Mason, Frank Oswell (Oral history)

British trumpeter served with 45 Coy Royal Garrison Artillery in GB and India, 1907-1911; NCO served with 10th Hussars in India, South Africa, Western Front and Ireland, 1911-1921

REEL 1 Recollections of recruitment and training as boy trumpeter with Royal Garrison Artillery at Fort Bovisand, Plymouth, 1907: absence of musical ability; examples of trumpet calls; question of boys' qualification by age as bandsmen or gunners; providing guard during visit by Edward VII; conditions of service; gun training including firing at towed targets and night practice. REEL 2 Continues: gun training including firing at towed targets; food rations; daily routine; practising trumpet calls; swimming; question of issue of rum ration; recreations and visits to Plymouth; infantry garrison; question of signals communication; supplies. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of voyage out aboard Rewa to join Royal Garrison Artillery in India, 1907: circumstances of draft; conditions; recreations; case of suicide; boxing activities. Recollections of role as trooper with 10th Hussars during coronation of George V at Delhi Durbar celebrations and subsequent review parade, 1911. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of role as trooper with 10th Hussars during Delhi Durbar celebrations and subsequent review parade, 1911. Recollections of period in South Africa, 10/1912-8/1914: question of effects of Indian service on health; internal security role reinforcing police during gold miners strike at Johannesburg, 1913; pay and use of South African Garrison Institute; question of South African military forces. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations with 10th Hussars on Western Front, 1914-1918: reaction to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; preconceptions of war; blackout precautions during voyage aboard Balmoral Castle from South Africa, 8/1914; re-equipment in GB, 8/1914-10/1914; landing and move inland towards Ypres area, 10/1914; initial scouting role; dismounted action during First Battle of Ypres, 11/1914; exploitation role of cavalry; care of horses; story illustrating value of manoeuvrability of GS wagons. REEL 6 Continues: preconceptions of nature of war; lice problem; muddy conditions; question of adequacy of training and equipment; state of morale; opinion of officers; question of replacement drafts; question of major offensive operations continued in bad weather conditions; relationship with French civilians; opinion of German troops; prior intelligence of German offensive in Somme area, 21/3/1918; cavalry charge, 3/1918. REEL 7 Continues: food rations; story of parcel from GB; rum ration; recreations; GB leave including regularity. newspaper reports and civilian attitudes to war; reactions to Armistice, 11/11/1918; extension of regular service during war. Post-war career: 1920-1921: effects of new drafts on unit; justification of war. REEL 8 Continues: role as escort to George V during opening of Stormont Parliament, Northern Ireland, 1921; effects of bomb explosion during train journey to Curragh; question of effects of conversion to tanks. Various aspects of service on Western Front, 1914-1918: story of visit to estaminet; terrain; view of armoured train in operation and effects of German shellfire retaliation at Vlamertinghe, Ypres area, 4/1915.