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The Bull Field

Army Training Camp - The Bull Field, Usworth

( World War 1 )

Bull Field Army Camp

Severn Houses, far left.  -  Penshaw Monument, on horizon.  -  Usworth Station, off-picture, centre right.

POINTS OF NOTE

1.  The Bull Field was a perfect site for an Army Training / Medical Treatment Centre in NE England.

Usworth Railway Station provided main line transport to Newcastle, Durham and beyond.

This railway line also provided a link to South Shields where military embarkations took place.

2.  Corner Field (see Map below) was ideally suited for training soldiers to dig Trenches.

In the late 50s / early 60s Corner Field's boggy land hosted Curlews and other wading birds. (Jim)

3.  Usworth and nearby New Washington provided Shops, Pubs, Churches & Chapels, and other social

facilities including the Alexandra Theatre which later became the Regal Cinema.

4.  According to Usworth Man, Albert Walmsley's Memoirs, 3 Regiments camped in The Bull Field.

They were The Notts, The Derbys and The Leicesters.   [ What's Where / People / Walmsley - Albert. ]

Usworth Railway Station

The Bull Field starts immediately beyond the Level Crossing, off-picture right, behind the Signal Box.
The Railway Cottages, in later photographs, are yet to be built.

New Washington & Usworth

OS Map 1937-61

Note the highlighted section of Usworth Hall Grounds, East of the Trees, between The Burn and Waterloo Road.
Compare with Tab: 'Second Camp Site'.

The Bull Field - 2022

( Google Earth )

[ Military Photograph & Information courtesy of Washington History Society ]

Army Training / Recuperation Camp - The Bull Field, Usworth

( World War 1 )

Senior Medical Staff and Orderlies beside Treatment Tent

Usworth Station, off-picture left  -  Railway Cottages in the background, beyond the Railway Line

Medical Staff and Patients beside Treatment Tent

Railway Cottages  -  Gladstone Terrace, diagonal  -  Edith Avenue: distant, far right

[ Military Photographs & Information courtesy of Washington History Society ]

Army Training / Recuperation Camp - The Bull Field, Usworth

( World War 1 )

Nursing Staff

Mrs Tunsill with dog and Rev M. Stamp

Senior Medical Staff

[ Military Photographs & Information courtesy of Washington History Society ]

Army Training Camp - The Bull Field, Usworth

( World War 1 )

Officers' Mess Staff

83rd Training Reserve - 28 Aug 1917

[ Military Photograph & Information courtesy of Washington History Society ]

Army Training Camp - Grounds of Usworth Hall

( World War 1 )

This has got to be Usworth Hall.  There's a large area of grassland between the Hall and the line of trees behind the tents.
The Burn runs in front of these trees, en route to the River Don.  Me 'n' Me Marras used to jump diggers here.
Waterloo Road runs behind the viewer - from Usworth Colliery to the community of Waterloo.
If my memory serves me well, this field rose sharply where it met Waterloo Road.
I think the camera is looking down to the tents from a higher position.
After comparing these comments with the Map on Tab 1,
Do you agree this is Usworth Hall?  Jim

[ Diggers?  Leaps over The Burn.  We also had to avoid Pit Ponies charging through the trees! - Late 1950s, early 1960s.]

Postcards from Usworth & Washington

( World War 1 )

 

 

 

Washington History Society have researched the Role of Usworth's Bull Field as an Army Camp during WW1.
They have also posted a much more detailed Bull Field Article on the Society's Website.
The WHS contributed the Military Photographs displayed here.
On behalf of all our Visitors ... Many Thanks.
(Jim - 21 July 2023)

To Read The W.H.S. Article

Go to www.washingtonhistorysociety.co.uk
War Years & Military
Bull Field Training Camp,
or
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