Description
Object description
British gunner served with Royal Artillery in Gallipoli, Turkey, 1915; private served with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Frodsham, Cheshire, 1896-1914: family; daily life and living conditions; recreational activities; religious beliefs; activities with Boy Scouts; story of enlistment with 8th Bn Cheshire Regt, 8/1914; training; attitude to army life and discipline; problem with eye; transferred to Royal Artillery; posted to Gallipoli, 1915. Aspects of operations as machine gunner with Royal Artillery in Gallipoli, 1915: description of voyage to Gallipoli; question of adequacy of training; problem of heat and flies; supported Australian attack; role in firing into communication trench; attitude to fear; defensive position; blown up by shell; injuries including temporary loss of sight; returned to GB for medical treatment; description of living conditions on Gallipoli.
REEL 2 Continues: memory of Suvla Bay area; attitude to loss of friends; posted to 1st Bn Cheshire Regt. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918: story of German mine at Arras; description of position in mine crater; story of German patrol; description of embussing at Arras and journey to Somme area; description of engagement in Longueval sector; memory of Smudger Smith; question of fear; story of rings on severed hand; story of section attack on German trenches; casualties.
REEL 3 Continues: description of role in attack on farm near Angle Wood; rum ration; memory of human flesh dropping on face; description of leaving trenches and crossing No Man's Land; story of taking rations to front line; amusing story of celebrating 20th birthday; description of role in attack at Morval; story of rum; opinion of high command and officers; story of amusing incident at Vimy Ridge.
REEL 4 Continues: description of conditions in trenches at Vimy Ridge; story of wounded sergeant; story of fraternisation with Germans, 23/Dec/1916; attitude to living conditions; removal of dead and wounded; story of contracting trench fever; posted to Chelsea Barracks as instructor; attitude to drill..