Description
Object description
British civilian canteen worker with French Army and ambulance driver with British Red Cross on Western Front, 1917-1919. Conservative Constituency Secretary to Winston Churchill, 1950-1965.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period as civilian canteen worker with French Army on Western Front, 1917: story about joining staff of Lady Alexander's French canteen; description of voyage to France and journey by train from Paris to railhead at Revigny; description of uniform; living conditions in Revigny; description of canteen and facilities; relations between French soldiers and female staff; importance of cigarettes to soldiers; description of food and drink served; type of music played on gramophone; comparison of demeanour of soldiers coming from and returning to front line; morale in French Army; daily routine and duties in canteen; story about white rabbit; staff and organisation of canteen; story of French officer carrying parcel across parade ground; personal relationships with French officers; amusing story of using French soldiers' slang at luncheon party; proximity of front line; story of skating on frozen lake containing bodies of German soldiers; attitude to work in canteen and relations with soldiers; reason for popularity of English canteen with French Army; story of having lunch in the Citadel; description of conditions in Verdun; story of visit to no man's land and taking French helmet as souvenir; reaction to seeing unburied dead in trench; comparison of First World War to Greek tragedy; story about giving dying soldier a cigarette while driving ambulance for British Red Cross; problem of not being able to join British Red Cross until age 23; story of taking ambulance driving test in London; problem of driving ambulance with slipping clutch; story of ambulance drivers racing to get wounded back to hospital in Etaples; duties collecting coal supplies in lorry; story about hearing 'The Last Post' during funeral service at hospital.
REEL 2 Continues: description of Town Hall in Revigny; story about squad of French soldiers marching through snow in moonlight; various memories of songs sung by French troops; story of first American wounded arriving; opinion of American troops; further description of ambulance drivers racing; description of process for collecting , transporting and treating wounded; number of wounded carried in ambulance and position of driver; conversations with wounded during journey and handing out cigarettes; description of working conditions and evacuation during March retreat, 1918; shift work; accommodation and messing facilities; story about wounded soldier apologising for swearing; problem of exhaustion and low morale during March retreat; story of receiving encouragement from Sister in ward; description of dawn breaking; organisation of accommodation and transport for relatives of French wounded; description of hospital facilities at Etaples; story of celebrating Armistice at café in Etaples; story of receiving news of Armistice and reaction to end of war.
REEL 3 Continues: discipline and punishments including cleaning ambulances; attitude to treating Chinese labourers; effects of influenza epidemic in camp; comparison between treating wounded and sick soldiers; opinion of nurses souvenir hunting in no man's land; further comments on Chinese labourers; description of no man's land in Ypres and Somme areas; story about death of uncle serving with Household Cavalry at Ypres, 8/1914; attitude to role as ambulance driver; continuation of duties after Armistice; reaction to returning home, 1919; reflections on period of war service; post-war life and employment; memories of the Hotel des Anglais, Boulogne. Aspects of period as Conservative Constituency Secretary to Winston Churchill, 1950-1965.