Description
Object description
British officer served with 1/7th Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 10th Bde, 4th Div and 154th Bde, 51st (Highland) Div on Western Front, 7/1915-6/1917; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 154th and 152nd Bdes, 51st (Highland) Div on Western Front, 6/1917-11/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as officer with 1/7th Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 10th Bde, 4th Div and 154th Bde, 51st (Highland) Div on Western Front, 7/1915-6/1917: daily routine and living conditions in Beaumont Hamel sector, Somme, France, 7/1915 including stand to, rum ration, question of washing, food rations, trench repairs, inspections of troops, latrines; wiring parties, ration parties, ammunition supply and nature of trenches; corpses built into section of trench taken over from French troops; Labyrinth Trench; seltzer water found in captured German trench at Beaumont Hamel, France, 11/1916.
REEL 2 Continues: problems in occupying former German dugouts at Beaumont Hamel, 11/1916; periods in reserve; use of hand grenades for catching fish; reserve system; training during rest periods; trench digging competition between Scottish miners in his platoon and Royal Engineer team; 'Turnip Tops' concert party and sings, 'The Highland Division', 'Bumpity Umpity Dragoon' and 'Why Do They Call Me Cohen?'; drinking whisky; story of buying beer barrel for Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1915; sporting activities.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison of attitude and discipline of territorial and regular troops; story illustrating relations with other ranks; role as assistant adjutant; role as intelligence officer including interrogation of German prisoners of war; sniping activities and use of privately obtained armour piercing bullets; mapping layout of Labyrinth Trench; commencing mining operations.
REEL 4 Continues: disposal of earth; background to refusal of promotion to join Royal Engineer Tunnelling Companies; detonation of mines; effects of winter conditions and consequent replacement of kilts with trews; casualties amongst attacking company of 1/9th (Highlanders) Bn Royal Scots (Lothian Regt) caused by misdirected overhead machine gun fire during attack on Poelkapelle, Ypres Salient, Belgium. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, 154th Bde, 51st (Highland) Div on Western Front, 6/1917-4/1918: supply role.
REEL 5 Continues: rations; developing system of financial credits paid to units salvaging metal; efforts to secure posting to unit of returning wounded officers; troop movements; troops looting of champagne at Epernay, 1918; location of brigade headquarters. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, 152nd Bde, 51st (Highland) Div on Western Front, 4/1918-11/1918: multiple role due to capture of previous staff; opinion of divisional staff of 51st (Highland) Div; story of meeting with Prince Albert, Duke of York.
REEL 6 Continues: story of riding with Prince Albert, Duke of York to inspect unit; story of attack by German A7V Tank; German flamethrower attack.