Description
Object description
British civilian factory worker in Yorkshire 1914-1917; gunner served as fitter with A Bty, 223rd Bde Royal Field Artillery on Western Front, 1918-1919
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of background in Bradford area, 1897-1914: family circumstances; work in wool mill; work as engineering apprentice at machine tool factory; reactions to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; attending technical college; question of knowledge of conditions on Western Front; attestation under Derby Scheme,1/3/1916; status as reserved occupation worker following switch of factory to munitions role and reactions to introduction of woman workers; background to call up and medical examination, 12/4/1918. Period at Fulford Barracks, York, 12/4/1918-14/4/1918: initial lack of uniform; story of fight in barrack room; basic training. Recollections of training as fitter with Royal Artillery at Brook Hill Barracks, Woolwich, 4/1918: prior trade test; conditions of service; uniform. Period training at Biscot Camp, Luton, 5/1918: gas shell practice.
REEL 2 Continues: gun drill; grooming horses; guard duty; case of stealing from tent; relationship with other ranks, NCOs and officers; embarkation leave. Journey out and initial period at Pimple Camp, Le Havre, France, 29/5/1918-5/1918: reception from French civilians; daily routine; German air raid alarms; working party of fitters repairing damaged guns at Le Havre Arsenal; train journey to Lillevillers. Period at Royal Artillery Reinforcement Camp, 63rd Div at Lillevillers, 6/1918-7/1918: workshop duties; effects of influenza epidemic; stacking shells in ammunition dumps; visit to estaminet. Period as fitter with 18pdr guns of A Bty, 223rd Bde Royal Field Artillery in Somme area, 7/1918-10/1918: gun positions in Mailly Mailet sector; reception; visit to forward gun positions in Beaumont Hamel sector.
REEL 3 Continues: visit to forward gun positions in Beaumont Hamel sector; failure of hydraulic recoil system on forward gun firing in support of trench raid, subsequently pumping up hydraulic pressure on guns and question of competence of previous fitter; stripping down guns; adjustments to counter effects of worn barrels in ranging guns; comparison of British and German guns; gun position dugout; food, water, rum and cigarette rations; personal morale during approach to front line; problems in riding horse; attending course in gun hydraulic recoil system.
REEL 4 Continues: attending course in gun hydraulic recoil system; view of observation balloons shot down by German aircraft; movements, 8/1918; preparations for attack and use of camouflage netting on taking up gun positions in support lines in Essarts sector, 8/1918; account of attack on Escartes, 21/8/1918-22/8/1918, including role maintaining guns during preliminary bombardment, method of removing misfired shell, noise levels, heat and dust, creeping barrage, suspension of fire, situation on advance to former German front line trenches in Bucquoy sector, German gas shells during further advance through Bucquoy; gas masks, advance to establish gun positions in Logeast Wood and machine gun attack from German aircraft; effects and types of German shell fire; use of shrapnel and high explosive shells.
REEL 5 Continues: use of shrapnel and high explosive shells; further advance to Bapaume-Cambrai railway, 24/8/19; repairs to guns; tools; birthday in action, 27/8/1918; German shellfire; washing and water supply; lice problem; latrines; question of rat problem; German corpses and taking souvenirs; sleeping on ground; continued advance, 9/1918; story of raid on abandoned forward canteen; crossing Canal du Nord; reception from French civilians; parcels and letter contact with GB; diary; relationship with other ranks, officers and NCOs; question of importance of religion; question of contact with senior officers.
REEL 6 Continues: continued advance; artillery preparations prior to Battle of Sambre, 19/10/1918-20/10/1918; continued advance; move back to Arras area, 30/10/1918; fatigue. Period in Arras and Cambrai areas, 11/1918: testing guns;; story of avoiding general's inspection parade; story of accidentally breaking leg during march to Cambrai, 9/11/1918; Armistice Day, 11/11/1918; hospitalisation and diagnosis of broken leg; evacuation to GB. Hospitalisation at Harrogate, 11/1918-1/1918. Demobilisation, 1/1919. Post-war career: work as fitter and periods of unemployment; work with bus company; question of effects of war.
