Description
Object description
British private served with 1/7th Bn Worcestershire Regt, 144th Bde, 48th (South Midland) Div in Italy, 1/1918-11/1918
Content description
REEL 1: Background in GB, 1898-1916: family; education; employment as agricultural labourer on farm; attitude to outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914; enlistment of brothers; effect of war on farm; daily routine; wages; recreational activities.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to farm work; story of being sacked; ploughing and care of horses; opinion of food available; question of wages. Recollections of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 9/1917-1/1918: reasons for enlistment; attestment at Oakhampton, 1/1917; call-up for military service and reporting to barracks in Exeter, 9/1917; issue of uniform and problem of boots; move to Sand Hill Camp, Salisbury Plain; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; problem of cold; memories of fellow recruits; drill; physical training exercises.
REEL 3 Continues: rifle training with Lee Enfield .303 Rifle; target practise on range; opinion of Lee Enfield .303 Rifle; passing out as First Class Shot; bayonet training; care of rifle; tactical exercises; training with Mills Bomb; gas training; use of rifle grenades; story of injury to arm; daily routine; opinion of food; messing arrangements and canteen; care of uniform; guard duty; church parade; attitude to military discipline; overseas drafting and journey from Dover to Le Havre, France, 1/1918. Recollections of operations as private with 1/7th Bn Worcestershire Regt, 144th Bde, 48th (South Midland) Div in Italy, 1/1918-11/1918: description of eight day train journey to Italy; sanitary facilities; recreational activities.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of platoon officer; reason for presence of British Army troops in Italy; daily routine; memories of military band and singing songs on march; attitude to Italians; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; story of having rat bite; problem of cold; description of trench system on Asiago Plateau; daily routine in trenches; opinion of rations; canteen; story of raid on village; rum ration; stand to and sentry duty; sleeping arrangements; problem of cold; sanitary arrangements; description of being under fire.
REEL 5 Continues: problem of sand fly fever; Imperial German Army trench raid, 15/6/1918; story of aid post; duties with wiring party; daily routine in camp; raid on German positions at Asiago, 11/1918; use of boot blacking on face and equipment; use of flares; question of personal morale; rum ration prior to trench raid; opinion of commanding officer; attitude to NCOs; opinion of Austrian troops of Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army; attitude to Italian civilians.
REEL 6 Continues: further comments on Imperial German Army trench raid, 15/6/1918; Imperial German Army prisoners of war; advance into Austria and sight of dead mules; move to Taranto, Italy; incident with grenade; opinion of West Indian troops; guard duty. Aspects of period as private with 1/7th Worcestershire Regt, 144th Bde, 48th (South Midland) Div in Albania, 1918-1919: reason for transfer to Albania; duties as wagon driver.
REEL 7 Continues: billets; duties guarding British Embassy in Tirana; daily routine and guarding prisoners of war; delivering rations to British Embassy in Tirana; comparison of mules and horses; demobilisation in GB, 12/1919. Aspects of post-war employment on railways.
REEL 8 Continues: further comments on post-war employment on railways including period of Second World War, 1939-1945.