Amatt, Sidney Albert (Oral history)

British NCO served with 7th Bn, Essex Regt in GB, 1915-1916; served with 1/5th Bn, London Regt on Western Front, 1916-1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918, escaped and evaded in Belgium, 1918; served Tank Corps in GB, India and Iraq, 1920-1928; served with various searchlight and anti-aircraft units in GB, 1939-1945

REEL 1 Background in London, 1898-1914: father's work in silk cord factory; accommodation; education; country walks; working routine, holidays and pay as apprentice silk cord spinner in factory, 1912-1914. Background to enlistment underage with 2/7th Bn, Essex Regt, 1/1915: procedure; uniform. Recollections of period at Stamford, 1/1915-6/1915: issue of equipment and Japanese rifle; small number of unit volunteering for Imperial Service. Period at Thetford, 6/1915: units present; reasons for volunteering for Imperial Service. REEL 2 Continues: question of duration of war; camp cinema; duties as officer's servant; duties cleaning offices. Period at Harrogate, 7/1916-8/1916: story of group writing 'round robin' letter to Colonel requesting posting to active service draft and his subsequent agreement; weapon training course. Recollections of period at Infantry Base Depot, Le Havre, 8/1916: journey out; training and strict attitude of instructors; train journey to Somme area. Recollections of period with B Coy, 1/5th Bn, London Regt in Somme area, 9/1916-10/1916: initial period in Trones Wood; carrying party duty whilst moving into front line in Lesboeufs sector, 7/10/1916; medical treatment of casualties from shell bursting in trench bay; account of attack on Hazy Trench, 8/10/1916-9/10/1916, including equipment carried, plan, sheltering in shell hole, death of friend, digging new front line; relief and return to Trones Wood; visit to mobile kitchen and story of roll call illustrating severity of casualties. REEL 3 Continues: account of attack on Hazy Trench, 8/10/1916, including digging new front line; further attack, German shell fire; question of relevance of training; casualties; system of relieving regiments during attacks; opinion of Germans. Rest period in Arras area, 10/1916-11/1916: tours of duty; casualties. Recollections of period in Ville Chapelle sector, Bethune area, 11/1916-12/1916: tours of duty; wet conditions and breastwork trenches; story illustrating rat problem; quiet sector; view of trench raid using white sheets as camouflage over uniform; Amatt's removal from unit after parents had reported him as underage and period in special 'immature' training unit at Le Havre 11/1916-4/1917; food rations and cooking; sentry duty; opening fire on Germans in No Mans Land; rescue of wounded from No Mans Land; first aid kit in uniform. REEL 4 Continues: raiding parties including composition, weapons, tactics and German troops willingness to surrender; personal morale; opinion of German troops; German raiding tactics; story of establishing contact with French and close escape from German shell following attack on Hazy Trench, 8/10/1916-9/10/1916; comparison of British and French uniform; tidying trenches; sentry duty; dugouts; nature of trenches; cold weather; gas masks and introduction of gas shells; treatment of gas casualties; medical treatment of casualties. REEL 5 Continues: differences in uniform and drill as London Rifle Brigade. period at Infantry Base Depot, Le Havre, 1/1917-4/1917: prior period as officers' mess waiter, 11/1916-12/1916; tent accommodation; duties in cookhouse; YMCA canteen; story of visit to brothel; attachment as stretcher bearer to casualty clearing station, 4/1917; rejoining unit. Recollections of period in Arras area, 5/1917-6/1917: accidental detonation of hand grenades by cooks' fire; elite status of unit; officers; stand to. Evacuation with trench fever to GB, 6/1917: overnight stay at convent hospital in Arras; German shell fire; move to Rouen base hospital. REEL 6 Periods in Chelsea hospital and Seaford Convalescent Camp, GB, 6/1917-10/1917: aspirin treatment; reception; hospital uniform; recreational trips organised by nurses; convalescent duties; AWOL visits to London and question of punishment. Period with 3/5th Bn, LR at Blackdown Camp, 10/1917-3/1918: background to refusal of Christmas leave and going AWOL; court martial, impact of previous case of going AWOL and consequent prison sentence. Recollections of period with B Coy, 1/5th Bn, LR in Arras area, 3/1918: journey out and story illustrating timetabled nature of German shelling; reception; night sentry routine reflecting lack of available troops as rest of unit retired to Blue Lines in front of Arras; German bombardment concentrated on rear areas; background to platoon being left as rearguard. Recollections of German attack at , 28/3/1918: effects of German minenwerfer fire; retreat to reserve line; taking shelter in dugout; German success in over-running trench; grenade thrown down dugout; surrender; view of German troops moving forward. REEL 