Powell, Roger (Oral history)

British officer served as signals officer with 8th Bn Hampshire Regt in Egypt and Palestine, 1917-1918; trained as pilot with RAF in Egypt and Palestine, 1918

REEL 1: Background in GB: family; education; memories of Boer War; reaction to outbreak of First World War, 8/1914. Aspects of training with Inns of Court OTC and 8th Bn Hampshire Regt in GB, 1915-1917: story of joining Inns of Court OTC after leaving school and description of training; story of move to 8th Bn Hampshire Regt and description of training, 1915-1917; reason for not being posted overseas; opinion of training; description of journey to Egypt via France and Italy, 1917. Aspects of operations as signals officer with 8th Bn Hampshire Regt in Egypt and Palestine, 1917-1918: description of role as signals officer; Turkish offensive in Suez Canal area; co-operations with Royal Flying Corps and problem of ground signals; description of operations during Third Battle of Gaza, 10-11/1917; preparations and preliminary artillery bombardment. REEL 2 Continues: strategy of battle; description of operations at Beersheba; problem of snipers; memory of Australian cavalry; description of terrain in Gaza; story of German colony in hills; morale; story of oranges; locations of camps; question of treatment of native troops by Allies, Germans and Turks; further description of role of signals officer; problem of rain hampering supplies; rations and transport; memories of General Allenby and T E Lawrence; story of Arabs playing games with English sovereigns; trade in currency. REEL 3 Continues: Aspect of training as pilot with RAF in Egypt and Palestine, 1918: story of transferring to RAF, summer 1918; problem of lice and delousing in Cairo; description of training as pilot and comparison of flying characteristics of various aircraft; comparison of casualties in Palestine and on Western Front; continuation of training following Armistice, 11/11/1918; further comments on Third Battle of Gaza.