THE town of Alnwick played a hugely influential role in the overall Northumberland war effort throughout the First World War. The headquarters of the 1/7th (Territorial) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, from 1915 Alnwick also became the location of one of the largest infantry training bases in the north of England.
The camp, constructed on land volunteered for use by the Duke of Northumberland at the Pastures, near Alnwick Castle, was capable of holding 4,000 soldiers and many of the locally raised Pals’ Battalions received their training here.
In addition to reports of the bravery and deaths of soldiers from the Alnwick area, the book also details the impact the war had on the civilian population, fundraising efforts in support of injured soldiers, petty crime and food shortages.
By 1916 so many local men had enlisted that a shortage of labour became a serious problem in agriculture, and to recruit labour farmers were forced to pay higher wages. Men with accompanying women workers were hired at the increased weekly rate of 28 shillings along with the traditional free house, coal and 1,000 yards of planted potatoes.
