Holdstock, Henry Thomas (Oral history)

British winch driver served with Kite Balloon Section, 6th Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Service on Western Front, 1915-1916

REEL 1 Background to recruitment as 1st class air mechanic and initial training with Kite Balloon Section, Royal Naval Air Service at Roehampton, 4/1915-5/1915: prior experience as engine fitter; interest in seaplanes; medical; trade test at Wormwood Scrubs; kitting out; basic drill; naval clasp knife; pride in naval status; illustrations of keenness on training; training with grounded Dragon kite balloon; methods of controlling, landing and folding up balloon during night training flights. REEL 2 Continues: method of folding balloon after night training flights. Journey to St Martin's Camp, Boulogne, France, 5/1915: prior issue of khaki army style uniforms; civilian reaction during journey to Southampton; embarkation of lorries; reaction of nurses in town; basic infantry training. Recollections of period as winch driver with Kite Balloon Section, 6 Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Service in France, 5/1915-9/1916: Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1915; drinking habits and rum ration; story of working party stealing officers whisky whilst unloading parcels of luxuries from GB; musical activities; fatal accident and auction of his effects to benefit family; currency in use. REEL 3 Continues: continuation of naval traditions; question of fights amongst ORs; story of guard shooting and eating bird; absence of young people in villages; role of French priests; question of religious services and story of one disrupted by German aircraft; opinion of Commander Byng; use of oil to waterproof boots; opinion of combined Delahaye lorry winch; lightening conductor; communication by telephone with kite balloon crew. REEL 4 Continues: methods of raising, controlling and lowering Drachen and Caquot kite balloons including role of 'parachutes' on Drachens, control of height, effects of wind, safety valve to control balloon gas pressure and balloons lost through broken cables; 'Guardian Angel' parachutes; increased artillery observation during offensives; comparison of effectiveness of artillery observation from aircraft and kite balloons; attacks on kite balloons and role in hauling them. REEL 5 Continues: skills of balloon observers; night flights and comparison of British and German star shells; story of working party to build front line artillery observation post including view from front line and story of close escape from shell fire; accidental fires in troops' barn billets; question of flash spotting at night; suspension of night flights; use of squared maps to aid artillery observation; question of observation officers' preference for working in pairs and keenness; nature of preliminary bombardment prior to attack in Somme area, 1/7/1916; view of German POWs; unit's independence of army. REEL 6 Continues: story of building winter hut accommodation illustrating unit's independence of army; presence of Indian troops, 1915, including story of soldier firing rifle to stop their chanting, relationship with Gurkha troops, story of exchanging knife for kukri, subsequent transfer of Indian troops to Middle East and view of Indian cavalry; damage caused by cavalry horses to tree bark; treating favourite horse; refusal of commission in Royal Flying Corps on end of Royal Naval Air Service role with kite balloons. Period with Experimental Balloon Section at Royal Naval Division Depot, Crystal Palace, London, 1916-1918: billets in New Zealand House; view of training of RND; musical band; naval traditions; inflating and testing new kite balloons; visits by Jellicoe and Beatty. REEL 7 Recollections of period as winch driver with Kite Balloon Section, 6 Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Service in France, 5/1915-9/1916: story of towing inflated kite balloon resulting in extensive damage to telephone lines and decision to abandon move after clash with signal officer.