Forrester, Harry (Oral history)

British NCO served as shoeing smith with A Bty, 296th Bde Royal Field Artillery in GB, Ireland and on Western Front, 1915-1918

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Stoke-on-Trent, GB, 1897-1914: family circumstances; education; work as driving horse and van as shop and bakers delivery boy, 1909-1912; work as coal miner, 1912-1914; background to enlistment underage despite father's opposition as driver in Royal Artillery. Recollections of training with A Bty, 296 Bde, Royal Field Artillery at Shelton Barracks and Markyate, 1/1915-4/1916: kitting out; story of fight during route march and subsequent punishment pulling GS wagon round barrack square; move to Markyate; background to selection as scout; equipment with 18pdrs; volunteering as shoeing smith/farrier and training under civilian blacksmith; story illustrating dangers of working with horse; practical test of shoeing skills; test in field skills in battery drill and subsequent promotion to corporal; lack of rifle training; status of A Bty; story of accidental breaching of sea wall during firing range practice. REEL 2 Continues: story of accidental breaching of sea wall during firing range practice; question of role of sergeant farriers in action; comradeship within gun teams. Recollections of period during Irish Rebellion/ Easter Rising, Dublin, Southern Ireland, 4/1916: difficulty in embarking horses during journey out; billets; role transporting supplies to troops in Dublin; question of artillery firing on Post Office problem of Irish sniping and story of close escape during visit to ordnance stores; initial lack of contact with Irish civilians; story of manning telephone in civilian house during exercise; lice problem on move into camp in Phoenix Park; facilities provided at Soldiers Home. Recollections of various postings in Ireland, 1916: visit to gunnery range in County Wicklow; amusing incidents during march into County Cork; move to Limerick; security precautions required due to attacks on soldiers by Irish civilians and dispute with Irish priest; marriage of soldier to Irish woman; hospitalisation with unidentified illness, 12/1916. REEL 3 Continues: hospitalisation with unidentified illness, 12/1916; shell shock cases; return to England. Period at Shenfield and Larkhill, 1/1917-2/1917: billets; story of meeting and daily letters to future wife; attitude to active service; injured knee. Voyage out to Le Havre, France, 1917: embarkation with horses; night collision with Dutch steamer in English Channel and rescue of Dutch seaman by gunner; damage and return in damaged state to Southampton; subsequent crossing in another ship. Aspects of operations on Western Front, 1917-1918: question of movements; initial gun positions at Ronsoy Wood; story of being partially buried in dugout by German shell; problems taking supplies up to gun positions under German shellfire in Ypres area; bombing by German aircraft at Poperinghe; story illustrating muddy conditions in tents at Langemarke; German shellfire at Hellfire Corner. infantry casualties in 59th Div and unit role as flying column; story of success in timing interval between German shells to take convoy through to deliver ammunition to gun positions under heavy German shellfire in Bapaume sector. REEL 4 Continues: story of success in timing interval between German shells to take convoy through deliver ammunition to gun positions in Bapaume sector; opinion of infantry and superiority of German defences; effects of exposure to mustard gas; move into forward gun positions near La Bassee Canal in Merville sector, Bethune area; story of reaction to German shellfire; story of limber with horse team falling into La Bassee Canal and subsequent rescue of horses; opinion of mules; story of being kicked in head whilst shoeing horse; role of Army Service Corps; background to promotion to sergeant farrier and stories of treating horse of chief veterinary officer; story of dispute with officer after diagnosing untreatable injury incurred by his horse; story illustrating problems with shell holes in moving guns; story of horses wounded in forward horse lines. REEL 5 Continues: story of assisting in treatment of horse with multiple shrapnel wounds; story of breaking horse's legs for burial; story of praise for shoeing horse. Recollections of German offensive and subsequent retreat in Somme area, 3/1918-4/1918: gun positions in Courcelles sector; demonstration of accordion playing; signs of imminent German offensive; role in bring guns back following German attack, 21/3/1918; role of artillery in covering infantry retreat; speed of retreat; story of rescuing guns from exposed position under heavy German shellfire; failed recommendation for Military Medal; view of German troops advancing through mist and emergency evacuation of guns; story of close escape from German shell at Bienvilliers; discovery of friend's husband's grave; direct German shell hit on sergeants' mess; discovery of French civilians in underground shelter at Bienvilliers. Aspects of advance to victory on Western Front, 4/1918-11/1918: rest period; story of getting drunk whilst celebrating sergeant's birthday in estaminet. REEL 6 Continues: story of getting drunk whilst celebrating sergeant's birthday in estaminet; story of sergeant's premonition of death; successful use of special studs inserted in horseshoes in icy conditions; German retreat; story of patrol around overnight positions; early demobilisation as coal miner, 1/1919; story of getting drunk and subsequent dismissal of disciplinary charges during Armistice celebrations at Lille, 11/11/1918; offer to remain as regular; effects of war service; question of personal morale in action; story of horse casualties from German shelling; opinion of high command; opinion of conscientious objectors. Aspects of service with Home Guard in Slip End, 1940-1945: amusing story; reaction of RAF pilots from crash landed aircraft; initial shortages of weapons, uniform and equipment; guard duties; promotion to platoon sergeant; story of role in dealing with unexploded bomb; question of platoon's military efficiency.