Price, Thomas John (Oral history)

British NCO served with 13th Bn Welch Regt on Western Front, 1915-1917

REEL 1 Background in Wales: family; employment; story of enlistment, 10/1914; medical examination; reaction of parents; posted to Cardiff barracks; reason for volunteering; amusing story of first night in barracks; attitude to army life and discipline; story of role in attestation process and formation of 13th Bn Welch Regt (2nd Rhondda Bn). Aspects of training with 13th Bn Welch Regt in GB, 1914-1915: opinion of accommodation and food; posted to Rhyl, North Wales for basic training; memory of blue serge uniform; drill; question of appointment of officers; relations with local civilians; memory of receiving khaki uniform; posted to Winchester for further training including musketry; opinion of training; description of journey to France, 5/Dec/1915; attitude to serving overseas. Recollections of operations with 13th Bn Welch Regt on Western Front, 1915-1917; posted as sergeant to records office, 3rd Army HQ, Rouen and nature of duties; re-joined 13th Bn Welch Regt at La Bassee; daily routine including route marches and mock attacks; story of haircuts; moved to Somme area, 6/1916; opinion of rations; weather conditions; memory of bombardment on Somme, 1/Jul/1916. REEL 2 Continues: description of operations at Mametz Wood, Somme, 7-10/Jul/1916; condition of trenches; memory of seeing attack on Wood and problem of German machine guns, 7/Jul/1916; casualties and treatment of wounded; description of Mametz Wood and surrounding area; question of battle experience and training; problem of visibility; description of role in attack on Mametz Wood, 10/Jul/1916; story of being wounded by shrapnel in hip and sheltering in shell hole; nature of wound and medical treatment; memory of Germans bayoneting wounded; description of hand to hand fighting in Mametz Wood; opinion of German Prussian Guards; question of casualties; nature of fighting in Mametz Wood and problem of trees and barbed wire; memory of roll-call and casualties in 13th Bn; description of liquid fire shells being used against Germans in Mametz Wood; question of morale; description of kit and equipment during attack; opinion of plan to attack Mametz Wood; question of pace of attack. REEL 3 Continues: problem of noise and communications; further comments on strategy of attack; reaction to Mametz Wood being taken and question of recommendations for medals; story of role in organising memorial to 38th Div at Mametz Wood during 1980s; further comments on being wounded and medical treatment; memory of tanks, 9/1916; description of further medical treatment in France and GB. Aspects of period in GB, 1917: returned to Cardiff barracks and put on light duties; question of long-term effects of wounds and problem of shrapnel still lodged in hip; question of pension; role in training new recruits; discharged from army on medical grounds, 11/1917. Reflections on period of war service and opinion of medal awards. Story of returning to Mametz Wood in the 1980s.