “You are on Sailing Draft; You are off Sailing Draft.” Others came into the Camp, were put on Sailing Draft and were away while you were still waiting. I am of the opinion that kind of treatment was the chief cause of the Riot of March 5th.

‘In the plans for demobilisation the men were put into camps according to the Military District to which they were going. London was (is?) Number 1 and Toronto, Number 2, and so across Canada. London and Toronto were adjacent camps and each said their camp was much better than the other. As I was in the London Camp, my ideas may be biased. I can tell only the London side.

‘I believe the trouble started in the Beer Canteen, over what or where, I do not know, but the taps were all opened and left running. If you had your mess tin with you it was a case of “All free, help yourself”. No harm in all that. But when the rioters starting burning the Orderly Rooms with all the records in them, that was different. No one could be sent home until copies of the records could be obtained from London, England.’’

‘The London Camp O.C. explained this to the men and placed an armed guard around the camp to keep everyone OUT. With or without orders, an Officer filled his pockets with live ammunition to give to these sentries (I was NOT one of them). Who fired the first shot? No one knows — “Mr. Nobody”, I guess. The rioters then broke into the arsenal and helped themselves to rifles and ammunition. I do not think any London men were in this crowd. They then dropped into trenches that had been made for training and shot for heads. The number of killed and hurt in this riot was a well-kept secret. Rumour placed the figures at: killed, 3 Officers, 14 men, and one man wounded. None of the London men were hurt. It is reported that London Orderly Room was the only one left intact.

‘Where was I? Sitting on the stone wall behind the hut ready to drop into the private property on the outside if the bullets started coming my way. None did so I went back into the hut when it was over.

‘Now followed a period of “On Draft”, “Off Draft”. But finally the “On Draft” won. We left Abergale about 10:00 a.m., March 3 for Liverpool and boarded the S.S. Regina about noon. About midnight we sailed away from dear old Blightly.

‘The “Regina” was a new ship – newly launched and not completed inside. We had to sleep in hammocks slung over the mess tables from the beams. They had to be taken down every morning, folded and piled against the wall. Sleeping in a hammock is not comfortable as you are doubled up until you are more sitting than lying. Their good point was that as the ship rolled, the hammock swung in the opposite direction so that you were horizontal at all times. No sea sickness. At night if it was rough the hammock rings creaked quite musically and you kept bumping the guys on each side. (The hammocks were slung lengthwise of the ship.)…’ “

That’s the end o John L. Colter‘s diary entry as related by Doug Colter.

I wanted to ask local historian Andrew Hesketh for his opinion of Doug’s grandfather’s story. He says: “Fascinating. It ties in with my understanding and certainly had a lot to do with Canadians being denied passage home (by the Canadian Gov’t and not the British incidentally), so relations between natives and colonials was somewhat tense. …Julian Putkowski (is) the only man to have written a serious account of the riots. However, this was some time ago and his chief source was newspaper accounts (which were affected by censorship) and the records of the inquiry which seemed motivated by a need to place the blame on a pseudo-bolshevik ringleader who was killed in the riot and is buried in Bodelwyddan. It was rather convenient to be anti-Bolshevik in 1919 and even more convenient that the target for blame was unavailable for questioning!”

Now here’s what John Michael Care wrote:

“The story I have came from my great uncle Philip Chambers, originally from West Bromwich but who had emigrated to Montreal, Canada and had volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force from Montreal. His story of the riots was that he was sleeping on his bunk in the camp when a bullet came through the wall just missing him. As he said, he had survived the war and was one of only 12 of his regiment that survived the Somme and did not want to be killed on home soil. So he managed to sneak out of the camp in the chaos and make his way back to West Bromwich to stay with family, probably ours. There he waited until he heard that the government had arranged ships to take the Canadian troops home when he returned and sneaked back into the Camp in time to be shipped home. His story must have been equally difficult for his family as his brother died of typhoid in a camp in Northern France in 1919, also while waiting to be shipped back to Canada, and well after the end of hostilities.
My personal connection with Kinmel Bay was to attend a school CCF camp under canvass in the mid 1950’s long before I heard of the above story as I first met him in 1961 when I had a summer job in North America.”

Oldham Battalion, Manchester Regiment (circa 1914), at Kinmel Park Barracks

Mike Madden writes:

“I have attached 2 pictures. One of the Oldham Battalion (Pals) Manchester Regiment. And one with my Grandfather’s section, George Madden, seated in the centre of the front row. I think both pictures were taken in 1914 at Kinmel Park Barracks”

 Oldham Battalion (Pals) Manchester Regiment. And one with my Grandfather's section, George Madden, seated in the centre of the front row. I think both pictures were taken in 1914.  Oldham Battalion (Pals) Manchester Regiment. And one with my Grandfather's section, George Madden, seated in the centre of the front row. I think both pictures were taken in 1914.