7 Recollections of conditions and lifestyle during period as POW in France, ca 3/1918-10/1918: story of timid reaction of German officer to sight of POWs; collection point; march back carrying captured British equipment; period in transit camp at Douai brickworks; keeping diary; working parties collecting battlefield salvage; period as cleaning party at village used as billets by German troops; story of close escape from being bayoneted whilst stealing flour unloading train; Saxon guards; lack of personal equipment; use of horse clippers to cut hair; washing; lice problem; move to POW camp in former factory; segregation of ranks; conditions including food; state of morale; deaths and volunteering as pallbearer; Red Cross parcels; medical treatment for attack of boils; working party unloading timber. REEL 8 Continues: failure of procedure to notify family of POW status; scavenging for cigarettes and food; story of working party being ordered to dig trenches, refusal under Geneva Convention, threat of executions, intervention by senior German officer and subsequent return to camp; sound of approaching British forces; question of treatment by Saxon guards; conditions during march back through Belgium; escape from overnight billet. Recollections of period evading re-capture with assistance of Belgian civilians in Pervwelz sector, Belgium, 10/1918-11/1918: close escape from party of German soldiers; reception and gift of civilian clothing; hiding with other escaped POWs in bedroom; exercise periods in garden; news of Armistice and continuation of precautions against re-capture by Germans, 11/11/1918; liberation by Canadian troops. Treatment as ex POW, 11/1918-3/1919: passing through clearance area; re-equipment; train journey across former battlefields to Calais. REEL 9 Continues: bell tents; special rations; return to GB; leave; family's belief Amatt had been killed in action; demobilisation, 3/1919. Period as civilian, 3/1919-11/1920: work in silk cord factory; end of relationship with woman; rejection due to disciplinary record by Royal Irish Constabulary; enlistment as regular. Recollections of period training with Tank Corps at Wareham, Bovington and Wargate Camps, 11/1920-1/1922: reception and status as old soldier; uniform identification code; cutting hair, shaving and washing clothes to supplement pay; stoppages for barrack damages; clothing allowance; visits to Wareham after passing squad drill and fitness tests; move to Bovington Camp; system of daily orders; guard duty and 'stick' system. REEL 10 Continues: duties as officer's servant; attending Vickers machine gun and 6 pdr course at Lulworth Camp including firing from static tank at targets and near accident from over-heating engine in Whippet tank; studying for First Class Education certificate during posting to 5th Tank Bn, TC at Wargate; learning to drive armoured cars during posting to 4th Tank Bn, TC at Wargate; officer's feat of strength and sporting reputation of TC; posting to newly formed No 11 Armoured Car Coy; . 45 Webley revolver training; question of thieving from personal kit; comparison of war and peacetime discipline; news of posting to Far East; embarkation leave. Recollections of voyage aboard Nevasa to Bombay, India, 1/1922: mess decks; acting as mess orderlies and amusing story of friend's accident carrying food in rough weather. REEL 11 Continues: route through Mediterranean; letters from GB; question of gambling and illegal 'Crown and Anchor' games; Arab trading boats in port; coaling ship; passing through Suez Canal and Red Sea. Recollections of initial acclimatisation period at Deolali Camp, ca 1/1922-2/1922: first impressions of Bombay; Indian showmen; troops use of brothels; train journey to Deolali including Anglo Indian railway employees and nature of carriages; tent accommodation; kitehawks; monkeys. REEL 12 Continues: VD inspections; daily routine governed by bugle calls; food rations. Train journey to Peshawar, North West Frontier, 1923: British custom of firing ceremonial gun at noon, stopping of train and curry meals taken at stations; faunae; relationship with Indian civilians. Period with 7th Armoured Car Coy, TC based at Peshawar cantonment, ca 1923-1925: bungalow accommodation built to withstand earthquakes; duties as lance corporal in charge of officers' mess. Recollections of period at Cantspur, Rawalpindi, 1923: policy of British troops periods in summer hill station; journey; bungalow accommodation; shooting and cooking porcupine. REEL 13 Recollections of period with No 1 and No 2 Armoured Car Coys, TC in Iraq, 1922-1923: prior voyage to Basra; fly and mosquito problems at Basra camp; voyage up River Tigris to join No 1 ACC, TC at Baghdad camp; mud hut accommodation and punkahs; rail journey to join section of No 2 ACC, TC at Shergat Camp, Mosul; tent accommodation; anti-fly device; canteen; fishing using hand grenades in Tigris; driving armoured car across country to join unit headquarters at Mosul; hot conditions