Description
Object description
British leading mechanic served with Royal Naval Air Service on Western Front, 1914-1915; served with No 3 Wing based at Tenedos, Imbros and Gallipoli, 1915-1916; work as petty officer lathe instructor at Royal Naval Air Service Training Establishment, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Maidenhead and Southampton, 1891-1914: securing marine engineering apprenticeship; work as charge hand for engineering machine shop on Hamble River and including work for Royal Naval Air Service at Calshot; story of meeting wife; outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; pre war military experience. Recruitment as leading mechanic with Royal Naval Air Service at Southampton, 8/1914: trade test at Hendon, London; initial posting to Sheerness; selection due to previous military experience for crossing with advance party to Western Front, 8/1914; composition of advance party; trade tests and question of bribery. Recollection of period with Royal Naval Air Service on Western Front, 8/1914-2/1915: duties cleaning castor oil off aircraft wings; types of aircraft used; reconnaissance role of aircraft; billets at St Pol; story of mistake whilst acting as mess cook; stories of Samson's use of improvised armoured cars in operations against German cavalry.
REEL 2 Continues: stories of Samson's use of improvised armoured cars in operations against German cavalry; story of Samson's reaction to delay in starting engine of Nieuport Scout during air raid on airfield at Imbros, Greece, 1915; story illustrating Samson's attitude to saluting; retreat from Lille, 1914; question of air to ground communication; runways; fuel; absence of protection or parachutes for pilot; absence of tools; return to GB, 2/1915; standards of drill and discipline in Royal Naval Air Service in contrast to Royal Flying Corps. Voyage aboard Inkosi as No 3 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service to Tenedos, Greece, 3/1915: stop at Malta; method of transporting aircraft; hammocks; seasickness; lack of unit identity; route taken by Samson; rainstorm on arrival at Tenedos; question of submarine threat.
REEL 3 Recollections of period with No 3 Wing at Tenedos, 3/1915-7/1915: duties cleaning aircraft; report from Samson of blood in water on landing at Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25/4/1915; Voisin aircraft; fly problem; story of accident with fire extinguisher filled with petrol to kill flies; engine maintenance; conditions of service and dysentery problem; personnel and casualties; story of Richard Bell Davies returning from flying mission for which he was awarded Victoria Cross; story of Greek trader; Dardanelles situation; story of arrival of bombs by steamer; story of bomb falling off and blowing Samson's aircraft tail off on take off; fitting machine gun to Sopwith Scout; volunteering to fit new engine to grounded BE2C at Helles; view of naval bombardment on approach to Helles. Recollections of period at Helles, 6/1915-8/1915, landing at W Beach; difficulty getting transport in waggon up to BE2C.
REEL 4 Continues: journey up to BE2C; return trip to beach to get materials; fly problem; condensed water; dugout; decoy aircraft to attract Turkish fire; take off from emergency landing ground near beach; story of bombing raid; lack of notice taken of Verey signals used by pilots on observation duty for Royal Navy illustrating Royal Navy attitude to Royal Naval Air Service; W Beach pier. Recollections of period at Imbros, 8/1915-3/1916: story of Collet's crash landing and subsequent award of George Medal to Keogh; petrol bomb; story of Turkish POWs refusing Ticklers jam; opinion of Bairnsfather cartoons; story of Turkish unexploded bomb during air raid; duties carrying petrol cans from beach. Recollections of period at Helles, 6/1915-9/1915: lack of proper supply system for Royal Naval Air Service personnel; isolation from army units; story of Hamilton getting khaki issued; repair duties on aircraft landing at emergency landing ground.
REEL 5 Recollections of period at Imbros, 9/1915-3/1916: letter and parcel contact with GB; story of close escape from shell and daily routine at Helles; aircraft adapted for failed attempt to bomb Constantinople and stories of French mechanic; advantage of radial over rotary engines; aircraft used; story of accidental fire in workshops; reactions to return from Helles, 9/1915; view of stores being burnt following evacuation of Suvla, 12/1915; air raid during Christmas football match, 25/12/1915; huts; bread ration; air raid on naval base. Return to GB, 3/1916: story of near arrest for unkempt appearance by patrol in Plymouth; story of repairing damage to officer's car at Redcar and consequent recognition as qualified mechanic; story of cancellation of posting to Western Front, 7/1916. Work as petty officer lathe instructor at RNAS and RAF Training Establishments at Crystal Place, Cawsand Bay and Halton, 1916-1919: rejecting unskilled recruits avoiding army service; retaining exceptional recruit.
REEL 6 Continues: question of discipline; locksmith activities; spotted fever outbreak; moves; story of disciplining Sinn Fein Irish recruits; reaction to merger of Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps, 1/4/1918; rank; story of cancellation of posting to Western Front, 7/1916; family's reaction to German air raid at Crystal Palace; story of Zeppelin raid on Paddington, London.
