Description
Object description
British air mechanic served as winch driver with Kite Balloon Section, 6th Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Service on Western Front, 5/1915-9/1916
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as air mechanic with Kite Balloon Section, Royal Naval Air Service at Royal Naval Air Service Station Roehampton, GB, 4/1915-5/1915: prior experience as engine fitter; interest in seaplanes; medical; trade test at Royal Naval Air Station Wormwood Scrubs; kitting out; basic drill; naval clasp knife; pride in naval status; training; training with grounded Dragon kite balloon; methods of controlling, landing and folding up balloon during night training flights.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of journey from GB to St Martin's Camp, Boulogne, France, 5/1915: prior issue of khaki army style uniforms; civilian reaction during journey to Southampton, GB; embarkation onto lorries; reaction of nurses in town; basic infantry training. Recollections of period as winch driver with Kite Balloon Section, 6 Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Service in France, 5/1915-9/1916: Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1915; drinking habits and rum ration; story of working party stealing officers whisky whilst unloading parcels of luxuries from GB; musical activities; fatal accident and auction of dead man's effects to benefit family; currency in use.
REEL 3 Continues: continuation of naval traditions; question of fights amongst other ranks; story of guard shooting and eating bird; absence of young people in villages; role of French priests; religious services and occasion when one was disrupted by German aircraft; opinion of Commander Julian Byng; use of oil to waterproof boots; opinion of combined Delahaye lorry winch; lightening conductor; communication by telephone with kite balloon crew.
REEL 4 Continues: methods of raising, controlling and lowering Drachen and Caquot kite balloons including role of 'parachutes' on Drachen kite balloon, control of height, effects of wind, safety valve to control balloon gas pressure and balloons lost through broken cables; use of 'Guardian Angel' Parachute; increased artillery observation during offensives; comparison of effectiveness of artillery observation from aircraft and kite balloons; attacks on kite balloons and role in hauling them.
REEL 5 Continues: skills of balloon observers; night flights and comparison of British and German star shells; story of working party to build front line artillery observation post including view from front line and narrow escape from shell fire; accidental fires in troops' barn billets; question of flash spotting at night; suspension of night flights; use of squared maps to aid artillery observation; observation officers' preference for working in pairs and question of their keenness; nature of preliminary artillery bombardment prior to attack on first day of Battle of the Somme area, 1/7/1916; sight of German prisoners of war; unit's independence of army.
REEL 6 Continues: story of building winter hutted accommodation; presence of Indian troops, 1915; relations with Gurkha troops, story of exchanging knife for kukri; transfer of Indian troops to Middle East and sight of Indian cavalry; damage caused by cavalry horses to tree bark; treating favourite horse; refusal of commission in Royal Flying Corps on end of period operating kite balloons, 9/1916. Aspects of period as air mechanic with Experimental Balloon Section at Royal Naval Division Depot, Crystal Palace, London, GB, 10/1916-11/1918: billets in New Zealand House; sight of Royal Naval Division training; musical band; naval traditions; inflating and testing new kite balloons; visits by Admirals John Jellicoe and David Beatty.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as winch driver with Kite Balloon Section, 6 Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Service in France, 5/1915-9/1916: story of towing inflated kite balloon resulting in extensive damage to telephone lines and decision to abandon move after clash with signal officer.