Bowyer-Green, Edward (Oral history)

British private served with 1/25th and 1/10th Bns London Regt in GB, 1916; rifleman and signaller served with 15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles on Western Front, 1916-1917

REEL 1 Background in Battersea, London, GB, 1896-1916: family; education including scholarship to City of London School, 1907-1913; reason for not joining Officers' Training Corps; employment as accountant and clerk in City of London court, 1914-1916; reaction to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; memory of Boer War; question of reserved occupation status; effect of war on court work; story of enlisting under Derby Scheme prior to conscription, 1/1916; reason for joining 25th (Cyclist) Bn London Regt in Fulham, 1/1916. Aspects of training in GB, 1-11/1916: description of training at Feltham and Salisbury Plain; reaction to conversion of 25th Bn to infantry Bn and amalgamation with 10th Bn London Regt; reputation of 10th Bn as 'Hackney Gurkhas'; opinion of training; drafted to Harfleur Base Camp, France, and question of embarkation leave, 11/1916; posted to A Coy, 15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles at Neuve Eglise, Ypres area, Belgium, 11/1916; question of reinforcements for Irish battalions; story of execution of Irish soldiers and problem of recruitment in Ulster; attitude of Irish troops to British reinforcements. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations with 15th Bn Royal Irish Rifles on Western Front, 1916-1917: description of role with Lewis gun team and question of training; relations with Irish troops; description of trench system and dugouts; personal kit; opinion of rations and importance of food parcels from home; water supply; cigarette ration and reason for starting smoking; rum ration; washing and sanitary facilities; problem of lice and rats; problem of cold weather and ice; state of health; posted to Signal Section attached to HQ Coy; story of repairing buried cable; nature of duties as signaller and description of equipment; repairing and laying lines. REEL 3 Continues: description of conditions in Neuve Eglise sector; description of preparations for Battle of Messines, 5/1917; practice attacks; amusing story of playing piano in concert party. Aspects of attack in Neuve Eglise sector, 7/Jun/1917: effect of mine explosions and unopposed advance; role as signaller maintaining communications with Bde; problem of damage to hearing caused by shell fire; story of dispute with NCO; problem of contracting typhus and evacuation to GB, 7/1917. Aspect of period in GB and Ireland, 1917-1919: description of medical treatment; posted to divisional HQ in County Down, Ireland, 1917; posted back to 15th Bn at Durrington Camp, Salisbury Plain, 1918; state of health. REEL 4 Continues: description of clerical duties with Inland Waterways and Docks Royal Engineers and as company clerk with 15th Bn; story of demobilization, 1/1919. Post-war life and employment: returned to employment in City of London Court; effect of war on health; question of pride in serving with Ulster Div; attitude to Irish and question of Ulster politics