We’re grateful to Mike for sharing these gems from his family’s collection.

Kinmel Camp appeal for information

Here’s an appeal which initially arrived at this site as a comment. It’s from author Jerry whose email address is jedbone at talktalk ot net. If you can help Jerry, please feel free to contact him directly, and leave a comment if you’d like to share what you know with other readers.

Here’s what Jerry wrote:

“I’ve been carrying out research for the last two years on Kinmel camp, mainly relating to its construction and layout of the camp during the Great War..

“I have several plans from 1938 onwards and a sketch of the camp from Julian Putkowskis book on the riots. I have also spoken to Julian about the camp.

“I’m currently trying to locate a plan of the camp during the Great War and have looked in every conceivable place locally and out of the area, including, National archives, McAlpines, local authority, council, libraries,records offices, IWM, MOD, highways, Cadw, CPA, National library of wales, Lidle collection, Royal Engineers museum, WFA, Canada, Kinmel Camp, etc, etc..

“Would anyone have an idea where else to look?

“I’m also trying to locate photos of the camp, its buildings and the men who served there and would kindly ask if anyone has photos of relatives. If so, would it please be possible to have a copy of them..

“This is part of a large project which hopefully culmunate in a memorial site to those who served there.”

WWI participants from the outskirts of Abergele

This is the second of a series of four posts featuring the research of Andrew Hesketh into participants in the Great War with Abergele connections. As a mark of respect, we’re publishing the thousand-plus list of names in installments.  Today we’re listing those from the outskirts of Abergele. As Andrew Hesketh says: “The ones ‘farther afield’ are a real conundrum. Llanddulas, Rhyd y Foel, Betws yn Rhos, St. George and Towyn were, at the time, effectively regarded as part of the ‘wider’ Abergele. The the pull of the market and the close links between the agricultural communities in particular meant that blokes from as far away as Llanelian and Dolwen (which today are in the gravitational orbit of Colwyn Bay) were, at the time, regarded as part of the wider Abergele community. So was Llanfair TH and Llanefydd, but I decided early on to draw a line there because the ‘pull’ of Denbigh and Llanrwst begins to kick in at those places). I decided therefore, that my research should reflect what was seen and regarded as Abergele and district in 1914, not what it would appear to be in 2014.”

MORRIS,
JOHN

Royal
Garrison Artillery

Bangor

MORRIS,
THOMAS PRITCHARD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Bangor

DAVIES,
THOMAS

Army
Service Corps

Betws
yn Rhos

DAVIES,
WILLIAM

Lancashire
Fusiliers

Betws
yn Rhos

HUGHES,
DAVID

Royal
Garrison Artillery

Betws
yn Rhos

HUGHES,
HENRY

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Betws
yn Rhos

HUGHES,
HUGH

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Betws
yn Rhos

JONES,
OWAIN ap VYCHAN

Labour
Corps

Betws
yn Rhos

LLOYD,
ALBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Betws
yn Rhos

WILLIAMS,
ISAAC

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Betws
yn Rhos

JONES,
THOMAS

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Betws-yn-Rhos

OWEN,
TREVOR

South
Wales Borderers

Betws-yn-Rhos

OWENS,
JOHN

Army
Service Corps

Betws-yn-Rhos

RAWLINSON,
THOMAS JONES

Royal
Engineers

Betws-yn-Rhos

ROBERTS,
ELLIS LLOYD

Machine
Gun Corps

Betws-yn-Rhos

ROBERTS,
ROBERT LLOYD

Welsh

Betws-yn-Rhos

BLACKWELL,
LESLIE GEORGE BENNETT

King’s
(Liverpool)

Colwyn
Bay

DAVIES,
THOMAS

London

Colwyn
Bay

JONES,
EDGAR WILKINSON

York
& Lancaster

Colwyn
Bay

KILBOURNE,
FRANK

North
Stafoordshire

Colwyn
Bay

LARSON,
JOHN

Royal
Navy

Colwyn
Bay

ROBERTS,
WILLIAM

 

Colwyn
Bay

ROBERTS,
WILLIAM

 

Colwyn
Bay

JONES,
WILLIAM PENNANT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Denbigh

JONES,
JOHN OWEN

Welsh

Dolwen

ROWLANDS,
ISAAC REES

Welsh
Guards

Dolwen

ROWLANDS,
J. R.

