Thompson, George (IWM interview)

British private served with 20th and 5th Bns Durham Light Infantry on Western Front, 1917-1918; POW in Germany, 1918-1919

REEL 1 Background in Spennymoor, GB, 1897-1916: education; mother's attitude to uniformed organisations; reactions to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; effects of war; following progress of war; work as pupil teacher in elementary school, 1915-1916; signing up with Derby scheme, 1916. Background to recruitment to Durham Light Infantry, 8/1916. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and training with 3rd Bn Durham Light Infantry at South Shields, GB, 8/1916-12/1916: reception and initial period with young soldiers company; accommodation; food rations; kit inspections; relationship with officers and NCOs; story of dropping of mistaken Absent Without Leave charge; relationship with other ranks; drill and route marches; rifle training at Whitburn range; bayonet training; training in method of clearing trenches; night exercises; question of adequacy of training. REEL 2 Continues: relationship with civilians; recreations. Journey out with draft to join 10 Platoon, C Coy, 20th Bn Durham Light Infantry in rest camp at Reninghelst, Belgium, 12/1916: parents' reaction; rough weather Channel crossing; kitting out at Base Depot, Etaples, France; reception; question of lice problem. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine in St Eloi sector, Ypres area, 12/1916-6/1917: description of approach route to front line; nature of trenches; dugouts; food, rum and cigarette rations; state of uniform; question of washing; latrines; lice problem. REEL 3 Continues: absence of rats and corpses; effects of cold and clothes worn; trench feet problem; state of health; stand to; sentry duty; recreation and recites, "Today's My Daughter's Wedding Day"; duties of support line company; working parties improving trenches; listening post duty; German shellfire, trench mortars and minenwerfer; machine gun fire; use of rifle grenades; tear gas and gas masks; commanding view from German trenches; story of soldier's attempt to desert; relationship with officers and NCOs; advise not to make close friends; opinion of non-front line troop. REEL 4 Continues: attending Lewis gun course and duties in Lewis gun section; battle training for Messines offensive in St Omer training grounds; story of double guard duty; working parties based at Reninghelst and digging camouflaged advanced gun pits in Voormezeele sector; ground conditions; special rest period and religious service at Meteren, 5/6/1917-6/6/1917. Recollections of attack in St Eloi sector, 7/6/1917: detonation of mines and preliminary barrage; absence of opposition and success in taking and consolidating sunken road objective; burying corpses; prior duties pumping water from Busshouse sap. Recollections of attack from Battle Wood, 31/7/1917: prior movements; rum ration; threat posed by German concrete pillboxes; shrapnel hand wound; evacuation and question of 'Blighty wound'. Period in GB, 7/1917-2/1918: medical treatment and convalescence. REEL 5 Continues: colour codes of shoulder straps at Ripon convalescent camp; period with 3rd Bn Durham Light Infantry at South Shields; question of attitude to return to active service. Journey out and training prior to joining B Coy, 5th Bn Durham Light Infantry at St Omer, 2/1918. Move to Somme area, 3/1918. Recollections of retreat on German offensive in Somme area, 3/1918-4/1918: story of winning 'stick' and losing day off due to German attack, 21/3/1918; move into line; reconnaissance patrol, view of German advance and German attack, 22/3/1918; controlled nature of retreat back across River Somme; story of being outflanked during retreat; reforming unit at Amiens. Recollections of rearguard action during German attack on Estaires, 9/4/1918: situation; re-capture of bridge to allow its demolition; opening fire on German attacking troops; subsequent retreat. Move to Chemin des Dames sector, Aisne area, 5/1918: quiet nature of sector; comparison of British and French trenches. Recollections of German attack, 27/5/1918: move into line; German barrage; shoulder and back wounds from enfilade rifle fire. Capture and initial period as POW, 5/1918: state of wounds; walking back and joining group of British POWs; story of consideration of German wounded soldier during night in first aid post dugout; journey to Soltau area. Recollections of period in hospital at Munster POW camp, 5/1918-6/1918: delousing. REEL 6 Continues: story of subsequently regaining photograph of girlfriend lost during delousing; food; medical treatment; camp defences and German guards. Period at Soltau POW Camp, 7/1918-10/1918: initial period in hospital; conditions; transfer into main camp; working party use of Russian POWs as servants. Period working on farms in Soltau\Celle area, 10/1918-1/1919: freedom of movement and question of escape; general farm duties; relationship with farmer; first news of Armistice, 1/1919. Return to GB, 2/1919: cure of septic sores; leave. Various posting in GB, 4/1919-9/1919: unrest amongst troops over demobilisation; coastguard duty at Hayle; posting to guard German POWs. Demobilisation to attend teachers training college, 9/1919. Effects of war service.