Pratt, Harold Ernest (Oral history)

British private served with London Rifle Bde in GB, 1917-1918; served with 56th Bn Machine Gun Corps on Western Front, 1918-1919; served at 10th Corps HQ with Army of Occupation in Germany, 1919. Served as NCO with Watford Home Guard, 1939-1940.

REEL 1: Background in London, 1899-1917: family;education; memory of airman Graham White; reasons for joining army. Aspects of training with London Rifle Bde and Machine Gun Corps in GB, 1917-1918: basic training and reasons for transferring to Machine Gun Corps; training at Clipstone Camp, 4/1918; description of training on Vickers machine gun and role as number two in team; opinion of Vickers. Aspects of operations with 56th Bn Machine Gun Corps on Western Front, 1918-1919: attitude to going to France; description of Machine Gun Corps depot at Camieres and drafted to 56th Bn; reason for firing on fixed targets; memory of journey from Folkestone to Boulogne; further description of depot at Camieres; transferred to front line in Arras sector; memory of attempts to shoot down German planes; problem of gas detection;description of life in trenches; night operations including manning listening post. REEL 2 Continues: description of gas shells at Arras, 1918 and effects of gas; treatment in field hospital;attitude to fear. Aspects of period as clerk at 10th Corps HQ, Germany with Army of Occupation, 1919: nature of duties; relations with German civilians; question of disability pension. Aspects of period as NCO with Watford Home Guard, 1939-1940 including training and weapons.