description
Object description
British NCO served with 11th Hussars, 1st Cavalry Bde, 1st Cavalry Div on Western Front, 1914-1916; officer served with 2nd Bn Suffolk Regt, 76th Bde, 3rd Div on Western Front, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Coddenham, GB, 1886-1914: family; education. Aspects of period as trooper and NCO with 11th Hussars in GB, 1904-1914: enlistment and reaction of family; duties in quartermaster stores and as regimental quartermaster sergeant; outbreak of First World War, 8/1914. Recollections of operations as NCO with 11th Hussars, 1st Cavalry Bde, 1st Cavalry Div on Western Front, 1914-1916: arrival in Mons area, Belgium, 1914; problems of supplying men and horses with provisions; question of German atrocities against civilians; movements following retreat from Mons; question of morale; German attack at Nery, 1/9/1914; supplying rations and water; daily duties in quartermaster's office at Fletre, France, 11/1914-4/1915; conditions in Ypres, Belgium, 1915; leave in GB and attitude of civilians, 1/1915; gas victims during 2nd Battle of Ypres, 1915 and death of friend in Royal Army Medical Corps; opinion of gas protection measures; aftermath of Battle of Loos, 9/1915; description of supply system in Loos and Neuve Chappelle areas; rations and supplies and method of delivery to front line.
REEL 2 Continues: story of applying for commission and interview with Brigadier General Ernest Makins, 1916; training period with Artists' Rifles. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Suffolk Regt, 76th Bde, 3rd Div on Western Front, 1916-1918: commissioning as officer in Suffolk Regt and training at cadet school; initial experience under fire in trenches at St Eloi, France, 3/1916; memories of Padre Noel Mellish VC; casualties; description of duties as quartermaster and nature of responsibilities; role during Battle of Somme, 7/1916; delivery of rations and water supplies to front line in Caterpillar Valley; question of casualties; problem of transport during wet weather; conditions in Serre sector, 1916; story of supplying rum ration and problem of drunkenness.
REEL 3 Continues: special rations issued at Christmas; use of whale oil for treating trench foot; problem of distributing rations during Battle of Arras, 4/1917; serious head wound case in The Harp area; delivering rations by mule during 3rd Battle of Ypres, 11/1917; role and duties as company commander in River Selle area, 1918; award of Military Cross; memories of Armistice, 11/11/1918. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Suffolk Regt, 76th Bde, 3rd Div in Germany, 1918-1919: conditions in Duhren and Cologne; relations with German civilians. Opinion of role of padres on Western Front and question of religious beliefs.
