Description
Object description
British civilian journalist in Macclesfield, GB, 8/1914-6/1918; private served with 53rd (Young Soldier) Bn, King's (Liverpool Regt), 52nd (Graduated) Bn, King's (Liverpool Regt) and 23rd Training Reserve Bn, Royal Sussex Regt in GB, 6/1918-11/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Macclesfield, GB, 1900-1914: family; education; employment in silk warehouse. Aspects of period as journalist in Macclesfield, GB, 1914-1918: duties as trainee reporter; wages; shorthand; daily routine and working hours; question of training; area covered; public attitude to press; use of photographs; reaction to declaration of First World War, 4/8/1914; wartime news reporting; effects of war on daily life; rationing and growing food on allotments; blackout; visit by Lord George; fund raising and comforts for troops; call-up for military service of newspaper colleagues; visiting homes of bereaved to obtain photographs for publication in Roll of Honour; covering funerals; returned wounded soldiers; reporting on various meetings; attitude to war; food queues; further details of contacting bereaved families; press coverage of war; attitude to Germans; question of enlistment; paper rationing; nature of assignments; question of signing indentures; transport; meals; presence of one telephone in office; printing of newspaper; staff.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to conscientious objectors; recreational activities; religious beliefs; family life; wages; evening classes; standards of journalism; attitude to editing of work; reaction to introduction of conscription. Recollections of enlistment and training as private with 53rd (Young Soldier) Bn King's (Liverpool Regt), 52nd (Graduated) Bns, King's (Liverpool Regt) and 23rd Training Reserve Bn, Royal Sussex Regt in GB, 6/1918-11/1918: call-up for military service at Chester, 6/1918; medical; problem of rash and contracting influenza and treatment; posting to 53rd (Young Soldier) Bn, King's (Liverpool Regt) at Kinmel Park Camp, Rhyl; uniform; posting to 52nd (Graduated) Bn, King's (Liverpool Regt) at Southwold; problem of in-growing toenail; medical grade; posting to 23rd Training Reserve Bn, Royal Sussex Regt at Shoreham-by-Sea; description of camp and conditions; kit inspection; daily duties; move to Prees Heath Camp for demobilisation; gratuity received; medical categories; basic training; route march; camp discipline; attitude to military life; opinion of rations; Armistice Day celebrations, 11/11/1918; question of quick release from military service and return to civilian employment; post-war life and employment as journalist