Welsh
Guards

Dolwen

ROWLANDS,
JOHN

Canadian

Dolwen

WYNNE,
EDWARD HENRY JOHN

Grenadier
Guards

Dolwen

DYSON,
T.

 

Foryd

JONES,
W. CHARLES

 

Foryd

JONES,
DAVID

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Henllan

PATRICK,
WILLIAM JOHN

Somerset
Light Infantry

Kinmel
Bay

BANKS,
ARTHUR CHAPLIN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

BANKS,
CHARLES CHAPLIN

Royal
Flying Corps

Llanddulas

BARTLEY,
HOWELL

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

CADMAN,
CHARLES JOSEPH MC

Royal
Engineers

Llanddulas

CADMAN,
JOHN (LORD CADMAN OF SILVERDALE)

 

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
HENRY

 

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
HUGH (HUGHIE)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
HUMPHREY

Royal
Field Artillery

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
ISAAC

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
JOHN HUGH

Cheshire

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
MOSES

 

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
MOSES J.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
ROBERT O.

 

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
ROBERT PHILLIP

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
THOMAS

Welsh
Guards

Llanddulas

DAVIES,
WILLIAM THOMAS (WILLIE)

Cheshire

Llanddulas

DICKEN,
THOMAS (TOM)

Royal
Air Force

Llanddulas

EVANS,
RICHARD MAURICE

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

EVANS,
WALTER

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

FORMSTON,
THOMAS

Royal
Engineers

Llanddulas

GRAHAM,
THOMAS F.

 

Llanddulas

GRIFFITHS,
RUSSELL

 

Llanddulas

GRIFFITHS,
WILLIAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

HUGHES,
HUGH

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

HUGHES,
RICHARD

Royal
Field Artillery

Llanddulas

JAMES,
JOHN EDWARD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

JONES,
A. BRANSBY

Royal
Army Medical Corps

Llanddulas

JONES,
BERTIE

Royal
Army Medical Corps

Llanddulas

JONES,
DANIEL

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

JONES,
GWILYM GEORGE

South
Wales Borderers

Llanddulas

JONES,
HUGH

Royal
Engineers

Llanddulas

JONES,
LLOYD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

JONES,
ROBERT

Royal
Engineers

Llanddulas

JONES,
ROBERT J.

 

Llanddulas

JONES,
ROBERT JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

JONES,
THOMAS (TOMMY)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

JONES,
WILLIAM

 

Llanddulas

JONES,
WILLIAM

 

Llanddulas

JONES,
WILLIAM C.

Royal
Engineers

Llanddulas

LEWIS,
FRANK

 

Llanddulas

LLOYD,
D

 

Llanddulas

McCOMBE,CHARLES

Mercantile
Marine

Llanddulas

MORRIS,
JOHN

 

Llanddulas

MORRIS
WILLIAM

Welsh

Llanddulas

POWELL,
JOHN

Manchester

Llanddulas

POWELL,
LLEWELYN

 

Llanddulas

ROBERTS,
ARTHUR

 

Llanddulas

ROBERTS,
GEORGE

 

Llanddulas

ROBERTS,
WILLIAM (WILL)

Royal
Navy Volunteer Reserve

Llanddulas

ROBERTS,
WILLIAM (WILLIE)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

THOMAS

 

Llanddulas

THOMAS,
DAVID

 

Llanddulas

THOMAS,
RICHARD

 

Llanddulas

TURNER,
FREDERICK HARDING

Liverpool

Llanddulas

TURNER,
WILLIAM

Liverpool

Llanddulas

VALENTINE,
MOSES IDWAL MM OBE

Royal
Field Artillery

Llanddulas

VAUGHAN,
EDWIN

 

Llanddulas

VAUGHAN,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

VAUGHAN,
JOHN H.

 

Llanddulas

VAUGHAN,
ROBERT

 

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
DAN [DANIEL]

Cheshire

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
DAVID LEWIS

Army
Service Corps

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
HUMPHREY

Royal
Field Artillery

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
JOHN J.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
JOHN

 

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
L

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
SAMUEL

 

Llanddulas

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS H.

