Description
Object description
British private served with 2nd Bn Royal Hampshire Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1917-1918; served with occupation force in Germany, 1918-1919; served with Allied Intervention Force in Russia 1919; served in Egypt, 1920-1921
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Liverpool, 1896-1917: family; education; employment in Liverpool and Birmingham; attitude to outbreak of war and question of volunteering for military service. Aspects of training with 2nd Bn Royal Hampshire Regt in GB, 1917-1918: description of training at camps in Crowborough and Ipswich; story of move to France, 1/1918. Recollections of operations as private with 2nd Bn Royal Hampshire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918: further training and move up to front line trenches at Ypres, Belgium; description of role in attack on Hill 63; daily life in and out of line; story of helping wounded friend back to HQ and reprimand; story of friend shot by sniper; relations with officers; opinion of rations including cigarettes and rum; story of Armistice celebrations with Belgian family, 11/1918; description of living conditions in trenches; problem of lice and delousing.
REEL 2 Continues: communications with home; attitude to Germans during and after war; description of role in action against farm; attitude to death; opinion of medical services; story of contracting influenza, 1918; recreational activities. Aspects of period with 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt in Germany, 1918-1919: story of march over Hohenzollern Bridge into Cologne; memory of finding chickens for Christmas dinner; impressions of Germany and relations with civilians; story of German sisters; description of billets in hotel; reason for volunteering for service in Russia, 1919. Aspects of period in GB, 1919: description of Crowborough camp and mixed units; opinion of camp commandant Colonel Sherwood-Kelly and story of beer running out. Recollections of period with Allied Intervention Force in Russia, 1919: description of journey to Murmansk and Archangel, 4/1919; description of Archangel; story of loading barges and three day journey up River Dvina; memory of warships damaged by mines.
REEL 3 Continues: further description of journey up River Dvina and arrival at HQ in Pinega; description of landscape; story of Colonel Sherwood-Kelly refusing to send men into action; opinion of Allied intervention in Russia; memory of White Russian forces; story of acquiring new uniforms; amusing story of stealing milk from farm; returned to GB, 12/1919. Aspects of period in Egypt, 1920-1921: description of journey to Egypt via Constantinople; memory of grounded troopships in Dardanelles; description of daily life and duties in Sidi Bish camp, Egypt; demobilization, 1921. Aspects of employment aboard SS Mauritania. Reflections on period of military service.
