Millard, Richard Frederick (Oral history)

British officer served with 1st Bn Border Regt in Gallipoli, 1915

REEL 1 Aspects of background in Carlisle, 1897-1914. Background to commission underage into Border Regt at Carlisle Castle, 14/9/1914. Training with 3rd Bn Border Regt at Shoeburyness, 9/1914-4/1915. Recollections of voyage out with draft to Gallipoli, 5/1915: question of destination; question of inappropriateness of horses for Gallipoli terrain; stop at Mudros, Lemnos. Aspects of period with B Coy, 1st Bn Border Regt at Helles, 5/1915-6/1915: situation on landing at X Beach; reception; story of building dugout for Hamilton; question of influence of Boer War on senior officers; unburied corpses; conditions of service. REEL 2 Continues: nature of fighting, sniper problem and dominant position of Achi Baba; story of being wounded in shoulder on patrol, 6/1915; evacuation to beach. Recollections of evacuation to GB, 6/1915: period in Blue Sisters Hospital, Valetta, Malta; problem with converted troopship's 'hospital ship' status with authorities at Barcelona, Spain. Aspects of period at Helles, Gallipoli, 5/1915-6/1915: conditions of service; morale and reputation of 29th Div; story of uncle's posting to B Coy; meeting Drewry Low; opinion of Australian troops and question of them not taking prisoners; effects of Gallipoli experience; opinion of Gallipoli strategy; sniper problem.