 

Llanddulas

WYNNE-JONES,
EDWARD IRVINE

Welsh

Llanddulas

JONES,
HUGH

 

Llandulas

VAUGHAN,
JOHN HENRY

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanefydd

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanefydd

BORTHWICK,
FRANCIS HENRY DSO & Bar

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanelian

LLOYD,
LLEWELYN

 

Llanelian

OWEN,
CYRIL POWNALL

Machine
Gun Corps

Llanelian

DAVIES,
ROBERT WILLIAM

 

Llanfair
Talhaiarn

JONES,
MAURICE ROBERT

Army
Service Corps

Llanfair
Talhaiarn

JONES,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanfair
Talhaiarn

GRIFFITH,
TREVOR LLEWELYN

Royal
Field Artillery

Llanfair
TH

PARRY,
DANIEL

Labour
Corps

Llanfair
TH

PIERCE,
EDWARD JONES

 

Llanfair
TH

JONES,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llanfairfechan

JONES,
DAVID

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llangernyw

JONES,
HERBERT C. TREVOR

Royal
Army Medical Corps

Llangernyw?

WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM

 

Llannduals

ROBERTS,
JOHN

Welsh

Llanrwst

DAVIES,
GEORGE MILLWARD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llansannan

EVANS,
EMRYS

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llysfaen

JONES,
JOHN PETER

 

Llysfaen

LEWIS,
JOSEPH

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Llysfaen

DAVIES,
WILLIAM

South
Lancashire

Moelfre

HUGHES,
EDWARD (TED)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Moelfre

HUGHES,
WILLIAM EVAN (WILL)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Moelfre

JONES,
THOMAS R. (TOM)

South
Wales Borderers

Moelfre

MORGAN,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Moelfre

MORGAN,
WILLIAM

 

Moelfre

ROBERTS,
ROBERT

Royal
Field Artillery

Moelfre

WILLIAMS,
LLEWELYN (LLEW)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Moelfre

WILLIAMS,
ROBERT TREVOR

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Moelfre

WILLAMS,
J. DAVID

 

Morfa
Rhuddlan

BOOTH,
FRANK

Army
Veterinary Corps

Old
Colwyn

AUSTIN,
ALFRED JAMES (ALF)

Royal
Air Force

Pensarn

AUSTIN,
FREDERIC (FRED)

Royal
Flying Corps

Pensarn

AUSTIN,
THOMAS HENRY

South
Wales Borderers

Pensarn

AUSTIN,
WILLIAM EDWARD (TED)

Machine
Gun Corps

Pensarn

BLUNDELL,
JOHN R.

 

Pensarn

CARTWRIGHT,
CHARLES C.

Royal
Navy Volunteer Reserve

Pensarn

CLEWS,
ARTHUR RICHARD

 

Pensarn

COMBE,
JAMES PATRICK CAMPBELL

Royal
Engineers

Pensarn

DAVIES,
HAROLD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Pensarn

DAVIES,
HERBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Pensarn

DAVIES,
J. R. PERCIVAL

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Pensarn

DAVIES,
JOHN R.

Royal
Garrison Artillery

Pensarn

DAVIES,
T

Royal
Army Medical Corps

Pensarn

DAVIES,
THOMAS OWEN

Royal
Field Artillery

Pensarn

DAVIES,
WILLIAM HAROLD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Pensarn

EARWAKER,
RALPH PARSON O.B.E.

Army
Service Corps

Pensarn

EDWARDS,
WILLIAM

 

Pensarn

EVANS,
D. R.

 

Pensarn

EVANS,
JOHN JAMES

 

Pensarn

FRASER,
ALEC

Australian
Army

Pensarn

FRASER,
JAMES CHARTERIS

Royal
Defence Corps

Pensarn

GRIFFITHS,
LLEWELYN PRITCHARD

 

Pensarn

HEAD,
JOHN HENRY

 

Pensarn

HOPKINS,
TOM [THOMAS] J.

Army
Service Corps

Pensarn

HOYLE,
J. C

Cheshire

Pensarn

HUGHES,
CECIL AUGUSTUS

 

Pensarn

HUGHES,
RICHARD DAVID

Welsh
Guards

Pensarn

JACOB,
HAROLD

Royal
Navy

Pensarn

JACOB,
SIDNEY SQUIRE (SID)

King’s
(Liverpool)

Pensarn

JONES,
ARVON

 

Pensarn

JONES,
BENUEL

Denbighshire
Yeomanry

Pensarn

JONES,
EDWARD

Royal
Engineers

Pensarn

JONES,
JOHN HUGH

Royal
Navy

Pensarn

JONES,
JOSEPH PENIEL

 

Pensarn

JONES,
LYNCH

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Pensarn

JONES,
ROBERT

 

Pensarn

JONES,
TREVOR

Royal
Field Artillery

Pensarn

LEIGHTON,
HERBERT

Welsh

Pensarn

LEWIS,
RICHARD

Royal
Garrison Artillery

Pensarn

MacDONALD,
CHARLES

Royal
Engineers

Pensarn

PARRY,
SAMUEL

 

Pensarn

ROBERTS,
JOHN R.

