Bert Richardson Remembers.

Bert told me that in the First World War there was a camp at Rimac: -

The camp at Rimac and Sea View was the largest (and healthiest) Army camp in England and the final training camp before the solders moved on to France. The solders then marched to Saltfleetby Station to catch a special troop train to take them to France. The camp was fully equipped with water and sewage. (Drive through Bert's farm entrance and you are driving on what Bert tells me was the original track to the camp, with Bulldog's (as he says "ugly stones!" - From Scunthorpe mines).
The Y.M.C.A. formed part of every camp in the First World War and were responsible for the troop welfare, providing entertainment, cigarettes, chocolate etc.

Click to enlarge - Lookout post from 1914-18 war.

Bert took me to see this 'Lookout post' from the 1914-18 War, now almost filled with sand, but the bolts that held the gun in place on top can still be seen.

Click to see - The view from the Gun platform on the Lookout post.

After the First World War a Hull agent bought the camp at Rimac. About 40 horse drawn wooden caravans and huts were used as a holiday camp, run by a Mr. Scott. It was a very popular holiday camp and people returned year after year for their summer holidays.
Bert remembers (as a lad) that the toilets consisted of a wooden hut 4ft by 4ft, a wooden seat and no base, the local boys would big a hole and place the hut over it then fill in the used hole - one toilet would be shared by two caravans.

Another field had disused 'Town Buses' with their wheels taken off and converted into chalets.

Bert says "Mr. Scot let us lads have the use of one and we turned it into a club (The Moonlight Club). In the winter we had a stove in it and played dart, cards etc. On Sunday mornings we played football and in the summer we would swim in the River Eau, we played cricket or football with the holiday makers and we would hire a boat on the river Eau for 6d and row visitors up and down the river, we all got on very well and made some good friends!"

"We local lads use to race in the river Eau from Rimac Bridge to Sea View Bridge when we got there we had a breather and raced back, the winner got 2d old money prize!"

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