Hall, John Lawrence (Oral history)

British private served with 2/11th and 21st Bns London Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1918; served with 47th Bn Machine Gun Corps on Western Front, 1918

REEL 1 Recollections of background in GB and Canada, 1898-1915: emigration of family to Quebec; education; British identity; relationship with French Canadians; return to GB, 1914; presence amongst crowd on news of outbreak of war at Buckingham Palace, 4/8/1914; background to recruitment with 1/11 Bn London Regt, 1/1915. Aspects of training in London, Crowborough and Ipswich, 1/1915-1/1916: gradual kitting out with uniform and equipment; training with machine gun section; Zeppelin raids; coastal defence role, Various aspects of period with 21st Bn London Regt in Somme area, 5/1916-8/1916: prior journey out with draft; story of flight over lines with Royal Flying Corps, 1917. REEL 2 Continues: successful attack in High Wood, 15/9/1916, including leg wound, view of 16th Div coming out of line and effects of shell fire on wood. Hospitalisation, 1916. Aspects of period with 2/11th Bn London Regt and 47th Bn Machine Gun Corps on Western Front, 1916-1918: cold conditions; food rations; parcels and letter contact with GB; German gas shells in Arras area; gas masks; discovery of German retreat to Hindenburg Line, 3/1917; state of German POWs; story of use of machine guns against German attack; German officer's machine pistol subsequently sold to US soldier; attitude to killing with machine gun; capture of Havrincourt Wood and problems in fighting in woods. REEL 3 Continues: period in Ypres area, Belgium, 1917, including muddy conditions, failure to rescue wounded soldier sinking in mud, attack in St Julian sector, casualties and head wound from shell fire; stories of evacuation, hospitalisation and convalescence, relationship with officers; story of officer expecting salute in trenches; lice problem; visit to estaminets during rest periods; story of acting as regimental police and ejection of Australian soldier from brothel in Calais; situation on rejoining unit following wound, 1917; increases in number of machine guns and subsequent formation of 47th Bn Machine Gun Corps; story of contacts with Colonel Bernard Montgomery; defence of Bourlon Wood during German counter-attack, Cambrai area, 25/11/1917; role of tanks. REEL 4 Continues: defence of Bourlon Wood during German counter-attack, Cambrai area, 25/11/1917; effects of German gas shells; defensive action during German offensive on Flesquires, Cambrai area, 21/3/1918, including, role of Vickers machine gun crew, German preliminary bombardment, firing on German infantry attack, threat of encirclement and conditions during retreat to Albert; nature of operations during advance through France and Belgium, 8/1918-11/1918; Belgian civilian's story of behaviour of Prussian officer towards his groom; crossing canal; question of role of cavalry; story of cavalry riding across target during machine gun firing practise in GB; kitting out, 1915-1916; Armistice, 11/11/1918; story of George V falling off horse during march through Paris. REEL 5 Continues: victory marches in Paris and London; contact with Prince of Wales; reactions to Armistice, 11/11/1918; question of ammunition supply; opinion of troops of various nationalities; relationship with French civilians; fighting in woods; demobilisation. Post-war career: story of being sketched by Eric Kennington; work driving horse and cart for grocers; mental effects of war service; visits to battlefields and war graves.