Williams, Edmund G (Oral history)

British NCO served with 19th Bn, King's Liverpool Regt in GB and Western Front, 1914-1918; POW in Germany, 1918

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Formby, 1894-1914: family circumstances; education at Merchant Tailors School, Crosby; detailed description of duties as chemist at Sir Benjamin Johnson's dyeing and cleaning works, including review of processes employed, relationship with workers and working conditions; studying chemistry at Bradford Technical College. REEL 2 Continues: recreations; pneumonia attacks; question of joining territorials, awareness of international situation and approach of war; importance of religion; reaction to view of mobilised troops at Gloucester station on outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; background to Lord Derby's recruitment appeal in Liverpool, 9/1914. Recollections of recruitment with No 4 Platoon, A Coy, 19th Bn, King's Liverpool Regt in St George's Hall, Liverpool, 5/9/1914: reactions of employers and family; prior rejection as territorial; medical. Initial training in Sefton Park, Liverpool, 9/1914-1/1918: absence of uniforms. Recollections of conditions of service, daily routine and training at Knowsley Park Camp, Liverpool, Belton Camp, Grantham and Larkhill Camp, Salisbury Plain, 11/1914-: hut accommodation; canteen facilities; question of lack of privacy and religious observance; question of army discipline and story illustrating NCOs methods in handling dissent. REEL 3 Continues: question of nature of discipline and reactions to case of No 1 Field Punishment; uncle's ?? after knee injury and subsequent service with local militia group; food rations; morning routine; training session; bugle calls; question of recreational visits to Liverpool and civilian reaction to length of training in contrast to territorial battalions; visits to Knowlsey Theatre; cinema shows; origins of recruits; brother's service with unit; attitude to gambling; painting activities; recreations during leave in Formby; delays in issue of uniform and equipment. REEL 4 Continues: drill including story of officer's inadequate word of command and role of Guards drill instructors; route marches including songs sung and care of feet; importance of maintaining medical health of recruits; nature of kit inspections; rifle training including importance of maintenance. REEL 5 Continues: rifle training including firing range, rapid fire practise, handling drill and results of firing course; nature of bayonet training; minimal use of rifles in trenches; question of British attitude to digging dugouts; night and tactical exercises; question of relevance of training to trench warfare; question of gas masks; story of VD lecture; cooking practise; range finder demonstration; state of morale; opinion of officers; identity as 'pals' unit. REEL 6 Continues: move to Belton Camp, 4/1915; complaints over quality of food rations and question of stolen food; canteens; bayonet fencing; cross country runs; ignorance of conditions on Western Front; move to Larkhill Camp, 9/1915; conditions of service; role on posting as wagon brakeman with Water Squad in Transport Section, Headquarters Coy including methods of filtration and chlorination of water, reasons for volunteering, nature of water cart, varying methods of filling water tank and methods of testing for poisoned water; story of eating plums poisoned by zinc in cooking container; embarkation leave; personal morale. REEL 7 Journey out to Boulogne, France, 11/1915: destroyer escorts; personal morale and ignorance of conditions on Western Front; recites unit marching song; story of carrying company cash box up hill to St Martin's Camp. Periods at Buigny L'Abbaye, Vinecourt and Prouville, 11/1915: method of drawing water from wells; cases of soldiers defrauding French civilians; collecting water cart from railhead; question of acclimatisation to active service conditions; sketching activities; brewery baths; unfriendly reception from French civilians due to pregnancy of epileptic woman attributed to previous British troops; barn billets and rat problem; testing Vinecourt well water for metal poisoning; cigarette ration; problem with Prouville billets; relationship with French civilians; opinion of French beer; boredom. Period of instruction attached to 7th Bn, Warwickshire Regt at Fonquevillers, Somme area, 12/1915: prior period in tents at Colincamps; personal morale on move into line. REEL 8 Continues: personal morale on move into line; reaction to first experience of German machine gun fire whilst bringing up water cart; reactions to devastated state of Fonquevillers and interpretation in painting; shell shortage; practical trench instruction; situation and terrain; billet; question of role of Water Squad; background to trench lines established by French troops, 1914; question of homesickness and religious observance at Christmas, 25/12/1915. Recollections of conditions of service and