Description
Object description
British officer served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt on Western Front, Apr-Nov/1918
Content description
REEL 1: Background in GB: opinion of senior commanders during First World War including Haig; opinion of Lloyd George; problem of dyslexia; father's employment as civil engineer in India; various memories of period as pupil at Malvern College including school reports, members of staff and other pupils.
REEL 2 Continues: further comments on Malvern College; story of attending Cheltenham Art College while on leave from Army during 1920s; comparison between regulars and conscripts; comradeship within own battalion; opinion of cavalry; story illustrating snobbery at Sandhurst; opinion of Anthony Farrar-Hockley; importance of leadership; joined 3rd Bn Gloucestershire Regt after leaving Sandhurst; opinion of 8th Bn Gloucestershire Regt under command of Carton de Wiart; command structure in Gloucestershire Regt; description of Gloucestershire Regt cap badge; army organisation.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt on Western Front, Apr-Nov/1918: story of returning from leave on day of Armistice and celebrations in Amiens, 11/Nov/1918; story of returning to GB to collect Regimental colours; description of marching into Germany with colour party; reaction to end of war; morale in Bn on arrival, Apr/1918; role as Bn intelligence officer; description of trench system; story about Cpt. Claude Templer and reaction to his death during night raid, 6/1918; importance of taking prisoners to gather intelligence; story of leading night attack on German strongpoint and capturing dugouts; description of German dugouts; hit on knee by piece of shrapnel; story of disagreement with senior Canadian officer prior to attack; attitude to survival; story about newly arrived officer killed by shell; updated maps arrived daily; description of sleeping arrangements; story of spending night in abandoned ambulance; opinion of Army Postal Service; story about drawing books being lost during war.
REEL 4 Continues: description of duties as Army Liaison Officer in GB and Welfare Officer with Caribbean Regt in Egypt during Second World War; story of meeting with Australian Tunnelling Coy during night at Noeux-les-Mines; description of 70 foot deep mine crater; story of captured German field glasses saving life when fired on by German aircraft; reason for leaving Army after 19 years' service. Post-war studies in art and typography.