York
& Lancaster

Pensarn

ROBERTS,
JOSEPH BROWN

Royal
Garrison Artillery

Pensarn

ROWLANDS,
GWENNIE

 

Pensarn

SMITH

 

Pensarn

THOMAS,
JOHN HENRY

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Pensarn

TURVY,
FRANCIS HUGH

 

Pensarn

WHEWAY,
W.

Royal
Field Artillery

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
EDMUND GOODMAN

East
Lancashire

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
HAYDN

Royal
Navy

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
HORATIO

King’s
Royal Rifle Corps

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
JOHN GOODMAN

Royal
Engineers

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
ROBERT EDWIN

 

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS

Royal
Navy

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS

 

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS (TOM)

Royal
Engineers

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS EVAN

 

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
VINCENT

 

Pensarn

WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM

 

Pensarn

WYKEHAM-MUSGRAVE,
WENMAN HUMPHREY

Royal
Navy

Pensarn

OWEN,
JOSEPH HEBER

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Prestatyn

JACKSON,
ELIAS

 

Rhyd
y Foel

JONES,
PERCY

South
African Army

Rhyd
y Foel

JONES,
THOMAS

 

Rhyd
y Foel

JONES,
WILLIAM

 

Rhyd
y Foel

WILLIAMS,
JOHN

Royal
Fusiliers

Rhyd
y Foel

WILLIAMS,
PETER

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Rhyd
y Foel

WILLIAMS,
ROBERT DAVID

Royal
Field Artillery

Rhyd
y Foel (?)

THOMAS,
JOSEPH H.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
Asaph

BECKETT,
FRANK SYDNEY

Sherwood
Foresters

St.
George

BRADLEY,
ARTHUR M.

Royal
Engineers

St.
George

DAVIES,
WILLIAM

 

St.
George

DAVIES,
WILLIAM

 

St. George

DAVIS,
THOMAS

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

EDWARDS,
FREDERICK (FRED)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

EVANS,
ARTHUR M. GRAHAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

EVANS,
DAVID GRAHAM

Chaplain
Forces

St.
George

EVANS,
FRANK [FRANCIS] GRAHAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

EVANS,
STANLEY GRAHAM

Machine
Gun Corps

St.
George

EVANS,
STIRLING GRAHAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

GILCHRIST,
WILLIAM

Duke
of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

St.
George

HOLMES,
ALBERT

South
Staffordshire

St.
George

HUGHES,
DAVID

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

HUGHES,
H. B. L.

 

St.
George

HUGHES,
JAMES DEVINE

Royal
Engineers

St.
George

HUGHES,
WALTER

 

St.
George

JONES,
WILLIAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

St.
George

LEDSHAM,
LESLIE

Labour
Corps

St.
George

OWEN,
FRANCIS

 

St.
George

OWEN,
FRANK

Australian
Army

St.
George

SALISBURY,
EDWARD DAVID

Royal
Army Medical Corps

St.
George

BARTLEY,
W. S.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

ELLIS,
JOHN DAVID

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

GERRARD,
JOHN

Loyal North Lancashire

Towyn

HUGHES,
DANIEL

 

Towyn

HUGHES,
ISAAC

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

HUGHES,
JOHN

 

Towyn

HUGHES,
JOHN FFOULKES

South
Wales Borderers

Towyn

HUGHES,
THOMAS

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

HUGHES,
TOM

 

Towyn

HUGHES,
WILLIAM

 

Towyn

HUGHES,
WILLIAM HENRY

Labour
Corps

Towyn

JONES,
WILLIAM GEORGE

Northumberland
Fusiliers

Towyn

MOSLEY,
WILLIAM ARTHUR

 

Towyn

OWEN,
EDWARD

 

Towyn

ROBERTS,
E

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

ROBERTS,
JOHN

Somerset
Light Infantry

Towyn

ROBERTS,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

ROBERTS,
JOHN OWEN

South
Wales Borderers

Towyn

ROBERTS,
JOHN OWEN

 

Towyn

ROBERTS,
T. H.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

ROBERTS,
THOMAS

 

Towyn

SHEPHERD,
A.

