Description
Object description
British private with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, 4th Guards Bde and 6th Bde, 2nd Div on Western Front, 11/1914-2/1916; served with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, 118th Bde, 39th Div on Western Front, 2/1916-2/1918; served with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, 116th Bde, 39th Div and 112th Bde, 37th Div on Western Front, 2/1918-11/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Meldreth, GB, 1893-1914: education; employment as farm labourer. Aspects of period with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, East Midland Bde, East Anglian Div in GB, 1912-1914: enlistment in Territorial Army at Royston, 11/3/1912; training; effects of Haldane Reforms on British Army, 1912; prior recollection of celebrations at end of Boer War, 31/5/1902; reaction to outbreak of First World War and mobilization, 4/8/1914; further training including musketry; training with horses and as driver; importance of horse transport; loading horses onto troopship, 5/11/1914; reaction to news of retreat from Mons, Belgium, 8/1914; journey to and arrival in France, 5/11/1914. Recollections of operations as private with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, 4th Guards Bde and 6th Bde, 2nd Div on Western Front, 11/1914-2/1916: role with horses during First Battle of Ypres, Belgium, 11/1914; problem of lack of protection against head wounds and gas; role during Battle of Neuve Chappelle, France, 3/1915; shelling and advancing infantry blown up by mines.
REEL 2 Continues: sight of refugees on French/Belgian border; opinion of German Army; visit to front by Prince of Wales; Christmas 1914 and receiving Queen Mary's Christmas box; role during Battle of Loos, France, 9/1915-10/1915 including opening artillery bombardment and casualties; question of role of cavalry including 9th Hodson's Horse; opinion of medical services; description of cemeteries; gas attack in Ypres Salient and question of protection, 4/1915; opinion of Generals John French and Douglas Haig; reaction to death of horses. Recollections of operations as private with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, 118th Bde, 39th Div on Western Front, 2/1916-2/1918: preparations for Somme Offensive, 1916; dugouts; opinion of rations; rum and cigarette ration; washing and sanitary facilities; problem of lice and delousing procedures; communications with home; relations with officers; role during Battle of the Somme, France, 7/1916 including sight of infantry going over the top, casualties and opening artillery bombardment.
REEL 3 Continues: further details of role during Battle of the Somme, France, 7/1916 including delivery of rations and ammunition at night; Imperial German Army night-time bombing raids; question of German preparations for war; living conditions during winter months on Somme, France; receiving home leave; question of casualties from Meldreth area, GB; opinion of American troops; role during Third Battle of Ypres, Belgium, 1917 including conditions, problem of mud, use of wooden tracks and shelling; story of delivering ammunition in daylight; comments on Third Battle of Ypres, Belgium. Aspects of operations as private with 1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt, 116th Bde, 39th Div and 112th Bde, 37th Div on Western Front, 2/1918-11/1918: Imperial German Army offensive at Saint Quentin, France, 3/1918; nature of retreat and loss of supplies and equipment; question of morale; memories of Armistice, 11/11/1918; relations with French civilians; question of survival and death of friends.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude to being one of the 'Old Contemptibles'; question of being awarded Mons Star; demobilisation, 1919. Aspects of post-war life and employment: question of finding employment; memories of service in 1914; reflections on military service and importance of comradeship.