Description
Object description
British motorcycle despatch rider served with 1 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 6/1915-11/1918; served with Royal Air Force in Iraq and on North West Frontier, India, 1928-1934; served with Transport Column, Royal Air Force in France, 5/1940-6/1940
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as Second Class Air Mechanic with Royal Flying Corps in GB, 5/1915; enlistment underage; training at Pinehurst Barracks, Farnborough, 5/1915. Recollections of period as motorcycle despatch rider with 1 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in France and Belgium, 6/1915-11/1918: initial impressions on landing at Calais, France; prior civilian experience of motorcycle riding; duties helping pilots restart aircraft which had forced landed; nature of flying experience as gunner/observer including contact with Manfred von Richthofen; story of forgetting despatches on first journey; role carrying cypher codes to artillery units for signal communications with squadron; relations with army personnel; story of shooting cow whilst fearing attack by German agents.
REEL 2 Continues: relations with Belgian civilians; narrow escapes from shell fire and consequent speech impediment; relations with other motorcycle despatch riders; nature of role as motorcycle despatch rider; story of front line incident in Arras area, France, 1917; narrow escape from heavy shell whilst in rear area; opinions on war; reception on leave in GB; motorcycles ridden and necessity of self-maintenance; clothes worn; riding speed.
REEL 3 Continues: question of timing journeys to avoid shell fire; gas attacks and use of gas masks; choice of routes; visits to Talbot House, Poperinge, Belgium; front line locations of Church Army Huts; Armistice Day, 11/11/1918 and return to same location, 1939. Aspects of period with Royal Air Force in Iraq and on North West Frontier, India, 1919-1939: meeting Gertrude Bell in Baghdad, Iraq; period on North West Frontier, India, 1928-1934, including meeting T E Lawrence, opinion of Afghanistan civilians, sniping problem whilst travelling, evacuation of European civilians from Kabul, Afghanistan to Kohat, India by air and successful negotiations whilst acting as interpreter to clear landing strip.
REEL 4 Aspects of period in charge of transport column of Royal Air Force during evacuation via Cherbourg, France, 5/1940-6/1940: story of French civilians surrendering village to under impression they were German and subsequent hospitality; relations with British Army; success in salvaging most of transport; narrow escape from bombing on return to GB; prior recollection of 'jinxed' motorbike at Kohat, India, 1928. Failed attempt to form despatch rider association.