Description
Object description
British private served with A Coy, 1/9th Bn London Regt (Queen Victoria's Rifles) on Western Front, 1914-1915, including Christmas Truce, 12/1914
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of operations with A Coy, 1/9th Bn London Regt (Queen Victoria's Rifles) on Western Front, 1914-1915: in camp at 13th Bde HQ, Neuve Eglise, Belgium; description of baths in brewer's vats; problem of lice; body belt; hanging underwear out to kill lice; legs black with dirt; story of being shelled during church parade; description of Princess Mary's gift box; story of sending letter to parents concealed in Princess Mary's gift box; description of events during Christmas Day truce, 12/1914; meeting with German troops in no man's land; exchanged alcohol and rations; family photographs; story of talking to German soldier; attitude to fraternisation; question of Guards Bn being drafted in to end truce on Boxing Day; football match with Germans; moved to village of Wulverghem; story of finding body of soldier from Royal West Kent Regt who died after drinking rum; question of extent of Christmas truce along front line; attitude of senior officers to truce; story of meeting Prince of Wales while buying grapes, 11/1914.
REEL 2 Continues: role of 1/9th Bn during capture of Hill 60, 4/1915; German and British tunnelling operations; explosion of mines and occupation of crater; German counter-attack; loss of officers; memories of Cpt G H Woolley VC; casualties in 1/9th Bn in First and Second World Wars; description of being wounded in shell explosion at Neuve Eglise, 1915; story of being reported dead and nearly buried; description of evacuation to GB and medical treatment; opinion of hospital blue uniform; convalescence at Lord Ellesmere's country house in Manchester; story of not recognising parents; marriage; story of returning from latrine to find friends killed by shell; memories of various songs including 'Stammering Sam', 'I've Got a Motto Always Merry and Bright', 'Colonel Bogie' and 'Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire'; pre-war skill as marksman; shooting competitions; reason for joining Territorial Army; reaction to be issued with Lee Enfield Mk 1 rifle; story of rifle bolt jamming during action on Messines Ridge; story of being relieved by King's Own Scottish Borderers.