daily routine during period in billets at Bray sur Somme whilst unit occupied front line in Carnoy sector, 1/1916-6/1916: prior movements; story of cows kept and milked by front line troops; wet and cold conditions; role taking water from well and nightly drive up to front line. REEL 9 Continues: cleaning water carts; relationship with drivers; description of nightly journey with water cart to front line including route taken, sheltered position taken up, role using water cart brake, issuing water to cooks, problems controlling horses and introduction of siphoning technique to speed up unloading of water; question of siphoning water from trenches; question of cleaning petrol cans for use in water transport; story of extra trips to front line to allow officers baths; close escape from German sniper illustrating lack of experience; use of storage tank; question of regularity of trips; recreations; letter and parcel contact with GB; question of scavenging for food; question of relative safety in rear areas. Description of activities painting water-colours, 1915-1918: painting materials. REEL 10 Continues: painting materials; method of sending paintings home; question of punishment if detected; reactions of ORs; question of personal motivation and choice of subject; hidden presence of war in landscape paintings; preliminary pencil sketches; attention to composition of painting; painting from visual memory; lost paintings after capture, 1918. Recollections of operations in Somme area, 7/1916-8/1916: reserve role in Maricourt sector, 1/7/1916; story of taking up water cart and subsequently paining water colour of scene; prior postponement of attack; strength of British artillery; firing French 75mm gun; question of impact of rumours of uncut German barbed wire on morale. REEL 11 Continues: question of casualties and progress of offensive; water cart hit by shell; unit attack on Trones Wood, 8/7/1916; nature of fighting water supply arrangements under supervision of medical officer; comparison of educational background of volunteers and regular soldiers; General's speech at parade of 89th Bde on moving out of line and state of morale; rest period in former front line; attack on Guillemont, 30/7/1916. REEL 12 Continues: story of getting lost following move into Carnoy Valley, 30/7/1916; effects of German shelling; excess food rations due to casualties; subsequent change in character of unit and consequent defensive role. Recollections of period in Givenchy sector, Bethune area, 8/1916-9/1916: nature as quiet sector; painting water colour of view from billet in former observation post; story of near hand grenade accident; situation in front line; water supplies; question of subsequent introduction of stand pipes into front line. Aspects of period in Somme area, 10/1916: question of use of tanks; situation in Albert; opinion of failed attack carried out by 89th Bde in Gueudecourt sector, 12/10/1916; role guarding supply dump at Flers; story of Highland piper playing on move up into front line; story of view of group of staff officers escorting Prince of Wales in Trones Wood;. REEL 13 Continues: story of view of group of staff officers escorting Prince of Wales in Trones Wood; bivouacs built from 18pdr shell boxes; role taking water in petrol cans up to supply dump; temporary posting to guard brigade supply dump at Flers; return to unit; question of Australian shells dropping short; opinion of failed attack carried out by 89th Bde in Gueudecourt sector, 12/10/1916; method of filling water carts, chlorination process, method of cleaning former petrol cans and use to carry water; question of culture of stealing between units; question of supply of former petrol cans; opinion of Australian, Canadian and Indian troops; opinion of Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Service Corps and base troops; lack of contact with women; reports of brothel in Bethune; careless talk warnings; effects of casualties and consequent reinforcements drafts on character of unit. REEL 14 Continues: effects of casualties and consequent reinforcements drafts on character of unit; stories illustrating nature of good and bad officers; deterioration in relationship between officers and ORs by 3/1918; opinion of deteriorating quality of reinforcements drafts; story of digging reserve line shallow trenches as NCO in charge of brother's section illustrating sympathetic approach as NCO, 3/1918; relationship with NCOs and officers; question of religious beliefs, story of attending communion service at Maricourt, 4/1916 and post-war disillusionment; role on promotion to corporal in charge of water squad; question of unreliable ORs under German shell fire. REEL 15 Continues: period in reserve near Albert; railway guns; shooting down of German aircraft. Recollections of period at Bienvillers and Berles sector, Arras area, 11/1916- ???: quiet nature of sector and minenwerfer fire; tactical situation; effects of wet conditions; attempts to