Davis-Watkins, G (Oral history)

British NCO served as chemist with Chemical Warfare Unit, Royal Engineers in GB and on Western Front, 1915-1918

REEL 1 Recollections of recruitment and training with Chemical Warfare Unit, Royal Engineers in GB, 1915: background to recruitment on formation of unit; basic training and unit nicknames. Recollections of gas warfare operations on Western Front, 1915-1916: testing and movement of gas cylinders; secrecy; role supervising carrying parties taking cylinders up into front line; necessity of waiting for suitable wind forecast prior to release of gas and story of effect of sudden reversal of wind direction; effects of gas on brass insignia and adoption of black insignia; problems in liaising with infantry in circumstances of open warfare; story of getting lost and wounded by German shell illustrating problems in Ypres area, Belgium, 1917; infantry carrying parties and method of installing gas cylinders in front line; infantry opinion of Chemical Warfare Unit; method of releasing gas from gas cylinders to form gas cloud passing across No Man's Land.