and use of water filled canvass bags to cool tents; well water wheel system of irrigation; duties on appointment as lance corporal in charge of officers' mess including accommodation and staff. REEL 14 Continues: duties on appointment as lance corporal in charge of officers' mess including accommodation, officers' shooting party, preparing formal dinners and mess protocol; pay; story of clash with deranged sentry; training visit from RAF personnel intended to take over role of unit; difficult river passage in barge during journey back to Basra; Christmas celebrations; guarding officer with sun stroke during voyage to Bombay. Recollections of period with 7th Armoured Car Coy, TC based at Peshawar cantonment, ca 1923-1925: journey from Bombay including free beer on passing brewery; posting to No 1 Section; composition of unit and description of Rolls Royce armoured cars; use of .45 Webley revolver; role escorting Afghanistan munitions convoy through Khyber Pass. REEL 15 Continues: role escorting Afghanistan munitions convoy through Khyber Pass including meeting convoy, guard posts, cable railway system, endemic fighting between local villages and dispute with officer over refusing to drive dangerous car; period at Bannu; story of drunken sergeant major; role taking headquarters staff parade due to infantry drill experience; story accompanying cavalry during visit to Afghan officer Army including difficulty with riding and Russian coffee served; move to Miramshah frontier post; accommodation; court martial of disobedient soldiers from disbanded Irish regiments; black berets and hosetops issued on award of title Royal Tank Corps; return to Peshawar; studying for 1st Class Education Certificate; move into Waziristan frontier fort. REEL 16 Continues: expedition against Wazirs accompanied by mountain battery; learning tennis and quoits; passing 1st Class Education Certificate; story of disagreeing with officer during armoured car tactics lecture; attending course in armoured car tactics at RTC School, Ahmednagar including climate, instructors, sand table, bungalow accommodation, precautions against mosquitoes and bugs, questions during lectures, tactical exercises, Vickers machine gun stoppage test, passing course and promotion to corporal. Periods at Peshewar and Lahore, 1923-1928: accommodation facilities on move to Lahore; climate; guard duties; dogs and monkeys kept as pets; locust swarm. REEL 17 Continues: medical treatment for attacks of sandfly fever and malaria; precautions to prevent dysentery and VD; colonel as company commander; establishment and medical inspection of official brothel; composition of unit; and names given armoured cars; procedure at annual proclamation parade, 1st January; periods of abstinence and drinking; periods of station leave including unsuccessful tiger shoots, fishing and photography; question of position of British occupying forces; internal security duties including call out by civilian magistrate and second hand reports of attacks on armoured cars at Amritsar. REEL 18 Continues: internal security duties including second hand reports of attacks on armoured cars at Amritsar; duties of Indian servants; living conditions of Indian civilian villagers; relationship with Indian civilians and role of Indian contractors; question of treatment of Indian servants; learning Hindustani and Urdu; Indian currency; use of pidgin Hindustani; Indian caste system; earthquakes and building precautions; role as corporal in charge of section; reconnaissance trips to map changes in water channels in low lying ground caused by monsoon; fatal accident caused by collision between armoured car and bullock cart on bridge. REEL 19 Continues: attending advanced driving and maintenance course driving Crossley armoured cars at RTC School, Ahmednagar including exercises in reversing on hilltop road, night lorry driving and test in assembling and fitting lorry engine in working order; accommodation facilities on move to Lahore; story of crashing armoured car into water buffalo during fast drive; salvage of damaged armoured car and subsequent disciplinary punishment; story of old soldiers bivouacking technique during exercise during monsoon; story of being 'captured' after accident to armoured car during exercise; period at Dalhousie hill station, 1926. REEL 20 Continues: hill trek during period at Dalhousie hill station, 1926; studying for education special examination; question of signing on to extend service; period on vocation training course as motor mechanic at engineering works in Bombay, 1927; promotion to sergeant; learning to ride motorbike. Discharge on return to GB, 5/1928. Period as civilian, 1928-1939: registration with Association for Employment of Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen; work as postman. REEL 21 Continues: postman's uniform; unemployment and family illnesses; work as shell filler at Woolwich Arsenal; work as salesman; Recruitment and training with 310th Searchlight