 

Towyn

TODD

Lancashire
Fusiliers

Towyn

WILLIAMS,
DAVID

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

WILLIAMS,
PETER

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Towyn

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS

 

Towyn

WINKUP,
ARTHUR

Royal
Field Artillery

Towyn

ELLIS,
HUGH LODWICK MALDWYN (HUGHIE)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

Ysceifiog

ADAMS,
GLYNNE

RNVR

 

BEDFORD,
HENRY

Abergele
and District Civilian Guard

 

BELL,
ROBERT

 

 

BEVAN

 

 

BIRTWISTLE,
DAN

 

 

BLAKEMORE,
CHARLES EDWARD

Royal
Navy

 

BLAKEMORE,
W.

Abergele
and District Civilian Guard

 

BOOTH,
RICHARD

Welsh

 

BROOKES

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

CHESTERS,
CECIL

Royal
Naval Air Service

 

COLLINSON,
JOHN HENRY

Royal
Engineers

 

DARLINGTON,
CHARLIE

Royal
Flying Corps

 

DARLINGTON,
HARRY

Royal
Flying Corps

 

DARLINGTON,
WALTER

Royal
Engineers

 

DAVIES

Abergele
Military Police

 

DAVIES,
ALLEN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
ARTHUR

 

 

DAVIES,
DAVID

Labour
Corps

 

DAVIES,
EVAN M.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
H. J.

Royal
Flying Corps

 

DAVIES,
H. T. (HUGH THOMAS?)

 

 

DAVIES,
HUGH

Royal
Engineers

 

DAVIES,
J. P. R.

 

 

DAVIES
JOHN

 

 

DAVIES,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
JOHN

Royal
Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
JOHN (JACK)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
JOHN ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
JOHN ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
LLEW

 

 

DAVIES,
PERCY

Army
Service Corps

 

DAVIES,
R

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

DAVIES,
ROBERT JONES

Machine
Gun Corps

 

DAVIES,
ROBERT JONES

Royal
Field Artillery

 

DAVIES,
THOMAS OWEN

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

DAVIES,
TOM

 

 

DAVIES,
W

 

 

DAVIES,
WILL (WILLIAM)

South
Wales Borderers

 

DAVIES,
WILLIAM

Royal
Field Artillery

 

DAVIES,
WILLIAM

Army
Service Corps

 

DICKINS,
ARTHUR GEORGE

Royal
Engineers

 

DOBBINS,
FRANCIS LEO

Denbighshire
Yeomanry

 

EDWARDS,
ARCHIBALD (ARCHIE)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

EDWARDS,
HOWEL

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

EDWARDS,
JOHN

Royal
Military Police

 

EDWARDS,
WILFRED

 

 

EDWARDS,
WILLIAM

Labour
Corps

 

EDWARDS,
WYNN

Royal
Field Artillery

 

EDWARDS.
JACK [JOHN]

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

EVANS

 

 

EVANS,
ARNOLD

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

EVANS,
B

 

 

EVANS,
B

 

 

EVANS,
ERIC M.

Welsh

 

EVANS,
J. O.

Royal
Engineers

 

EVANS,
J. T.

 

 

EVANS,
J. W.

Machine
Gun Corps

 

EVANS,
JOHN

 

 

EVANS,
JOHN [JACK]

Royal
Field Artillery

 

EVANS,
LLEWELYN

 

 

EVANS,
ROBERT ARTHUR

Mercantile
Marine

 

EVANS,
TED

 

 

EVANS-HUGHES,
ERIC H.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

FITTON,
HARRY

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

FLAVIN,
MICHAEL MC

Welsh

 

FLEET,
E. H.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

GRAY,
ARNOLD

 

 

GREENHALGH

 

 

GRIFFITHS,
JAMES

Army
Service Corps

 

GRIFFITHS,
W.

Machine
Gun Corps

 

HALLIDAY,
THOMAS E.

Army
Service Corps

 

HANNAH,
MABEL TEMPLETON

Queen
Alexandria’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

 

HARRISON,
J.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HAWKYARD,
A. M.

 

 

HEATH,
J. A.

 

 

HEATH,
JOE G.

Training
Reserve

 

HIBBINS,
H

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HIGGIN,
WILLIAM HENRY HARTLEY

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HIGGINS

South
Wales Borderers

 

HUGHES

General
Service

 

HUGHES,
(?). H

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HUGHES,
ALBERT

Army
Service Corps

 

HUGHES,
CHARLES

Rifle
Brigade

 

HUGHES,
DAN

Royal
Garrison Artillery

 

HUGHES,
H

 

 

HUGHES,
H. O. Dr.

