Description
Object description
British private served with South Lancashire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918.
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of operations as private with South Lancashire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918: memory of arrival at Etaples camp, France, 10/1917; story of missing attack due to ear infection; posted to front line in Ypres area, Belgium, 11/1917; story of falling off duckboard and rescue by officer; memory of naval gun firing; description of conditions in trenches; story of rescuing wounded; posted to Somme area, France, and volunteering for scouting patrol; story of raid on German trench, Gommecourt, 10/1918; role of scouts in laying tapes prior to night raid; capture and identification of German prisoners; memory of treading on corpses; story of losing corporal on raid and post-war meeting; memory of landing nearby; question of stress and suicides; amusing story of pig; opinion of German dugouts; story of friend killed by booby-trapped wine bottle; memory of man killed by train.
REEL 2 Continues: problem of stress; attitude to medals; opinion of Germans; memory of digging mass grave; memory of Armistice, 11/11/1918; problem of septic arm and treatment; opinion of rations. Aspects of training in GB, 1916-1917: description of training at Prees Heath camp; daily routine; marches; effects of training on young recruits; opinion of rations; washing facilities; explanation of attestation under Derby Scheme and wearing arm band with red crown; reactions of parents; enlistment in Liverpool and issued with kit. Further recollections of operations as private with South Lancashire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918: story of visiting brothel in Arras and attitude to sex; reflections on period of service; amusing story of Christmas Dinner, 1918; memory of outbreak of war, 8/1914.
REEL 3 Continues: problem of nightmares; battle fatigue and treatment; story of cutting cards before going on patrol; attitude to death; opinion of senior officers; sleeping arrangements in barn; problem of lice and personal hygiene, Various aspects of post-war life and employment: reason for joining Liverpool police force, 1920; attitude to outbreak of Second World War. Further recollections of operations as private with South Lancashire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918: question of fear; further memory of dud shell incident; further description of scout patrols and raids.
REEL 4 Continues: death of cousin; problem of lice and rats; baths; uniform; problem of washing; reaction of mother to joining army; enlisting under Derby Scheme and wearing armband; reaction to receiving call-up papers; attitude to religion; description of conditions in Ypres and falling off duckboard into water; comparison of British and German dugouts; problem of cold; washing; opinion of rations; alcohol; comradeship; story of booby-trapped wine bottle.
REEL 5 Continues: further description of role of scouting party and raids; reaction to death of cousin; meeting uncle at front; memory of air raid during Second World War; reflections on First World War; opinion of senior officers; condition of German dugouts; opinion of Americans; sleeping arrangements.
REEL 6 Continues: unrelated material.