Description
Object description
British NCO served with 12th Siege Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery on Western Front, 1915-1919.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1914: story of joining Army in London, 8/1914; question of age; medical examination; story of train journey to Newhaven with older recruit called Fred Cowley. Aspects of period with Royal Artillery in GB, 8/1914-3/1915: arrival at camp; opinion of food and accommodation in tents; washing and sanitary facilities; messing arrangements; organized into squads; drill; vaccinations; posted to Dover Castle; opinion of accommodation and living conditions; duties manning 6-inch naval guns covering harbour; story of going on guard duty armed with walking stick and bandolier of ammunition; description of naval guns; problem of being unable to lift 100 pound shells; posted to 12th Siege Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery at Lydd, 12/1914; age of other recruits; accommodation; issued with uniform and kit; weekend leave, 1/1915; description of further basic training and with 6-inch and 9.45-inch howitzers.
REEL 2 Continues: amusing story about Fred Cowley and jars of jam; posted to Bristol, 3/1915; opinion of accommodation in Working Men's Home; description of unpacking and assembling new 9.2 howitzers at Avonmouth; sailed from Newhaven to Boulogne, France, 10/Mar/1915. Aspects of operations with 12th Siege Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery on Western Front, 3/1915-3/1919: marched to camp; complement of Bty; description of road journey with guns; detailed for escort duties and allocated to No. 3 gun; arrived at Locre; location of Bty at Hill 60; description of moving and setting up gun and method of transporting shells; promoted to lance-bombardier; billeted in barn on farm; story of having bath in vats at brewery; fumigation of uniforms and problem of lice; moved to Vlamertinghe, Ypres sector, 4/1915; mounted gun under large tree; story of premature shell burst destroying gun and killing all but one of team; story of finding shell casing stamped Bethlehem Steel Corporation in German shell hole; problem of second premature shell burst destroying gun; use of sandbags around gun position to reduce casualties; story of Irish soldier starting fire in barn; various memories of reinforcement drafts; brothers' war service; description of journey to camp at Bray-sur-Somme, 1916; story about seeing statue of Golden Virgin at Albert; location of guns in valley near light railway; delivery of 9.2 shells in lorries; story of digging cache for emergency food supplies; problem of using road transport for rations during winter; moved to Mametz, 7/1916; story about Prince of Wales watching guns firing; description of shelling German positions at Guillemont; problem of shell exploding in gun, 9/1916; duties filling shell holes and burying bodies; received replacement gun and relieved French battery at Combles, 11/1916; problem of weather conditions during winter, 1916-1917; story about Daily Express Christmas puddings for the troops; promoted full corporal following death of sergeant-major on Christmas Day; increase in pay; description of Combles; story about Irish soldier making pancakes using whale oil; care of feet; wounded at Vimy Ridge and admitted to hospital at Boulogne for medical treatment, 3/1917; rejoined Bty at Hill 60, Ypres Salient, 4/1917; celebrated 21st birthday at Zillebeke; story about Gunner Jefferies being court martialled for drinking entire rum ration; description of Portuguese troops fleeing from advancing Germans, 4/1918; problem of having no rifles; destroyed guns and retreated; posted to 6-inch howitzer battery; 12th Siege Bty re-formed and equipped with new guns; moved to Zillebeke until Armistice, 11/Nov/1918; destruction of German railway track by Royal Engineers; description of billets in disused factory; duties as Bty accountant and pay.
REEL 3 Continues: amusing story about chiming clock in CO's office; reason for demobilization being delayed; posted to Prees Heath camp, Shropshire, 3/1919. Aspects of period with Royal Artillery in GB, 3-7/1919: problem of shortage of gunners for guard duties; description of clerical duties in office dealing with soldiers' documents; reaction to reading Gunner Jefferies' service record; story of meeting future wife; purchased discharge from Army, c. 7/1919; opinion of War Gratuity. Comparison of First and Second World Wars. Civilian employment.