improve billets and scavenging activities; relationship with front line troops; comradeship; GB leave, 12/1916, including delays during journey back, lice problem and subsequent prevention measures for soldiers going on leave, question of civilians' ignorance of conditions on Western Front and return a day late; parcels from GB; food rations and question of effect of German submarine warfare, 1916-1917. REEL 16 Continues: question of supplementing food rations; parcel and letter contact with GB; rest period in Doullens sector, 1/1917-2/1917, including question of tactical exercises, cold conditions, story of fire at concert party performance in barn, nature of concert parties, gambling games, divisional sports, visits to estaminets and question of continuation of routine duties and discipline; dilution of quality of water squad with soldiers considered unfit for front line. Period in Arras area, 2/1917-5/1917: situation at Agny. REEL 17 Continues: Agny billets; superiority of German trenches; brother's interest in wildlife in No Mans Land; nature as quiet sector; period at casualty clearing station with attack of trench fever; question of effect of German submarine warfare; advance following German retreat to Hindenburg Line, 3/1917, including danger of booby traps, German scorched earth policy, open warfare conditions, absence of poisoned wells and illustration of testing procedure, story of brother's dispute with officer; billets in Arras; painting damage to Arras Cathedral; water supply; fear of German shell fire whilst entraining at Arras Railway Station. Recollections of period in Ypres area, 5/1917-1917: situation; brother's attitude to service in Ypres area; transport arrangements and battalion supply dumps at Zillebeke; pervading state of tension; journey up to Hooge sector with water and organisation of traffic. REEL 18 Continues: journey up to Hooge sector with water under German shell fire; strategic situation; effects of capture of Messines Ridge; daily routine; water carried in former petrol cans and arrangements for distribution in front line; story of helping rescue soldiers from German phosgene gas shell fire in response to firing of battery of 18pdrs firing at night; prevailing smell of gas; preparations for Messines and Ypres offensives; story of close escape from German shrapnel shell fire on convoy of supply wagons whilst passing through Ypres at night; state of Menin Road; question of route selection; difficulty in locating unit in new positions, 31/7/1917; reports of attack on Hill 60, 7/6/1917; unit move into positions in Hooge sector, 31/7/1917. REEL 19 Continues: strategic background to Ypres offensive; move into positions in Hooge sector, 31/7/1917; weather conditions; journey bringing water supplies up with mules to new positions in Hooge sector, 31/7/1916; personal morale; comparison of conditions with Somme area, 1916; reactions to German corpses; muddy conditions and close escape from long range German shells during journey back to billets; hut accommodation; latrines; food rations; rest period and issue of new water cart; period in Kemmel sector, ca 8/1917-12/1917; dug in tents; routine duties; painting British barrage from Mount Kemmel; use of former German pillboxes in Messines Ridge sector and German shell fire; water supply from stand pipe; German shell fire on water party. REEL 20 Continues: visit to brother in forward positions in F Copse and subsequent reports of Corporal Adolf Hitler's presence in sector; ground conditions and shell hole front line; story of journey to test spring water in dugout tunnels in Sanctuary Wood sector; comparison of British and German military competence; hut accommodation in Kruisstraathoek sector; Christmas celebrations at Renninghelst, 26/12/1917, including story of cooks' error in making rum punch, and question of cases of ORs' over-familiar with officers. Recollections of period in St Quentin-La Fere sector, Somme area, 1/1918-3/1918: situation and quiet nature of front line along River Oise; background to decision to apply for commission and consequent return as corporal to A Coy to gain front line experience; question of lack of experience of open warfare conditions. REEL 21 Continues: situation and quiet nature of front line along River Oise; method of approach during patrol of front line observation posts; role commanding Lewis gun post at Travecy; move to St Quentin sector, 2/1918; nature of former French trenches; story of firing gas shells using pre-prepared mortars; success of German counter-battery fire, 21/3/1918; hut accommodation whilst digging reserve trenches and taking over platoon deliberately falling behind in quota to be dug; failure to complete reserve lines; question of imminent German offensive and innovatory tactics employed; special rifle training sessions to improve skills during breaks in digging reserve trenches and story of investigation after bullet nearly hit brigadier; story of prior success in practice