 

 

HUGHES,
JAMES

Army
Service Corps

 

HUGHES,
JOHN

 

 

HUGHES,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HUGHES,
JOHN

Army
Veterinary Corps

 

HUGHES,
JOHN

Labour
Corps

 

HUGHES,
LEVI

Royal
Defence Corps

 

HUGHES,
R

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HUGHES,
SAMUEL

Labour
Corps

 

HUGHES,
THOMAS FFOULKES

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

HUGHES,
THOMAS S.

Army
Service Corps

 

HUMPHREY-ROBERTS,
DAVID

 

 

HUMPHREYS,
E. W.

 

 

JOHNSON,
STANLEY

 

 

JONES,
ALBERT E.

Royal
Field Artillery

 

JONES,
ALFRED

 

 

JONES,
ARTHUR

 

 

JONES,
C. T.

 

 

JONES,
CHARLES

Abergele
& District Civilian Guard

 

JONES,
DYFRIG

Royal
Naval Division

 

JONES,
ED

Royal
Engineers

 

JONES,
FRANCIS

Welsh
Guards

 

JONES,
FRANK

 

 

JONES,
FREDERICK WILLIAM

Welsh

 

JONES,
G. MORGAN

 

 

JONES,
GLYN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
GLYNNE

Army
Service Corps

 

JONES,
HARRY (ALIAS ROBERTS, HARRY)

 

 

JONES,
ISAAC

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
J. D. M

Royal
Navy

 

JONES,
JIM [JAMES]

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
JOHN

Royal
Field Artillery

 

JONES,
JOHN E.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
JOHN JAMES

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
JOHN OWEN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
JOSHUA

Abergele
& District Civilian Guard

 

JONES,
JOSHUA

 

 

JONES,
R. H.

Army
Service Corps

 

JONES,
R. H.

 

 

JONES,
R. PARRY

 

 

JONES,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

JONES,
STEWART KIRBY

Royal
Field Artillerry

 

JONES,
T. G.

Admiralty
Wireless Station

 

JONES,
W

Royal
Flying Corps

 

JONES,
W. E

Welsh

 

JONES,
W. HUMPHREYS

Abergele
and District Civilian Guard

 

JONES,
W. Ll.

Royal
Naval Air Service

 

JONES,
WILLIAM JAMES

South
Wales Borderers

 

JONES,
WILLIAM R.

Royal
Army Ordnance Corps

 

LAMB,
HARRY

Grenadier
Guards

 

LEWIS,
THOMAS

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

LLOYD,
JOHN ALUN (a.k.a ALLAN)

Welsh

 

LLOYD,
TOM [THOMAS]

Training
Reserve

 

LUKE,
RICHARD (DICK)

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

MACDONALD

 

 

MACKENZIE,
A. A

Royal
Engineers

 

MATHEWS,
HAROLD

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

McDONALD,
J. O.

Army
Service Corps

 

MILLWARD,
H. H.

Royal
Navy

 

MILLWARD,
H. T.

 

 

MILLWARD,
J. T

Royal
Field Artillery

 

MOORE,
J

 

 

MOSS,
DAVID J.

 

 

MYDDLETON,
CHARLES

Royal
Naval Air Service

 

NEEDHAM,
R. M.

Royal
Marines

 

NUTTALL,
FRANK

Dragoon
Guards

 

OWEN,
DAVID

Army
Service Corps

 

OWEN,
E.

 

 

OWEN,
EDWARD

 

 

OWEN,
JOHN

 

 

OWEN,
ROBERT

Abergele
& District Civilian Guard

 

OWEN,
ROBERT

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

OWEN,
ROBERT JAMES

Royal
Garrison Artillery

 

OWEN,
W. C.

Royal
Engineers

 

OWENS,
JOHN

Tank
Corps

 

PARKS,
EDWARD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

PARRY,
E.

Royal
Defence Corps

 

PARRY,
EDWARD E.

Royal
Field Artillery

 

PARRY,
J

Manchester

 

PARRY,
JOHN

 

 

PEACOCK,
DAVID

 

 

PHILLIPS,
JOHN

 

 

PHILLIPS,
TUDOR OWEN M.C.

South
Wales Borderers

 

PIERSON,
GUY KENYON

Royal
Fusiliers

 

PRICE,
T. W.

Abergele
& District Civilian Guard

 

RATCLIFFE

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
B

Royal
Field Artillery

 

ROBERTS,
DAVID

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
E

Royal
Field Artillery

 

ROBERTS,
E. I.

Royal
Navy Volunteer Reserve

 

ROBERTS,
EDWARD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
FRED

 

 

ROBERTS,
HARRY

Welsh

 

ROBERTS,
HENRY OSWALD

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

ROBERTS,
HERBERT

Machine
Gun Corps

 

ROBERTS,
HUGH

Welsh

 

ROBERTS,
J. EDWARD

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
J. Ll. J

 

 

ROBERTS,
JOHN J. B.

