Description
Object description
British wireless operator served with 14 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps attached to 10th Heavy Bty, Royal Artillery in Egypt and Palestine, Ottoman Turkey, 9/1916-11/1917; NCO served with Headquarters, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force in Egypt and Palestine, Ottoman Empire, 12/1917-10/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as wireless operator with Royal Flying Corps in GB, 10/1915-9/1916: enlistment, 19/10/1915; initial period for Morse Code and basic training at Regent Street Building, London Polytechnic, London, 10/1915-8/1916; stories illustrating harsh methods employed by ex-Guards instructors; nature of military discipline; refusal of recruits to continue Morse Code training and punishment of assumed ringleaders; subsequent investigation and improvement of situation following replacement of instructors.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as wireless operator with 14 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps attached to 10th Heavy Bty, Royal Artillery in Egypt and Palestine, Ottoman Turkey, 9/1916-11/1917: voyage aboard RMS Franconia from GB to Egypt, 9/1916; loss of wireless operators on sinking of RMS Franconia in Mediterranean, 4/10/1916 and locally trained replacements; method of receiving range corrections by radio from artillery observation aircraft and use of cloth strips to signal back to aircraft from battery; types of aircraft used and their policy of avoiding German scout aircraft; story of gun positions being spotted by German aircraft.
REEL 3 Continues: subsequent bombardment by German artillery; limited number of scout aircraft available; story of British observation aircraft evading German scout aircraft; move of battery to position in Gaza, Palestine; effects of German shelling directed by observer in mosque in Gaza, Palestine and running to fetch stretcher bearers.
REEL 4 Continues: suffering ear damage from continuous radio monitoring during preparatory bombardment for Battle of Gaza, 27/10/1917-3/11/1917. Recollections of period as NCO with Headquarters, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force in Egypt and Palestine, Ottoman Empire, 12/1917-10/1918: story of being disciplined for hitching lift on army business from lorry; story of coming under shell fire whilst riding on detour through No Mans Land; series of accidents whilst riding motorcycle.
REEL 5 Continues: story of riding horse; inexperience with revolver; story of mistaking fire flies for smoking infiltrating spies; state of Ottoman Turk prisoners of war; sight of General Edmund Allenby.
REEL 6 Continues: story of seeing General Edmund Allenby and situation during diversionary operations at Beersheba, Palestine, 10/1917; opinion of General Edmund Allenby; question of road and rail transport across desert; rations; camel transport and incident of riding runaway camel.
REEL 7 Continues: visits to Pyramids during leave in Cairo, Egypt; radio reception range and ability to pick up signals from GB; conditions of service. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Air Force in Salonika, Greece and GB, 10/1918-1/1919; living conditions in Salonika, Greece 10/1918-12/1918; story of falling asleep whilxt acting as precautionary submarine lookout in Mediterranean, 12/1918; situation on return to GB, 1/1919; question of inadequate reception and consequent protest demonstration.
REEL 8 Continues: question of his role as senior NCO; reaction to threats from officer; demands of protesters; arrangements for interim pay parade.