Robinson, Harry Pettit (Oral history)

British private served as stretcher bearer with 1st East Anglian (88th) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB and Gallipoli, 1912-1915; served with No 72 Base Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps on Western Front, 1917-1919

REEL 1 Background in Ipswich, 1895-1914. Recollections of service with C Section, 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, 1912-1914: recruitment, 1/1912; maintaining territorial training on move to London, 1/1914; medical training and examinations; pay; methods of treating wounds, acting as assistant to officers during surgical operations, labelling of serious casualties and location of advanced dressing station during period in Gully Ravine, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, 1915; question of approach of war; mobilisation during annual camp at Berkhampstead Park, 4/8/1914. Periods at Ipswich, Romford, Glemsford and Bury St Edmunds, 8/1914-11/1914: requisitioning horses, transport and medical stores to complete equipment establishment; renumbering as 88th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps and transfer to 29th Div, 12/1914; billeting at home and daily routine; colonel's speech on leaving Ipswich, 8/1914. REEL 2 Continues: colonel's speech on leaving Ipswich, 8/1914; conditions of service in billets during march to Romford, 8/1914; route marches; relationship with officers and NCOs; uniform and story of cutting trousers down to shorts at Gallipoli; territorial status and story illustrating desire to stay with unit; movements; pay assessment duties; exchange of unsuitable personnel with 2nd East Anglian, Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps and inspection by staff prior to transfer of unit to 29th Div. Recollections of voyage on Aragon and Allaunia to position off Gallipoli, Turkey, 4/1915: story illustrating poor food ration. REEL 3 Continues: improved conditions on transfer to Allaunia; story of regular soldiers stealing rations; prior knowledge of destination; effects of seasickness; route; period ashore in camp at Alexandria; period at Mudros, Lemnos, 4/1915. Voyage with advanced party of unit aboard HMS Agaememnon during approach to Gallipoli, 24/4/1915-25/4/1915: hospitality from sailors; sleeping on deck. Recollections of landing with detachment of C Section at S Beach, Helles, 25/4/1915-28/4/1915: transfer to trawler; view of Allied bombardment of Turkish positions and Turkish reply; move into Narrows; transfer into lighters; landing under shell fire; view of attack by 2nd Bn, South Wales Borderer's to capture de Totts Battery; situation; personal morale; types of wounds; absence of Turkish machine guns; opinion of Turkish troops; giving first aid to wounded in situ. REEL 4 Continues: situation; story of coming under machine gun fire and use of Turkish lookout post as shelter; arrival of French troops; voyage on trawler with East Anglian crew to W Beach, ca 28/4/1915; opinion of French troops. Recollections of period at Helles, 4/1915-8/1915: landing and reception on rejoining main unit at W Beach; situation on W Beach; rotation of sections between advanced dressing station, base and rest; duties as stretcher bearers; story of close escape from shell dropping short from British monitor; fly problem; bivouacs; gradual decline in state of health; story of being refused permission as sick to move with unit to Suvla, 8/1915. Evacuation by hospital ship to GB, 8/1915: belief destined for Imbros; reaction. Recollections of period at Helles, 4/1915-8/1915: water supply; letter and parcel contact with GB. REEL 5 Continues: story illustrating importance of mail; illustrative stories of unit characters and their nicknames; range of duties; appearance and state of uniform on reception as casualty at Bristol, GB; treatment of casualties and inspirational example of wounded New Zealand officer. Treatment for exhaustion in South Mead Hospital, Bristol, 8/1915-10/1915. Recollections of period as pay corporal at Royal Army Medical Corps Depot, Halton Camp, 1916-1917: prior movements; extra leave; story of strict drill sergeant; circumstances of selection for service as infantry overturned on appeal to MP due to RAMC status. Period at RAMC Depot, Blackpool, 1917: conditions of service; gas training with phosgene. Recollections of period as administrative sergeant with No 72 Base Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps, Trouville, 12/1917-3/1919. REEL 6 Continues: journey out; situation; duties preparing administrative returns for hospital; arrangements for reception of convoys of wounded; average length of hospital stay; POW ward under guard; POW camp at Trouville; POW parcels; question of demobilisation following armistice, 11/1918; story of vindication in dispute with sergeant major over missing parade; production of unit magazine, 12/1917; demobilization, 29/3/1919. Post war employment.