Great War on Cannock Chase Exhibition

At the beginning of the Great War, Cannock Chase was a wide expanse of exposed, open heath land, bleak and practically treeless. The area had seen military activity in the 19th century, when volunteer units had used it for training. These factors – along with its central position and its proximity to main railway lines and canals – made the area an idela place for the location of military training camps. Between 1915 and 1918, two large camps existed on the Chase with capacity to accommodate some 40, 000 soldiers.

To find out more about the story of the camps visit The First World War Camps of Cannock Chase - an on-line exhibition by Staffordshire County Council on the Staffordshire Past Track website.