Stobs Camp

Due to its extraordinary level of preservation, Stobs Camp is an internationally important First World War site. This rather bleak and exposed Scottish hillside was chosen for its remote location. For many years, it was shrouded in secrecy.

The military training camp at Stobs was established in 1902 and became important at the outbreak of WWI. After hosting a series of Officers’ Training Corps, it became an internment camp for various “aliens” and then a prisoner of war camp. The detainees were mostly German. In addition to captured military personnel, thousands of civilians from Britain’s German communities were detained in prison camps during the war.

Looking across from the hill, the scale of the camp becomes apparent. It was built with four compounds comprising 80 huts, which could accommodate 4,500 men. Buildings included a hospital, operating block, mortuary, bakery, post offices, cook houses, bath houses, workshops, and a canteen. Only a small number of buildings have survived, but remain in excellent condition, despite the best efforts of nearby sheep scratching themselves of the aging timber. You can see a number of officers’ quarters, drying huts, quartermaster’s store, bathing pond, and more. You can still see the outlines of practice trenches in the ground.

A small cemetery was added in 1915, a burial place for prisoners who died at Stobs Camp. It contains the remains of 35 soldiers, four sailors, and six German civilians. The memorial stone has an inscription “To our comrades who died far from home” written in German.

A lot is still to be learned about the full history of the site. Archaeology Scotland regularly conducts educational workshops and training sessions for volunteers. It shares its findings through a dedicated website, social media, walks, talks, events, performances, exhibitions, and conferences.