Description
Object description
Boy seaman and bugler aboard HMS Theseus, 1905-1910; marine served aboard HMS Triumph and HMS Albion in Dardanelles, Turkey, 1915; NCO served with 2nd Bn Royal Marines Light Infantry, 63rd Royal Naval Division on Western Front, 1917
Content description
REEL 1: Reason for enlistment with Royal Marines, 15/Dec/1904; story of father's desertion from Royal Marines and death in Australia; education at Royal Marine boarding school in Devonport.
REEL 2 Continues: memories of period as teacher at Royal Marine school after First World War. Aspects of operations with 2nd Bn Royal Marines Light Infantry, 63rd Royal Naval Div on Western Front, 1917: opinion of discipline; story of tents; story of digging trench; relations with infantry and problem of imposing discipline.
REEL 3 Continues: duties as gas NCO with 2nd Bn; gas mask; story of being gassed and medical treatment; description of Casualty Clearing Station; evacuated to South African General Hospital, Abbeville; returned to GB for further medical treatment; problem of walking. Aspects of operations aboard HMS Triumph in Dardanelles, Turkey, 1915: assault on fort; composition of fleet; loss of ships; role in charge of guns; description of being torpedoed near Anzac, Gallipoli; damage to ship and casualties; abandoned ship; rescued and taken to Mudros; in sick bay on HMS Lord Nelson; story of visiting brother aboard HMS Europa.
REEL 4 Continues: arrested and nature of charges; various memories of Royal Marine officer and opinion of leadership qualities; story of role in organising defensive position.
REEL 5 Continues: appointed acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant and duties; story of officer aboard HMS Defence, 1910; family background; various memories of post-war civilian employment as tree feller and caretaker at school; story of rations.
REEL 6 Continues: 5 memories of drunken colour sergeant aboard HMS Skirmisher. Aspects of period as boy seaman and bugler aboard HMS Theseus, 1905-1910: role of ship as gunnery tender to HMS Cambridge; messing arrangements; duties as bugler; bugle calls; cleaning and maintenance of ship; inspections; memories of period in Hong Kong; duties as musketry instructor in Plymouth.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to being commissioned; opinion of officers and NCOs; duties as editor of ship's magazine aboard HMS Resolution; further memories of period as musketry instructor; story of tug boat; drill instructions.
REEL 8 Continues: comparison of military and naval discipline for Royal Marines; story of Scout troop and reason for arrest while aboard HMS Tamar in Hong Kong, 1914; further comments on operations aboard HMS Triumph in Dardanelles, 1915: duties in turret; assault on German fort at Sandy Point; co-operation with Japanese forces.
REEL 9 Continues: description of duties aboard HMS Albion in Dardanelles, 1915.