shoot on 25 yard range. REEL 22 Continues: rifle shooting ability; question of recreations and issue of pay; reactions to imminent German offensive and issue of 'no retreat' orders; question of state of unit morale; move into divisional reserve, 18/6/1918-20/3/1918, including extra food purchased following pay parade and preparations for immediate action. Recollections of operations during German offensive in St Quentin sector, 21/3/1918-22/3/1918: move up into reserve positions at Vaux; buying and cooking eggs; story illustrating inexperience of officers; move into positions on hill in front of Vaux; quiet situation; view of deployment of battery of 18pdrs; food rations; overnight move to occupy reserve trenches near Roupy; account of counter-attack on Roupy at 01.15, 22/3/1918, including prior briefing, lack of effective preliminary barrage, personal morale, equipment carried, move into shallow jumping off trench and situation. REEL 23 Continues: account of counter-attack on Roupy at 01.15, 22/3/1918, including situation, issue of extra ammunition, initial difficulty in finding path through British wire, state of morale, approach to Roupy cemetery, discovery that German troops had evacuated village; misty conditions, inadequate nature of intended reserve line trenches, discovery of German machine gun post in old trench and retirement; nature of defensive dispositions; account of beating off German attack on Roupy at 06.30, 22/3/1918, including opening rapid fire alongside brother, enfilade German machine gun fire and reaction to successful rifle shooting against German soldiers; beating off further German attack; question of neighbouring units; German shell fire on retreating British troops; question of casualties and isolated position; exchange of fire with German snipers and soldiers in Roupy; shortage of ammunition following spells of rapid fire; isolated position; brief period of unconsciousness following hit from glancing bullet on forehead; medical treatment; confused state and determination to fight on; crawling along trench; surrender to German storm-trooper patrol. Recollections of initial period in concussed state as POW in St Quentin sector, 3/1918: carrying wounded German officer. REEL 24 Continues: carrying wounded German officer; isolated situation; searching British corpses for brother; moving back behind Roupy, reactions to British machine gun fire; reception from party of German troops; view of German troops and transport; medical treatment for head wound; German artillery; view of RAF reconnaissance aircraft; assisting in carrying wounded British NCO back to St Quentin; forcible removal of leather jerkin by German soldier; carrying wounded German officer; drinking erstatz coffee; fatigue; reaction to meeting brother in St Quentin, 23/3/1918; question of medical treatment of head wound; march in column to Landrecies. Period at Landrecies Transit Camp, ca 3/1918: food; theft of valuables during delousing; question of escape. Initial period in Germany, 4/1918: reception from German civilians; vaccination in quarantine camp; conditions during train journey; question of German casualties 21/3/1918-22/3/1918. Period at Langon Solzau and Mersberg POW Camps, 4/1918-11/1918: nature of camp; dysentery problem; food; medical treatment of head wound from French medical personnel in camp hospital; move to Mersberg POW Camp. REEL 25 Continues: interrogation by German officer; story illustrating effects of severe hunger on ill trained troops; nature of Mersberg POW Camp; hut accommodation; Russian and French POWs; camp layout; latrines; bedbug problem; playing mandolin; lack of contact with German guards; bartering with Russian and French POWs; money sent from GB; use of camp money; value of chocolate; exclusion from work parties as NCO; acting as French interpreter and assisting in running sick parade at camp hospital; attack of dysentery; question of food parcels; food; Red Cross parcels and story of bartering tinned cabbage passed off as jam; exchange of food between POWs; treatment for dysentery. REEL 26 Continues: treatment for dysentery; effects of influenza epidemic, 10/1918-11/1918; morning routine and roll call; passing between compounds; camp uniforms; sharing food with French POW; German reaction to progress of war; effects of German revolution and reaction to speech from German civilian, 11/1918; departure of German guards, 12/1918; attack by Russian POWs on German quarters and British huts, 12/1918; waiting for brother to return to main camp from work party; visits to Mersberg; organisation of repatriation; leaving camp and rail journey to Netherlands; story illustrating attitude of British POWs to German guards. Voyage back to GB, 1/1919 Demobilisation, 1/1919. Post-war career: controversy over civilian treatment of General Gough and Fifth Army; question of effects of war service and period as POW; background to studying science at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.