A HISTORICAL fiction traces the protagonists of the Kinmel Camp Riot that hit the front pages of national newspapers in 1919.

Kinmel Revisited, by Robert Bridge, follows an army officer during the two days in which 400 soldiers from the Canadian expeditionary force riot against British officers at the Bodelwyddan army training ground.

It was sparked by meagre food rations and forced labour amid delays to their repatriation following the First World War. Five Canadian troops were killed by bayonets and bullets while 23 were injured.

Mr Bridge, 83, who retired in Abergele, said he wanted to raise awareness of the event as it is important that young people and schoolchildren know about their local history.

“I used fictional characters and names to explore the event from a first-hand perspective and to avoid conflict over what actually happened as nobody was ever charged for the deaths,” he said.

“The riots were on every newspaper in the country and become well-known is those days.

“I felt as an author I should one day revive this story so that young people would know the history.

“The book tries to solve the mystery and towards the end a letter is sent to an officer that explains it.”

St Margaret’s Church graveyard in Bodelwyddan is the resting place of five Canadian soldiers who died during the rebellion, their graves bearing the maple leaf emblem.

Other soldiers who were involved were charged with affray and faced a tribunal in Liverpool but returned to Canada before the end of their sentence.

Mr Bridge said the poor treatment of the Canadians and the appalling violence that followed offer important lessons to readers.

“The Kinmel Bay Riot teaches people to have a bit of humanity, which is important as the world is a topsy turvy place at the moment,” Mr Bridge added.

“I would like the people of North Wales to see the book and read a part of their history, which kids at school maybe do not know."