The National Projectile Factory, at Birtley, was established after the scandal of the “shell shortage”.  23 September 1915, the British Government decided to construct a camp to house Belgian refugees who would be employed at the ammunition factory, located in close proximity.  The camp was to be called Elisabethville after Queen Elisabeth, wife of Albert, King of the Belgians.  The first workers arrived at the camp in late October 1915.  Frans Peeters was part of the team of seven carpenters hired in August 1914 for the construction of the village.  He then became part of the maintenance team. An accident cost him his left arm. Fully compensated, he was moved to cinema management.

The munitions factory and the camp were run as a military establishment.  In addition to the housing there were 3 dining halls, a church, primary school, market, public laundries and baths, police station and a prison.  A fence surrounded the village and the entrance was guarded by Belgian and British police.  Societies were set up within the community including a brass band and an amateur dramatics society. In total, approximately 4,000 people lived in the community.  This was sufficient number to support their own newspaper, “The Birtley Echo”. It was claimed that the factory was the most productive in Britain and more than 2 million shells were manufactured there. 

Above: Elisabethville Construction Workers:  Frans Peeters seated, right holding his hand saw.  Twins Jan & Louis are also pictured, back left and right, who is who? (Photograph courtesy of Freddy Franssen, grandson Frans Peeters)

Above: Housing at Elisabethville

A few days after the Armistice, 11 November 1918, the repatriation of the Belgians began and by mid-February 1919, the works was closed and the village was deserted. The majority of Belgians returned home although about 30 decided to remain in the area.  Most of the village was demolished but the school remained in use for about 60 years.

Above: Belgian munitions workers at the National Projectile Factory, Birtley, County Durham

The Return to Belgium

Exact details of repatriation have not been researched but 2 examples are:

• 21 January 1919: Theresia Peeters and her 6 children returned home to Aarschot to live at Diestschestraat 53.
• 16 May 1919: Frans Peeters and his family lived at Diestschestraat 40.

The Peeters family all returned to Belgium and the family tree details confirm that:

• The matriarch, Theresia died in 1960 at Aarschot.
• Frans died in 1968 at Aarschot and his wife Sidonia died in 1972 at Leuven, daughter Joanna died in 1947 at Leuven and son Louis born at Witton Park died in 2004 at Leuven.  Frans’ siblings, passed away as follows:
• Jan – unknown
• Louis died 1958 at Aarschot
• Anna died 31 January 1963 at Aarschot
• Justine died 11 April 1996 at Linden
• Mathilda died 7 September 2003 at Leuven
• Edward died 18 December 1996 at Leuven