Marsh, Harold (Oral history)

British naval airman trained with Royal Naval Air Service in GB, 1917-1918; aircraftman served as mechanic with 4 Sqdn, RAF in France, 4/1918-11/1918; NCO served as mechanic with No 11 Service Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Shawbury, GB, 1939-1940; served with 904 Balloon Sqdn, Balloon Command at Clapham, London, GB, 1940-1941; served with RAF Bruntingthorpe in GB, 1942-1945; served with 5205 Plant Sqdn, RAF in Brussels, Belgium, 5/1945-8/1945

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1900-1914; family; education; employment as mechanic with taxi firm, 1914-1917; memories of outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914. Aspects of training with Royal Naval Air Service in GB, 1917-1918: enlistment in Royal Naval Air Service, 1917; attitude towards First World War; reaction of parents to his enlistment; basic training at Royal Naval Air Station Tregantle and Withnoe, Plymouth; description of Royal Naval Air Station Tregantle and Withnoe; story relating to venereal disease; attitude to service life and discipline; accommodation; journey from GB to France, 3/1918. Aspects of period as mechanic Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force in France, 3/1918-11/1918: initial posting to No 1 Aircraft Depot, Royal Flying Corps, Saint-Omer, 3/1918; move to Marquise near Boulogne; duties as mechanic putting engines into aircraft; posting to 4 Sqdn, RAF at Linselles, 1918; memories of Armistice Day, 11/11/1918; working conditions; hangars; accommodation; workshops. REEL 2 Continues: further details of duties at Marquise; role as engine fitter; reason for wanting transfer to transport section; duties with No 4 Sqdn, RAF; aircraft starting procedure and armaments; vulnerability of pilots and aircraft; description of various aircraft; supplies of parts; breaking up Imperial German Army Air Service aircraft at Boulogne, 1918; story of French soldier; accommodation; recreational activities; medals; demobilisation, 1919; post-war life and employment in London, GB. Recollections of operations as NCO with No 11 Service Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Shawbury, 904 Balloon Sqdn, Balloon Command, RAF at Clapham, London and RAF Bruntingthorpe in GB, 9/1939-5/1945: call-up from Training Reserve and posting to No 11 Service Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Shawbury, 1939; general duties; amusing story relating to band; posting to 904 Balloon Sqdn, Balloon Command, RAF at Clapham, London, 1940-1941; duties in charge of winches on barrage balloons; German Air Force raids; posting as acting sergeant with mechanical transport repairs to to RAF Bruntingthorpe,1942-1945; nature of duties and relations with aircrews; story of collecting belongings of dead airmen. REEL 3 Continues: daily life and living conditions. Aspects of period as NCO with 5205 Plant Sqdn RAF in Brussels, Belgium, 5/1945-8/1945: posting to squadron and duties with vehicles; VE Day in Brussels, Belgium, 8/5/1945; description of bomb damage during visit to Hamburg and Lübeck, Germany; social life and recreational activities; story of black market activities; return to GB, 8/1945; memory of VJ Day celebrations in GB, 15/8/1945.