Musto, Frank Lawson (Oral history)

British sapper served with Royal Engineers Signal Service attached to King's African Rifles in East Africa, 4/1916-11/1918

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment in 1/8th (City of London) Bn London Regt (Post Office Rifles) in London, GB, 8/1914-1/1915: mobilisation and enlistment in battalion; civilian employment as telegraphist with General Post Office; transfer to Royal Engineers Signal Service, 1/1915. Aspects of operations with Royal Engineers Signal Service at Gallipoli, Turkey, 8/1915-9/1915: wounding in arm at Gallipoli and evacuation to Malta, 9/1915; medical treatment on Malta and in GB including problem of moving arm. Recollections of operations as sapper with Royal Engineers Signal Service attached to King's African Rifles in East Africa, 4/1916-11/1918: journey to East Africa, 4/1916; description of role with mobile wireless station and equipment; problem of malaria and treatment; rations; description of setting up and moving wireless station; opinion of German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and his use of guerilla tactics; summary of movements across Africa; voyage aboard HMT Balmoral Castle from GB to East Africa including opinion of rations, accommodation and role of Royal Engineers as signallers on board; description of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika, 9/1916; daily routine and duties in signals office; accommodation; kit and uniform; opinion of tactics used by German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck; question of contact with German forces in Portuguese East Africa; posting to Kigala, Kenya, 10/1918; uniform and equipment; sleeping arrangements and use of mosquito nets; daily routine and movement in fourteen mile stages; night shifts; setting up communications and problem of transportation; story of spy. REEL 2 Continues: question of escort; opinion of suitability of uniform and kit; personal hygiene; use of native porters to carry equipment; radio masts; nature of messages transmitted and use of codes; opinion of King's African Rifles and porters; question of being able to speak Swahili language; supplementing rations; problem of poor diet and state of health; comparison of conditions at Gallipoli, Turkey and in East Africa; water supplies; description of camps; listening to official news bulletins about progress of war; opinion of medical facilities; problem of monsoons; story of trading food with Nigerian troops. REEL 3 Continues: memories of Armistice Day, 11/11/1918; story of return to GB and demobilisation, 5/1919; story of water bottle; carrying ammunition in bandolier; question of obtaining fresh meat; pay.