Description
Object description
British NCO served with 6th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers 10th (Irish) Div in Salonika, 1915-1916; served with 9th Bn Devonshire Regt on Western Front and in Italy, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Family background; education; employment as apprentice engineer; hours and pay; reaction to outbreak of war, /Aug/1914; story of enlistment in Leeds, 8/1914; posted to camp in Scarborough; posted to 10th/18th Hussars, 11/1914; transferred to Dorsetshire Regt, 1915. Aspects of training with Dorsetshire Regt in GB, 1915: posted to Weymouth for basic training; no uniforms or weapons at start of training; rifle practice; bayonet drill; route marches; issued with tropical kit including pith helmet; story of journey to Salonika via Malta and Gibraltar, 1915; conditions aboard ship. Aspects of operations with 6th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers in Salonika, Greece, 1915: disembarkation; accommodation in bell tents; description of journey train to Serbia, 10/1915; position on top of hill; description of terrain; rations and water supplies; daily routine and duties; story of shooting donkey; accommodation in village; problem of hernia and medical treatment in Cairo.
REEL 2 Continues: description of voyage to GB; conditions aboard ship; problem of contracting jaundice; further medical treatment in GB; posted to France with 9th Bn Devonshire Regt, 6/1916. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Devonshire Regt on Western Front, 1916: conditions in Albert area, Somme; story of mortar exploding in trench; description of trench system; rations; cooking rations with candle; rum ration; personal hygiene; use of whale oil on feet; sanitary arrangements; problem of lice and rats; state of health; daily routine; attitude to
Germans; moved to Fricourt, 2/Jul/1916; memory of meeting troops from Devonshire Regt; promoted sergeant; description of German lines at Fricourt and comparison to British trenches.
REEL 3 Continues: description of attack in Death Valley; casualties; description of attack on Ginchy, Somme area, 9/1916; memory of German POWs; terrain and conditions; casualties; transferred to Italian front, 3/1917. Aspects of operations with 9th Bn Devonshire Regt in Italy, 1917-1918: duties as quartermaster-sergeant; moved to positions on River Piave; reaction to news of Russia leaving war; description of terrain in River Piave area; raids to take prisoners; billets; nickname; relations with Italian civilians; living conditions during winter; posted to Western Front, 5/1918. Aspects of operations with 9th Bn Devonshire Regt on Western Front, 1918: description of conditions in Ypres area, Belgium; operations around Zillebeke Lake; story of being wounded and medical treatment.
REEL 4 Continues: convalescence; marched to Mailly-Maillet, Somme, France; terrain and trench system; memory of shooting two Germans; living conditions; story of shell hitting billets in Auchonvillers; problem of booby traps; description of wounded in leg during attack on German machine post, 10/1918; rescued by tank crew; medical treatment; returned to GB; reaction to news of Armistice, 11/1918; convalescence; demobilised, 3/1919; pension. Post-war life and employment.