Labour
Corps

 

ROBERTS,
LLEWELYN

Machine
Gun Corps

 

ROBERTS,
R. T.

Dragoon
Guards

 

ROBERTS,
RICHARD

Rifle
Brigade

 

ROBERTS,
RICHARD E.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
ROBERT

Abergele
& District Civilian Guard

 

ROBERTS,
ROBERT

Mercantile
Marine

 

ROBERTS,
ROBERT MEREDITH

Royal
Field Artillery

 

ROBERTS,
SAMUEL

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
THOMAS

Royal
Engineers

 

ROBERTS,
THOMAS OWEN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

ROBERTS,
WALTER

 

 

ROBERTS,
WILLIAM HENRY

Machine
Gun Corps

 

ROBINSON,
OSWALD

Royal
Navy Volunteer Reserve

 

ROWLANDS,
E

Welsh

 

SIMONS,
EDWARD

Army
Service Corps

 

SMITH,
GEORGE

 

 

STOKES,
C

Royal
Engineers

 

TAYLOR,
ALBERT

Mercantile
Marine

 

TAYLOR,
JOHN G.

Royal
Field Artillery

 

THOMAS,
HARRY E.

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

THOMAS,
R. A.

 

 

THOMAS,
WILLIAM

Royal
Garrison Artillery

 

TWITTY,
GEORGE

Grenadier
Guards

 

UNKNOWN
SAILOR

 

 

VAUGHAN

South
Wales Borderers

 

VAUGHAN,
GLYN

 

 

WADDINGTON,
E. R.

Abergele
& District Civilian Guard

 

WATSON,
CHARLES

Army
Service Corps

 

WELLS,
JOHN

Cheshire

 

WHITELEY,
W. A.

Royal
Engineers

 

WHITLEY,
T. J.

Army
Service Corps

 

WHITLEY,
THOMAS

 

 

WILLIAMS,
D.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
DANIEL

 

 

WILLIAMS,
DAVID

 

 

WILLIAMS,
EDWARD

Abergele
and District Civilian Guard

 

WILLIAMS,
EDWARD

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
EDWARD R. FFOULKES

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
ERNEST H.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
EVAN

Royal
Berkshire

 

WILLIAMS,
FRED

 

 

WILLIAMS,
FREDERICK

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
G. T.

Welsh

 

WILLIAMS,
GEORGE

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
HAROLD

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

WILLIAMS,
HAROLD C.

Royal
Field Artillery

 

WILLIAMS,
HYWEL P.

 

 

WILLIAMS,
IVOR

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
J. D.

Machine
Gun Corps

 

WILLIAMS,
JAMES

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
JAMES WOOD

Royal
Army Medical Corps

 

WILLIAMS,
JOHN

Cheshire

 

WILLIAMS,
JOHN

City
of London Yeomanry

 

WILLIAMS,
JOHN

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
JOHN R.

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
LLEWELYN

King’s
(Liverpool)

 

WILLIAMS,
OWEN BENJAMIN

Welsh
Guards

 

WILLIAMS,
R. E.

South
Lancashire

 

WILLIAMS,
R. G.

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
ROBERT

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
S. T. O.

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
SAM

 

 

WILLIAMS,
T

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
T. C.

 

 

WILLIAMS,
T. E.

 

 

WILLIAMS,
TEDDY

 

 

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS (TOM)

Royal
Engineers

 

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS (TOM)

Royal
Navy

 

WILLIAMS,
THOMAS CHARLES

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

WOODHOUSE

 

 

WORTHINGTON,
WILLIAM ERNEST

Royal
Welsh Fusiliers

 

Three charming vintage Kinmel Camp postcards

Thanks to Colin Watt for his comment: “My Grandfather was at Kinmel Park camp in the first world war. He was pvt 6033 J.E.Bayley in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was wounded at Ypres on the 30th Sept 1917 and admitted to the St Johns Ambulance brigade hospital at Etapler France with severe leg wound. I have two post cards from Kinmel Park and, if you are interested, will forward copies. One is called “A Soldier’s Letter To His Sweetheart”, and the other is “A Soldiers Dream Of Home”, both were sent to my Grandmother during training.”

Kinmel Camp postcard from Colin Watt

Kinmel Camp postcard from Colin Watt


Kinmel Camp postcard from Colin Watt



Click on these images from Colin Watt’s collection to see them full-sized.