Grice, (Oral history)

British NCO served as driver with No 2 Air Stores Park and Headquarters, 2nd Wing, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1915: served as driver with 15 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1916, served as driver 32 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1916-1917; served as driver with 5th <Reserve> Lorry Park and 5th Air Stores Park on Western Front, 1917-1918

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Wakefield, 1896-1915: education; work as motor mechanic; failed attempt to join Royal Flying Corps, 1914; training and promotion to lance sergeant with 2/4 Bn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1914-1915; transfer to Royal Flying Corps, 4/1915. Recollections of period as driver with No 2 Air Stores Park, Royal Flying Corps, Hazebrouk, Belgium, 1915: nature of stores held; use of lorry trailer to transport aircraft wings from St Omer. Period as driver with Headquarters, 2nd Wing, Royal Flying Corps, 1915: disciplinary charge; work in Topographical Section, Royal Engineers during detention period. Recollections of period as driver with 15 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Drognand, Vert Galland, Marieux and Lealvilliers, 1/1916-10/1916: question of competence of former London bus drivers on French roads; solid tyres; corduroy roads near front line; review of various vehicles used including Leyland lorry, Crossley light lorry, Crossley Tourer and motorcycles; subsequent establishment of despatch rider service, 1918; attack of trench fever; petrol tins and storage in dump; use of chamois leather when fuelling aircraft. REEL 2 Continues: laying paths on airfield; question of retrieval of crashed aircraft including problem of coming under German artillery fire; equipment carried on flight workshop lorries and quality of tradesmen fitters; racked wing trailers; move with advance party to Vert Galland, 2/1916; story of collection of extra food rations; establishing airfield; move to Marieux (Albert Doullens road); erecting aerial for wireless signals from BE2Cs on artillery observation; ground signal and klaxon horns system for ground to air communication; despatch riders. Hospitalisation and convalescence with trench fever, 10/1916. Recollections of period with 32 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Lealvilliers and Abeele, 12/1916-12/1917: question of leaving 15 Sqdn; story of assisting in unditching lorries in muddy conditions on prior arrival of 32 Sqdn at Lealvilliers, Abeele, 10/1916; subsequent immunity from influenza provided by attack trench fever; reception on joining unit. REEL 3 Continues: volunteering to collect crashed DH2 in front line area; promotion to 1st Class Air Mechanic; periods at advanced landing ground at Peronne, 4/1917-5/1917; GB leave and rejoining unit at Abeele; story of bringing out cricket gear and mixed rank cricket matches on coconut matting pitches; opinion of warrant officer; role at advanced landing ground at Peronne, ca 4/1917-5/1917; story of close escape when engine started unexpectedly on FE2B; period with officers attending Gunnery Training School, Royal Flying Corps at Caumont; story illustrating ability as driver and question of improved pay for drivers with Army Service Corps; opinion of Lieutenant C E M Pickthorn; background to inability to get commission and train as pilot due to prior disciplinary offence; re-equipment with DH5 at Caumont; view of attacks on German balloons; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1916; relationship with neighbouring units; concert parties. Recollections of period with 5th <Reserve> Lorry Park and 5th Air Stores Park on Western Front, 12/1917-11/1918: background to formation of unit; move to Nancy area; role of unit building airfields; problems in cold weather faced by Indian labourers. REEL 4 Continues: problems in cold weather faced by Indian labourers; role of unit building airfield; arrival of Independent Air Force units and various aircraft flown on bombing missions. Aspects of service with RAF in France, 1939-1940: story of delivering Christmas luxuries round radar stations, 25/12/1939; relationship with French civilians.