Cook, Robert (Oral history)

British trooper served with C Sqdn, 1/2nd Surrey Yeomanry in GB, Gallipoli and on Western Front, 1914-1917; present during Etaples Mutiny, 9/1917;served as officer with with 2/66th Bn Punjab Regt in India and Mesopotamia, 1918-1925. Served with Chin Bn Burma Military Police Frontier Force in Burma, 1926-1930

REEL 1: Lodgings in Clapham, London, 1912-1914. Background to recruitment as trooper with 2/1st Surrey Yeomanry, 28/9/1914: delay due to wedding; failure of effort to join other mounted units; reason for not joining infantry. Aspects of training with Surrey Yeomanry in GB, 9/1914-3/1915: initial training with 2/1st Surrey Yeomanry at Dorking, 9/1915-11/1914; posting to A Sqdn, 1/1st Surrey Yeomanry as 27th Div cavalry at Winchester, 11/1914-12/1914; muddy conditions; posting to join C Sqdn, Surrey Yeomanry as 29th Div cavalry at Stratford-on-Avon and Barford, 1/1915-3/1915; billets; learning to ride. Send off at Barford prior to voyage to Alexandria, Egypt, 3/1915. Aspects of period in camp at Alexandria, 3/1915-6/1915: question of taking horses to Gallipoli; story of Arabs raiding supply depot. Voyage out to Imbros, 26/6/1915. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period attached to General Headquarters at Imbros, 6/1915-2/1916: initial lack of rations; presence of Royal Naval Air Service; story of flechette and bomb attack on camp; duties as runner between GHQ offices; church parade; looking after mules following evacuation of Gallipoli, Turkey, 1/1916; view of naval bombardment of Achi Baba, Helles, Gallipoli; anti-aircraft fire; patrols to prevent escape from Turkish POW camp; dysentery; latrines; tent accommodation; effects of blizzards, 11/1915; regular visits to Helles and Suvla as runner for divisional brigades; failure of application for commission due to lack of mounted action experience; ignorance of strategic moves; press correspondents; presence of Regimental Sergeant Major; camp layout. Story of being arrested and detention in Citadel cells whilst out on late pass on return to Alexandria, Egypt, 2/1916. Reception for wounded from inhabitants of brothel area on arrival from Gallipoli at Alexandria, 4/1915. REEL 3 Continues: Voyage to France, 3/1916: horses; panic during storm. Aspects of period in Somme area, 3/1916-7/1917: question of forming corps regiments; duties on police duty at divisional headquarters; working parties digging signal trenches; story of chaos during farewell parade on leaving 29th Div on posting as part of III Corps Cavalry Regiment, 5/1916; making fascines to repair roads; taking despatches; move up to Fricourt sector, 2/7/1916; rest periods at Acheux- sur- Somme; periods dismounted in front line. Recollections of patrolling during advance to Hindenberg Line following German retreat, 3/1917: effect on terrain of German scorched earth policy; vedette duty; story of regaining British lines after falling off horse following ambush by Germans at Vermont; re-creating patrol for official photographer. REEL 4 Continues: stories of GB leave, 1917; decision to dismount unit. Recollections of mutiny during period of infantry training at Etaples Base Depot, 7/1917-9/1917: reactions; view of mutineers chasing military police in Etaples village; question of cause. Drafted to join 10th Bn Royal West Surrey Regt at Nieuport, Belgium, 9/1917. Aspects of return as cadet for commission in GB, 1917. Circumstances of becoming regular officer with 2/66th Punjabi Regt, 1919. REEL 5 Continues: Circumstances of becoming regular officer with 2/66th Punjabi Regt, 1918. Aspects of voyage out to India, 1918: money shortages due to delay at Port Said; kitting out. Recollections of period with 2/66th Bn Punjabi Regt in India, 1918-1920: initial posting to Lucknow, 1918; hospitality received and stories of tiger and duck shoots during visit to rajah, 12/1918; Indian servants; visiting card protocol; club lifestyle and question of admittance of Indian officers; use of Hindustani with Indian other ranks; passing as French interpreter; shooting quail and snipe; operations to keep roads clear of Afghans whilst based in Khyber Pass, 1919-1920. REEL 6 Continues: stories relating to arrival and departure of Afghan peace delegation at Afghanistan boundary, 1920; Recollections of period in Mesopotamia, 1921-1922: move up Tigris to Mosul area; story of grounded steamer at Tikrit; fitness for promotion exam. Return to GB, 1922. Various aspects of period with 26th Punjab Regt in Wasiristan and India, 1923-1925. Recollections of period seconded to Burma Military Police Frontier Force in Chin Hills and Rangoon, Burma, 1926-1931: circumstances of secondment to Chin Hills Bn; reception illustrating nature of club lifestyle in Rangoon; kitting out; various movements and postings; relationship with Chin troops. REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of Chin tribes; terrain; vegetation; Climate; Burmese civilians; expedition to secure release of slaves in Kachin Triangle; evidence of head hunting and human sacrifices amongst Naga tribes during expedition to establish civilian presence in Naga Hills; story of initially inadequate military response to Burma rebellion whilst staff captain with Burma Bde in Rangoon, 1931.