Description
Object description
British sapper served as signaler and wireless operator with Royal Engineers Signal Section attached to 35th Div and Second Army on Western Front, 1917-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Stratford-upon-Avon, GB, 1891-1916: education; training and employment as telegraphist with Post Office; volunteered and rejected for military service, 1914; volunteered for army, 10/1916; medical board and graded B1; story of dispute with Post Office over pay; attitude to female workers in Post Office; duties as telegraphist, Aspects of training with Royal Engineers in GB, 1916-1917: description of basic training in Birmingham and Fenny Stratford; attitude to army life and discipline; description of signals and wireless training at Newport Pagnell and Malvern, Worcester; question of extra pay as signaller; story of rations; type of equipment; description of journey from Southampton to Le Havre, 6/1917; posted to camp in Rouen. Aspects of operations as signaller attached to 35th Div on Western Front, 6/1917-3/1918: attached to 35th Div in Poperinghe sector, Belgium; conditions in trenches; problem of trench feet; medical treatment and convalescence at Etaples camp; memory of Christmas 1917; transferred to convalescent camp at Trouville and duties with camp post office; description of medical treatment for trench feet; living conditions in camp; posted to Royal Engineers Signal Depot, Rouen. Aspects of operations as wireless operator attached to 2nd Army on Western Front, 3-11/1918: posted to 2nd Army Observation Group at Le Transloy, 3/1918; posted to Wireless/Telegraphy HQ at St Justin, 4/1918; nature of duties as wireless operator with mobile Heavy Motor Lorry Section; story of fishing in river.
REEL 2 Continues: description of duties sending and receiving messages between GHQ and Corps HQ during advance with Field Marshal Haig's train, 4-10/1918; story of intercepting German signal requesting Armistice, 22/Oct/1918; story of visit by Marshal Foch; question of security of messages; codes and call signs; monitoring German messages and location of Zeppelins; opinion of working with French; memory of seeing Haig riding on horse escorted by lancers; story of erecting wireless station in snow storm; billets in house; memory of Christmas 1918; contracted flu and returned to GB, 1919; demobilisation, 3/1919.Post-war employment with Post Office.