AUGUST 12, 1914, is not considered by all to be the day vast areas of northern North Yorkshire would be utterly transformed.

On that date the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, best known at the time for leading campaigns in Sudan and South Africa, issued an order to construct accommodation for 40,000 men on land west of Richmond.

It was to be a move that would have lasting ramifications. In 2020, Catterick Garrison’s population is set to reach more than 25,000 residents.

The project was originally known as Richmond Camp, becoming known as Catterick Camp in January 1915, with the first troops to occupy the camp, 101 Infantry Brigade, arriving in October 1915.

But local historian Peter Fowler believes Lord Kitchener’s order to be the point at which to start the Garrison’s story – although it is documented that Lieutenant General Sir Robert Baden Powell arrived in Richmond in 1908, tasked with surveying the local area to find a suitable site for a new military camp.

Mr Fowler, from Catterick Village, set up the Catterick Garrison Centenary and History Group in 2011 in a bid to collect photographs, documents and memories to compile a book – 100 Years of Catterick 1914 to 2014 – to mark the 100th anniversary of the garrison.

He admits the actual date of when the camp first came into existence is debatable.

“Was it when the order for construction was given? Or maybe when the first brick was laid? We opted for 2014 as the centenary year, mainly because the Army celebrated 50 years of the camp in 1964,” he says.

Following the outbreak of war on August 4, 1914, land belonging to the Brough estate of the Lawson family; Scotton Park owned by the Stebensons; Hipswell of the Prior Wandesfords; and Colburn owned by the D’Arcy Hildyards was taken into ownership by the War Office.

Mr Fowler says: “In putting the book together we have had fantastic support – we had access to documents and plans that hadn’t seen the light of day in years.”

But he says the group has only just scratched the surface of the story of the Garrison.

“After the book was published earlier this year I have been inundated with people getting in touch with pictures and stories,” he adds.

Before 1914 was out, a light railway of standard gauge had been laid from the Richmond branch line towards the new camp, and by 1916 building was almost complete.

Mr Fowler says: “The Infantry Command Depot was in Scotton Camp and Hipswell housed the Artillery and Tank Corps Depots – these both operated as rehabilitation units, and draftees plus sick and injured troops were brought to A1 standard ready for active service at the Western Front.

“The end of the war inevitably saw a change of role for Catterick – it became a demobilisation centre for the wartime army, but also maintained its training role.”

In 1924, £1,150,000 had been laid aside by the Government to enhance accommodation and enlarge the training estate – with 7,500 acres being purchased from the estates of the Lawson and D’Arcy Hildyard families.

Mr Fowler adds: “1938 saw the start of the Second Reconstruction Plan – with the most noticeable part of the plan being the Sandhurst Blocks, which cost £100,000 each and were designed to house 720 men with living and dining areas included.

“But these plans were halted by the outbreak of the Second World War – orders to mobilise were given on September 1, 1939, and the first units departed by rail by September 10.”

The book, funded by a military covenant, documents each decade as the camp evolves. It is available at amazon.co.uk, priced £9.99, and proceeds will go to service charities.