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Object description
British officer served with 7th Bn King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt) on Western Front, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Story of being commissioned and posted to Gallipoli; contracted typhoid and returned to GB aboard SS Mauretania; posted to France, 1916. Aspects of operations with 7th Bn King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt) on Western Front, 1916-1918: story of being wounded in head by sniper and paralysis of left arm; reaction to being left for dead by British and Germans; rescued by friend and returned to GB for 3 months leave; reaction of other officers on return to battalion; appointed second-in-command of Company; story of assuming command of Company after CO wounded at Ypres, 31 July/1917; story of being awarded the Military Cross after assuming temporary command of battalion during Third Battle of Ypres, 1917; story of being awarded Bar to Military Medal for role in action at Givenchy, 4/1918; attitude to trench warfare and casualties; opinion of German trenches; description of trenches and dugouts; problem of trench foot; personal hygiene; rotation in and out of line; contracted dysentery, 9/1918; reaction to news of Armistice, 11/Nov/1918; posted to Brussels for year; attitude to rank and preference for serving as Company commander; reaction of CO to arrival of two captains; attached to Royal Engineers; strategic importance of Givenchy; reaction to arrival of US troops.
REEL 2 Continues: Various recollections of war service and civilian life.