Description
Object description
A collection of 144 ms letters and postcards, as well as photographs, newspaper cuttings and other items (circa 540 folios), relating to his service in the First World War, including enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as a dispatch rider (August 1914), later driving an ambulance for the 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds, his commission into the 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (January 1915), being appointed Machine Gun Officer, promotion to 106th Brigade Machine Gun Officer (35th Division), attending machine gun courses at Selsey and crossing to France with the Brigade (February - April 1916), acting as Company and Machine Gun Officer in the 17th West Yorkshires in France (May - July 1916) and then 8th Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Officer (3rd Division) (July - August 1916), breaking his nose and evacuation to the UK and 2nd Northern General Hospital, serving at the Machine Gun Corps depot at Grantham (November 1916 - 1918), being given command of the 253rd Machine Gun Company, the Company moving to Colchester for special training, being sent to North Russia (June 1918), commanding 253rd MG Company on the Murmansk front, becoming Brigade Major to the 237th Brigade under Brigadier General F G Marsh, returning home on leave (late 1918) and demobilisation (1919). Together with a transcription of an interview with him about his experiences during and immediately after the First World War (1984). The 100 letters from France and Belgium provide a useful picture of his duties and, especially during the Somme offensive, are jovial and optimistic in tone, while his letters from North Russia give an indication of the isolation of the Force and the nature of the campaign.
Content description
A collection of 144 ms letters and postcards, as well as photographs, newspaper cuttings and other items (circa 540 folios), relating to his service in the First World War, including enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as a dispatch rider (August 1914), later driving an ambulance for the 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds, his commission into the 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (January 1915), being appointed Machine Gun Officer, promotion to 106th Brigade Machine Gun Officer (35th Division), attending machine gun courses at Selsey and crossing to France with the Brigade (February - April 1916), acting as Company and Machine Gun Officer in the 17th West Yorkshires in France (May - July 1916) and then 8th Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Officer (3rd Division) (July - August 1916), breaking his nose and evacuation to the UK and 2nd Northern General Hospital, serving at the Machine Gun Corps depot at Grantham (November 1916 - 1918), being given command of the 253rd Machine Gun Company, the Company moving to Colchester for special training, being sent to North Russia (June 1918), commanding 253rd MG Company on the Murmansk front, becoming Brigade Major to the 237th Brigade under Brigadier General F G Marsh, returning home on leave (late 1918) and demobilisation (1919). Together with a transcription of an interview with him about his experiences during and immediately after the First World War (1984). The 100 letters from France and Belgium provide a useful picture of his duties and, especially during the Somme offensive, are jovial and optimistic in tone, while his letters from North Russia give an indication of the isolation of the Force and the nature of the campaign.
History note
Cataloguer SJO