Gordon Davies, Leonard (Oral history)

British private served with 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers on Western Front, 1915-1917; served as mechanic with Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917-1918

REEL 1: Background in Harrow, 1897-1914: family; education; hobby making model aircraft; story of making and flying full-size plane; question of air activity pre-1914; story of working at Hendon airfield as Boy Scout; story of enlisting with brother at outbreak of war, 8/1914; reason for wanting to join cavalry; reaction of parents; story of induction at White City; memory of marching to Tower of London to collect kit and cheering crowds; problem of sore feet; reaction to being posted to 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers and attempt to transfer to cavalry; opinion of pacifists and conscientious objectors. Aspects of period of training with 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB, 1914-1915: posted to Roffey Camp, Horsham for basic training; attitude to army life and discipline; dislike of bayonet drill; question of religious beliefs and influence of pacifism; rifle and bombing training practise; fatigues and digging trenches. REEL 2 Continues: tactical training and mock battles; route marches; question of gas training; church services; opinion of training; composition of 22nd Bn; story of pornographic postcards and making vow to avoid women, smoking and alcohol when at the front; reason for refusing commission; relations between officers, NCOs and other ranks; recreational and sporting activities;accommodation; opinion of food; question of class division in Bn; story of injuring back after diving from high board; attitude to serving overseas. Recollections of operations with 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers on Western Front, 1915-1918: description of voyage from Dover to Boulogne, 9/1915; description of conditions in camp at Boulogne; memory of first experience in trenches and coming under shell fire; question of identifying shells by sound. REEL 3 Continues: daily routine in trenches; description of first experience in front line trenches and conditions; memory of Christmas 1915; story of fraternization with Germans near Vimy Ridge, 1917 and attitude to continuation of war; description of operations at Delville Wood, Somme, 1916; casualties and medical services; weather conditions on Somme; description of going over the top; opinion of Gurkhas; description of tanks in action on Somme, 9/1916 and effect on German morale. REEL 4 Continues: assessment of success of Somme offensive; question of inexperienced troops; description of witnessing death of Captain B.H.Radford (referred to as 'Gilbert the Filbert') in balloon accident; description of operations in Oppy Wood during Battle of Arras, 4/1917; memory of corpses and body parts on battlefield; story of gas attack in Ypres area; effects of gas and protective equipment; description of duties and routine in trenches during day and night; story of falling asleep while leading Bn to new position and nature of punishment. REEL 5 Continues: opinion of officers; comparison of living conditions of officers and other ranks; effectiveness of artillery fire in cutting barbed wire; question of water supplies; description of mortar fire; comments on role of machine gun section; problem of snipers and specific targeting of officers; effects of trench warfare on nerves; story of being wounded by shrapnel and mother's dream; question of self-inflicted wounds; comparison of discipline in and out of front line; comparison of British and German trenches; comparison of British and German technology, training and discipline; opinion of rations; question of smoking in trenches; rum ration; question of ammunition supplies; description of uniform and helmet; sanitary and washing facilities in front line and reserve trenches. REEL 6 Continues: problem of mud and wet conditions; methods of preventing trench foot; problem of lice and rats; general state of health while in trenches; description of medical services and opinion of medical personnel; amusing story of sending coded letter to mother; opinion of Gurkhas, New Zealanders and French; comparison of relations between officers and other ranks in front line and reserve trenches; attitude to serving in ranks and not obtaining commission; relations with officers; amusing story of Cockneys in Bn; relations with French civilians; opinion of General Staff and senior officers; amusing story of stork; opinion of French people; memory of three periods of home leave and amusing story of dog; question of civilian attitudes in GB to war; story of disbandment of 22nd Bn and transfer to Royal Flying Corps, 1917. REEL 7 Continues: reflections on period as private with 22nd Bn Royal Fusiliers; assessment of role of cavalry during war; memory of mules pulling gun carriages. Recollections of operations as mechanic with Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917-1918: description of air station at Acq, France; proximity to front; layout of station and hangars; accommodation; comparison of living conditions in infantry and Royal Flying Corps; relations between officers and other ranks; description of hangars; opinion of accommodation and rations; role as mechanic looking after engines; opinion of RE8 plane; loading and release of bombs; story of accompanying pilots as observer in recovery missions; nature of armaments on RE8; comparison of British and German air technology. REEL 8 Continues: story of unidentified 'Mad Major' looping the loop in Handley Page plane; memory of accompanying pilot Galbraith while performing stunt; question of shortage of replacement planes; description of British planes in 1918; question of casualties; amusing story of dropping supplies to downed pilot; role of squadron in observation and bombing missions; memory of Sopwith Triple Plane; comparison of British and German air technology; story of Manfred von Richthofen's brother dropping wreath on grave during ceasefire; opinion of Manfred von Richthofen;conduct of war on ground and in air and question of chivalry; attitude to service with Royal Flying Corps. REEL 9 Continues: question of increase in air activity, 1918; problem of contracting influenza and cold water treatment; social life and recreational activities; story of Acq station being bombed during Armistice celebrations, 11/1918; reason for being sent to Bonn, Germany and story of Zeppelin hangar at airport; reaction of civilian population in Bonn to occupying forces and problem of snipers; problem of shortages of rubber and soap; story of flying home from Acq without permission and being arrested at Victoria Station, London; intervention of brother and release from detention. REEL 10 Continues: Aspects of post-war life and employment: career as designer; question of war interrupting education; reason for becoming a pacifist; attitude to the First and Second World Wars and Falklands War; reflections on period of military service.