Description
Object description
British NCO served with 13th Bn Welch Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Wales, 1897-1915: family; story of chapel; education; employment; attitude to war; story of enlistment with South Wales Borderers and question of age; memory of white feathers being given out; reason for enlistment. Aspects of training with South Wales Borderers in GB, 1915-1916; description of basic training in Liverpool and Barrow-in-Furness; kit and uniform; drill; bayonet drill; specialist training as Lewis gunner; story of rivalry with Lancashire Fusiliers; story of overstaying leave and punishment; memory of send-off from Barrow; opinion of Military Police; question of physical fitness; opinion of Lewis gun and question of weight. Recollections of operations with 13th Bn Welsh Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918: journey to Rouen, France and posted to 13th Bn Welsh Regt; question of transportation.
REEL 2 Continues: description of role in attack on Mametz Wood, 11/Jul/1916; memory of long march and lack of rations; nature of role as second wave of attack; location of 13th Bn at edge of Mametz Wood and question of cover; question of planning of attack and objective; stand-to at 4.30am and bombardment; memory of bodies; question of morale; description of Mametz Wood and being shelled; question of danger; casualties; treatment of wounded; story of sentries and password; nature of fighting in Mametz Wood and opinion of Prussian Guard; memory of taking bath in shell crater; question of taking iron rations from dead; casualties sustained by 13th Bn.
REEL 3 Continues: question of pride in success of operation at Mametz Wood; story of attending unveiling of 38th Div Memorial at Mametz Wood, 1987; attitude to war and killing; question of fear while in Mametz Wood and religious beliefs; importance of humour; memory of nurse; opinion of Alan Clark's book 'Lions and Donkeys'; story of being commissioned in field and role in charge of Lewis gun team; story of being wounded near Cambrai, 1918.
REEL 4 Continues: story of incident with Red Cross men; description of wounds and medical treatment in field; taken by ambulance train to Le Havre and operation in French hospital; question of amputation of leg; memory of visit by Major; story of being reported killed. Aspects of period in GB, 1918: further treatment in hospital in Cardiff; story of paintings; opinion of medical treatment; opinion of chaplains; memory of Welsh troops singing hymns; discharged, 2/1919; question of pension and further medical treatment; story of not receiving commission; memory of Armistice while in hospital in Wales, 11/11/1918; reaction to end of war and celebrations; story of fellow patient; attitude to French civilians and sense of gratitude.
REEL 5 Continues: Further recollections of operations with 13th Bn Welch Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918: description of trench system; maintenance; importance of previous experience as miner; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; memory of shell landing in trench; opinion of rations and question of taking iron rations from dead; story of parcels from home; opinion of American troops; tobacco; question of ammunition supplies; sanitary facilities and memory of shell landing on latrine; story of friendly fire incident involving tanks; description of gas masks and experience of phosgene gas; effects of gas; opinion of tanks and role of infantry; story of death of friend; question of punishments in field.
REEL 6 Continues: problem of lice and rats; opinion of Bn Major and other officers; story of German machine gunners chained to guns; question of Germans using Red Cross vans to carry machine guns. Reflections on period of service; attitude to pacifism and conscientious objectors; attitude to shell shock cases.
