Description
Object description
British officer served with 5th (Nelson) Bn, 189th Bde, 63rd (Royal Naval) Div on Western Front, 6/1916-10/1916; served with 7th (Hood) Bn, 189th Bde, 63rd (Royal Naval) Div on Western Front and GB, 10/1916-11/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1891-1914: education; employment; military training at St Dunstan's College. Aspects of training as seaman with Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) in Lambeth, London, GB, 1914: reason for joining Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR); description of training; question of pay and uniform; mobilisation at outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914. Recollections of period as seaman and officer with Royal Naval Div in GB, 1914-1916: transfer to division, 8/1914; drafting to HMS Temeraire, 4th Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow; reaction of recruits to serving on land; daily life and routine aboard HMS Temeraire; discipline; opinion of rations and accommodation; watch duties; memories of sinking of German submarine U-18 at Scapa Flow, 23/11/1914; character of HMS Temeraire; commissioning as sub-lieutenant and duties; attitude to service in division; question of reputation of Royal Naval Div following retreat from Antwerp, Belgium, 10/1914; memories of A P Herbert.
REEL 2 Continues: infantry training at Royal Naval Div Training Depot, Crystal Palace and Blandford Camp, 1915; drill; weapons training; tactical exercises; relations with regular army personnel; question of conflict between military and naval traditions; divisional structure and attitude to service in Royal Naval Div; description of 7th (Hood) Bn; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Freyberg; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Asquith. Aspects of operations as officer with 5th (Nelson) Bn, 189th Bde, 63rd (Royal Naval) Div on Western Front, 6/1916-10/1916: journey from Dover, GB to Étaples, France, 6/1916; appointment to battalion at Souchez, France; description of trenches and rations; effects of Gallipoli Campaign on division.
REEL 3 Continues: question of using horse transport; sight of tanks. Recollections of operations as officer with 7th ((Hood) Bn, 189th Bde, 63rd (Royal Naval) Div on Western Front and GB, 10/1916-11/1918: rejoining battalion and transfer to Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre area, Somme, France, 10/1916; conditions in trenches and dugouts; communication trench known as 'Jacob's Ladder'; working parties; attack at Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre and objectives; problems with wet weather; question of personal morale; problem of German snipers; role of Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Freyberg during attack at Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre; casualties; wounding during attack at Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre, 10/1916; nature of wounds and treatment; Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Freyberg's wounding during attack.
REEL 4 Continues: question of reputation of Royal Naval Div; reaction to award of Military Cross for action at Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre, 10/1916; further description of treatment for wounds in France and GB, 1917; recieving hospital visit from Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Freyberg and reaction to his leaving division; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Asquith; opinion of Commander William Egerton and other officers; comparison of Royal Naval Div and regular British Army; role in training recruits at Blandford Camp, GB, 1917-1918; rejoining battalion in France, summer 1918; description of operations against Hindenberg Line, 1918; degree of German resistance; story of shooting of surrendering German officers.
REEL 5 Continues: further memories of A P Herbert; opinion of battalion surgeon Lieutenant Commander William 'Doc' McCracken; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Levey and role his training role at Royal Naval Div Training Depot, Crystal Palace, GB; gas attack; living conditions on Western Front; opinion of rations; rum ration; sanitary facilities and hygiene; problem of lice and rats; question of health of men; story of batman; comparison of living conditions for officers and men; relations between officers and other ranks; reaction to disbandment of Royal Naval Div, 1919; post-war reunions.
REEL 6 Continues: further comments on disbandment of Royal Naval Div, 1919; story of final parade before Prince of Wales in London, GB, 1919; further comments on post-war reunions.