Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with 1st Bn King's Regt (Liverpool) in Ireland, 1920-1922; deserter in France and GB, 1922-1926; NCO served with 1st Bn Loyal Regt (North Lancashire) in GB and India, 1926-1936
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Ordnance Corps in GB, 1920: background to recruitment into Ordnance Corps; employment in Liverpool prior to enlistment; father's reaction to enlistment. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 1st Bn King's Regt (Liverpool) in Ireland, 1920-1922: posting to unit at Bantry; work with horses; in action against Irish Republican Army (IRA); recall to Northern Ireland after signing of treaty; situation in Northern Ireland; return to Liverpool, 1922.
REEL 2 Continues: seasick horses on return voyage. Aspects of period as deserter in France and GB, 1922-1926: reaction to posting to Hong Kong; desertion in Marseilles, France; reasons for not returning to ship; work and experiences in Marseilles, France, 12/1922; British Consul's attitude to deserters; story of selling clothes in Marseille, France.
REEL 3 Continues: working passage on ship to return to GB, 1923; reception from parents on return; civilian occupations in Wales; period of unemployment. Aspects of enlistment and service with 1st Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt in GB, 1926-1930: reasons for re-enlistment under false name; difficulty of disguising experience while training; promotion; how lack of married quarters influenced his willingness for overseas posting.
REEL 4 Continues: wife's reaction to overseas posting. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Nevasa from GB to India, 1930: guard duty; overcrowded conditions; recreational activities; seasickness; ashore at Port Said, Egypt. Recollections of period as NCO with 1st Bn Loyal Regt (North Lancashire) in India, 1930-1936: issue of kit; difficulties with new drill on arrival at Bombay; character of train journey from Bombay to Calcutta.
REEL 5 Continues: dangers of eating unwashed fruit; contracting tonsillitis and period in quarantine outside Fort William, Calcutta; reception recieved by draft on arrival at Fort William, Calcutta; high quality of drill in draft and low opinion of units with long Indian service; preparations for wife's arrival; procurement of married quarters; description of married quarters.
REEL 6 Continues: comparison between quarters and barrack accommodation; problems with bed bugs and in clothing; problems with rats in married quarters; wife's voyage from GB to India on SS City of Sparta and reception in Bombay; difficulties for wives not met by husbands; character of train journey with family from Bombay to Calcutta; wife's homesickness; seperation from family due to training; shopping in Calcutta.
REEL 7 Continues: training for North West Frontier at Gurkha Camp, Almora; posting to Razmak Camp on North West Frontier; daily duties and routine; danger from natives hidden within camp; movement in columns and procedure for picketing hills; incident of fatal shooting accident in camp; opinon of Gurkhas; limited contact with sepoys; escorting survey column; opinion of officers.
REEL 8 Continues: unpleasant conditions during field training exercise; opinion of commanding officer; formation of light company for frontier work and equipment carried; rations; recreational activities; difficulties of separation of married couples and conduct of some wives.
REEL 9 Continues: education for army children; abilities and duties of bearer; ayah's dutie; dealing with Indian thieves in quarters; his dog attitudes to Indians; symptoms and treatment of rabies.
REEL 10 Continues: comparison of treatment and servants in married quarters and barracks; servants' caste and race; description of Indian villages; missionary craft work; contrast between urban and rural Indians; relations with European and Anglo-Indian civilians; recreational and sporting activities; playing football and hockey against Indian Army and civilians.
REEL 11 Continues: incident of soldier's desertion of pregnant Indian girl; dances with Anglo-Indians; mixed marriages; occurrence of homosexuality; care of bandboys; knowledge of Indian politics; awareness of moves towards Independence, 1932-1933; attitude to leaving India.