Lives of the First World War

Those local soldiers known to have connections to this Drill Hall prior to and from August 1914. In 1964 the Rossendale Free Press reported on the initial muster of August 1914 "There was a stirring scene at "Brynbella", the home of Captain H.M. Kenyon, when a general inspection took place of the local company of the Army Service Corps. The transport wagons made their way from the drill hall at Cloughfold and large crowds watched the procession. The fields around Brynbella, it was stated, soon resembled a small camp. A week or so later the company, about 80 strong, left the town." On their departure another article continued "..... there were more stirring scenes as the Rawtenstall Company of the 5th East Lancashire Territorial Arm Service Company (sic) left its Cloughfold HQ. Large crowds waved flags and cheered as Captain Kenyon, of Brynbella, mounted his horse and led other horse officers, 14 wagons and a large detachment of men on foot through Rawtenstall and along Bury Road." In September 1914 they were in Egypt as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

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