Coy, Royal Engineers, 6/1938-8/1939: assisting quartermaster sergeant during summer camp; responsibility in absence of officer for establishing anti-aircraft machine gun posts and searchlight sites in Purfleet area during Munich crisis mobilisation, 9/1938; territorial pay; securing work as clerk at Woolwich Arsenal, 1939; mobilisation, 8/1939. Recollections of period in Marks Tey area, 1939-1940: guarding officer on remand for court martial; readiness for action and story of nervous sentry period on searchlight site near River Blackwater; interview with officer concerning absence of prospect of promotion. REEL 22 Continues: period assisting quartermaster at headquarters and absence of prospects of promotion; period as cook and gunner at Stones Green searchlight site; role of coastal searchlights in picking up aircraft as German air raids commenced on London, 6/1940; concern for family and moving them to Stones Green, 9/1940; concern at state of defences; role as horsed messenger should Germans invade. Period at Houndstone Camp, Yeovil, 1940-1941: formation of new units from cadres and new recruits; stories of German air raids; dismissal of civilian steward of officers mess for theft, application for position, interview and appointment to position as sergeant; duties. REEL 23 Continues: purchasing food from local shops; staff; preparing menus; special functions; avoiding drinking; German air raid on Lufton Camp; visits to working mans' club and story of getting drunk on cider; moving family into local farmhouse and their reaction; rented accommodation; niece's work at NAAFI canteen; moving house; background to decision to apply for commission and recommendation from former officer. REEL 24 Continues: refusal of commission; increase in anti-aircraft defences following German air raid, 11/1940. Period at Blandford Camp, 1941: large number of NCOs; weekend leave with family in Yeovil; family social life. Posting to searchlight unit at Wareham, 10/1941-12/1941. Period with Bofors Anti-aircraft battery at Middle Wallop Airfield, 12/1941-1/1942: issue of battledress uniform; question of refusal of commission due to past disciplinary record; question of changes in nature of army discipline and lack of promotion prospects for long service regulars; drilling mess staff and training officers with .45 Webley revolver whilst at Houndstone Camp; unification of anti aircraft defences on formation of Air Defence of Great Britain; leave. Recollections of period with anti aircraft battery at Devizes, Denbigh and Wirral, 1942. REEL 25 Continues: instruments operated by female personnel; drill; gas drill; firing course at Anglesey; instructing during mixed rifle training sessions; period as temporary regimental sergeant major at Widnes; plotting table in command post; period as troop sergeant major at Wirral; gun pits; awareness of threat posed by German parachutist and planning defensive exercise. Period training with anti-aircraft unit at Liverpool, 1942-1943: planned system to erect anti-aircraft Maunsael forts in estuaries. REEL 26 Continues: boat training; anti-aircraft gun training using film projection; reaction to lack of promotion opportunities; guard duties; question of quality of personnel; story of argument with officer and subsequent acceptance of reduction to ranks rather than court martial. Period as storeman with anti-aircraft battery in various places, 1943-1945: promotion to acting corporal; effects of loss of rank and question of appeal; absence of German air raids; state of unit morale and discipline; organising dances; story of ouja board session; story of mistakenly shooting tame duck; period at Sunderland Point and story of being concussed in lorry accident whilst crossing causeway; move to Yarmouth and role shooting down V1s launched from Dorniers. REEL 27 Continued: close escape from V1; move to Weymouth; holiday camp accommodation; mushroom picking; posting of officers to administrative duties in Allied occupied territories, 1944; rabbit hunting. Posting to unit based at Sheffield, 1944: reorganisations and role as surplus personnel; manufacture of steel mattresses to be used as anti-aircraft platforms. Posting to mobile anti-aircraft battery on East coast, 1944-1945: reception during storm; duties as storeman; leave; move to Kent; scabies attack; silver nitrate treatment for infected insect bite; puppet show; cherry-pickers. REEL 28 Continues: period excused duties; demobilisation procedure. Post-war career as clerk and clerical officer. Disability pension and its cancellation, 1960. VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945. Award of Territorial Efficiency Medal. Reaction to army service.

Interview with Sergeant Sidney Amatt. Having fought on the Western Front, Sidney re-enlisted in 1920 after splitting up with his girlfriend. He went on to serve for eight years with the Tank Corps in Britain, India and Iraq. Here he talks about the difference between his two periods of army service.