McGrath, John Francis (Oral history)

British private served with 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt ( 2nd Bradford Pals) in GB, Egypt and on Western Front, 1915-1917

REEL 1: Background in Bradford, 1897-1914: family; education; employment in mill; memory of outbreak of war, 8/1914; attitude to anti-German attacks in Bradford; story of enlistment with 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt, 2/1915; question of joining underage; pay. Aspects of training with 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt in GB, 1915: billeted at home; drill; route marches and role in recruitment; memory of singing on route marches; issued with rifles and equipment; opinion of food; description of further training at Ripon Camp, 5/1915; accommodation; daily routine; rifle practice on range; instruction in digging trenches; echelon marching; opinion of training; attitude to army life and discipline; recreational and sporting activities; canteen facilities; memory of playing cards; relations with local civilians. REEL 2 Continues: relations with fellow recruits and NCOs. Aspects of operations in Egypt, 1915-1916: description of voyage to Egypt, 10/1915; story of ship being bombed; first impressions of Port Said; billeted in tents; description of work laying railway lines in Kantara area; transferred to Western Front. Recollections of operations with 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918: description of journey to France and arrival in Abbeville, Somme area, 3/1916; description of terrain and trench system; use of rifle grenades; opinion of rations; water rations; question of rum ration; cigarettes; care of uniform and equipment; washing and sanitary facilities; problem of lice and rats; memory of killing rats with bayonet; problem of cold and wet in trenches; use of whale oil on feet; problem of boils and treatment; description of daily routine including stand-to and trench maintenance; question of morale. REEL 3 Continues: description of sentry duty during day and night; problem of staying awake; description of role in night patrol and wiring party; comparison of British and German artillery; question of identifying shells; problem of German rifle grenades and machine gun fire; problem of snipers and question of height; training with Mills bombs; attitude to shell shock cases; description of daily duties in reserve area; bombing training; memory of visit to estaminet; opinion of Military Police; communication with family and censoring of letters; question of applying for commission. REEL 4 Continues: description of training and conditions at Etaples base camp, 6-7/1916; opinion of instructors; attitude to not being involved in opening of Battle of Somme, 7/1916; re-joined 18th Bn at Bethune, Somme area, 8/1916; morale of 18th Bn; moved to Laventie and Festhubert sectors; description of mining work with Royal Engineers; in reserve at Hebuterne; description of terrain and conditions on Somme front; effects of gas and protection; casualties including shell shock cases; moved to Arras sector, 3/1917; story of digging in near Oppy Wood; rum ration prior to going over top; question of presence of Military Police in trenches; description of going over top and wounded by shell blast; effects of injuries and treatment in France and GB; memory of lice coming out skin. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 1917-1918: description of medical treatment at hospital in Liverpool; moved to Ripon camp for convalescence, 8/1917; medical board and recommended for discharge, 12/1917; pension; returned to Bradford and employment in factory; story of contracting influenza, 5/1918; question of mental state; reaction to Armistice, 11/1918; reflections on period of military service; attitude in Bradford to losses in Pals Bns.