Families flock for fun at the seaside on eve of conflict that changed world

Bournemouth and Great Yarmouth. Those who decided to spend the bank holiday weekend at home may have seen the opening of Birmingham’s new pleasure resort, the fun park in Aston Reservoir Grounds, later known as Salford Park.

On Monday, August 3, the day before Britain declared war on Germany, the Mail said: “Light-hearted crowds left the inland towns of England on Saturday for the coast, there to learn (but possibly to remain in ignorance until to-day) of the grave turn which events have taken during their brief absence... The holiday spirit flowed freely during the week-end, but there may be a different story to tell to-day.”

The report continued: “Realisation of the serious state of affairs in Europe was brought sharply home to intending Birmingham holiday-makers by the action of the Great Western Railway Company in cancelling excursion trains from Snow Hill Station... Last night only a limited number of trains were run.

“Apparently, the company are desirous of having as much rolling stock as possible at their command in an emergency.”

Not only did holidaymakers and day-trippers leave the city en masse but 10,000 Midland troops headed off to the Rhyl area for the bank holiday weekend for the annual camp of the Territorial Force’s South Midland Division.

On the eve of the Great War in smoky, industrial Birmingham, its people were principally

focussed on one thing.They had read the news about the assassination of

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo a little more than a month earlier. Since then, local newspapers had published reports about its possible repercussions with headlines such as ‘War clouds on the horizon’.

Yet still, people in Birmingham, or anywhere in the UK, could arguably not fully comprehend how that event on a sunny June morning in 1914 more than 1,000 miles away would set in motion a series of events that would change the world.

War or not, the August bank holiday meant it was a time to have fun. The Birmingham Daily Mail, as it was known then, on the previous Friday reported that although the weather had “not been exactly summer-like”, the expectation of the bank holiday had “awakened the holiday zest with a vengeance”.

That long weekend was the only chance Birmingham’s working class had to escape from the daily grind. In 1914, the city was predominantly working class and life was tough. As in many industrial towns during the 20th century, many of Birmingham’s residents lived in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in badly-drained back-to-back houses.

A special train had been put on for the Welsh coastal resorts, leaving Birmingham New Street Station at midnight to suit business people on Saturday, August 1.

According to the Mail, thousands of Brummies flocked to the Cardigan Bay resort of Aberystwyth on the Saturday. There was even an additional train scheduled from Snow Hill Station specifically and exclusively for boy scouts leaving on July 31.

Families were typically large in those days and a holiday away was a rare treat – hence why there were many day-tripper trains timetabled that weekend. Trips to other seaside towns included Blackpool,

The First World War was just around the corner but people were determined to enjoy themselves on the bank holiday weekend of 1914, writes Claudia Tanner

Rhyl was a popular holiday destination for people in Birmingham. Pictured is a general view of the beach, promenade and roller-skating rink

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MIDLANDS AT WAR

return of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment of Territorial in the afternoon as the band played ‘Songs of the Brave’ as they marched to headquarters. This is described by a reporter as “probably one of the most impressive military spectacles that has been witnessed in Coventry for a long time”.

The writer added: “The men were in good spirits...and a burley lance-corporal, on greeting a friend outside the station, jocularly enquired, “Have the Germans arrived?”

Thousands of holidaymakers left Coventry on the bank holiday weekend before Britain declared war on Germany.

The Midland Daily Telegraph, now The Coventry Telegraph, reported that a “big exodus to the seaside” saw 10,000 people leave the city for destinations including Blackpool, North Wales and the south coast.

There was an unprecedented rush to buy flour, bread and sugar, hiking up prices. The cost of flour alone had already risen by three shillings that

week. A newspaper report on Saturday, August 1 stated: “Your food will cost you more ...In fact food prices are already up considerably.”

The Telegraph also revealed that Coventry manufacturers were already affected by the crisis with foreign orders being cancelled.

Reports of excursions being cancelled in Coventry and Coventry Territorials being ordered to return from camp in Rhyl were featured in Monday’s edition.

Crowds gathered for the

‘Have Germans arrived?’ joked officer as war loomed

As they headed off on the Saturday, loved ones and well-wishers lined the streets of Birmingham, as the troops marched, accompanied by their bands and drums, to entrain at Snow Hill Station.

In the early hours of Monday, as dawn was breaking, the men were ordered to pack up and march

back to Rhyl Station. On arriving back at Snow Hill, the men were dismissed and sent home with the warning that they should be ready to return at a moment’s notice.

The day after war was declared, the Mail, along with newspapers across the land, carried a call for king and country to join the Army.

The paper urged unmarried young men to enlist and proclaimed that “at this very moment the empire is on the brink of the greatest war in the history of the world”.

Sons, husbands, fathers, brothers and uncles would soon enlist to fight for their king and country, many never to return.

A family pictured outside their home in Birmingham in the early 20th century

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World War 100