Utting, Victor Richard Downing (Oral history)

British wireless operator NCO served with 9 Sqdn, RFC/RAF attached to various units of Royal Artillery on Western Front, 1915-1919

REEL 1 Aspects of background in Fakenham and Cromer, 1897-1915: education; apprenticeship as piano tuner. Aspects of recruitment and training as wireless operator with Royal Flying Corps, Regent Street Polytechnic, London, 1915: prior failed attempt to join cyclist unit, 1914; reaction of employer and parents to enlistment, 8/1915; Morse code training; conditions of service and recreations; story of being charged with not saluting officer. Recollections of period as wireless operator with 9 Sqdn RFC attached to various batteries of Royal Artillery on Western Front, 12/1915-12/1916: joining unit at Dover; question of composition of unit; arrival at Bertangles RFC Station, 12/1915; detachment to battery of Royal Artillery in Fricourt sector, Somme area; method of receiving wireless messages from artillery observation aircraft; aerial arrangements. REEL 2 Continues: crystal wireless sets; concert party starring Basil Hallam; visit by Kitchener; attachment to battery in Maricourt sector, Somme area; preliminary bombardment prior to Somme offensive, 6/1916; failed attempt at aerial night observation in Lens sector, Bethune area; attachment to anti-aircraft battery, 7/1916; view of tank attack at Flers, 9/1916; question of casualties and opinion of high command; story of birthday celebrations during German offensive illustrating importance of RFC wireless operator to artillery, 1918; promotion to corporal, 1918; GB leaves. REEL 3 Continues: aspects of GB leave, 11/1916, including lice problem and being given white feather. Recollections of period with 9th Sqdn, RFC on attachment to 110 Siege Bty, Garrison Artillery in Somme area, 12/1916-4/1918: washing and lice problem; dugout and effects of accidental fire; communications problem on introduction of zone call; German retreat and advance to Gouzecourt, 3/1917; lack of contact with French civilians; ineffectiveness of guns' camouflage revealed in aerial photograph; move to Annequin sector, Bethune area; views of theosophist; visits to estaminet; question of formal links with RFC; move to Cambrai area prior to offensive, 11/1917; GB leave, 11/1917; opinions on situation and high command, 11/1917; period in quarry in Heudecourt sector, Somme area, 12/1918-3/1918; scavenging materials for dugout; recreations; allotment of pay to mother; retreat during German offensive, 21/3/1918; state of morale; situation and movements, 3/1918-4/1918. REEL 4 Continues: cellar billets; view of aerial activity. Aspects of period as wireless operator of 9 Sqdn, RAF attached to Headquarters, 68th Bde, RA, 4/1918-12/1918: duties visiting attached RAF wireless operators; news of Armistice at Le Cateau, 11/11/1918; leave and rejoining unit at Charleroi, 11/1918-12/1918; reads orders arranging for visit from Prince of Wales, 12/1918; reads orders for Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1918. Demobilisation, 1919. Post-war career: work as piano tuner; question of relationship between Morse code and music. Aspects of service on Western Front, 1915-1918: question of improvements to wireless equipment, 1915-1918; letters and parcels from GB; friend's service in RAF. Membership of Wireless Operators' Old Comrades Assoc, 1919-1986 and recites commemorative poem.