Description
Object description
British private served with 1/7th (Robin Hood) Bn, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) on Western Front, 1915-1917, and with Tank Corps on Western Front, 1918
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1895-1915: family background and education in Nottingham; employment; joined Territorial Army, 1912; mobilized in Nottingham on outbreak of war, 8/1914; training in Harpenden and Braintree; inspected by Lord Kitchener before embarkation; marriage; opinion of Cpt. Spalding and other officers; nicknamed Midge; posted to France, 2/1915. Aspects of operations with 1/7th (Robin Hood) Bn, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) on Western Front, 2/1915-1917: living conditions in trenches; story of witnessing liquid fire attack on King's Royal Rifle Corps at Hooge, 7/1915; story of being wounded in back at Lens and death of friend Yorkie; occupied reserve trenches in Sanctuary Wood; reaction to use of liquid fire by Germans; relieved by 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters and bivouacked at Vlamertinghe; problem of lice; story of making alterations to new pair of trousers.
REEL 2 Continues: story about Divisional CO ordering men to rest; story about death of Pte. Truman at Loos; story of throwing bombs and tin of bully beef; sandbags; method of listening for German tunnellers; story about soldier receiving Blighty wound in leg; wounded in knee; role in operations during Battle of Loos, 9/1915; problem of gas blowing back into own trenches; further memories of Pte. Truman; story about King George V falling off horse during parade; rum ration; carried bombs to Lt. Vickers in haversacks; description of trench raid at Gommecourt; attitude to use of mustard gas and liquid fire; conditions in trenches; duties at advanced listening post; wounded in back by shrapnel, 12/1915; duties guiding reinforcements into line; description of wounds and medical treatment in GB; posted to 3rd (Reserve) Bn, Sherwood Foresters; story of volunteering for Tank Corps and training at Bovington Camp, Dorset; posted to Portsmouth for six week cooking course with Royal Navy.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of operations with Tank Corps on Western Front, 8-11/1918: advanced through St. Quentin; memory of seeing Zeppelins; description of tank crew and duties; reaction to receiving news of Armistice, 1/Nov/1918; speed of tank; discontent of men over delay in demobilization; problem of POWs escaping; reason for early demobilization; question of not receiving pension; reflections on period of military service; story of shell landing on Cloth Hall, Ypres; story of bathing in canal at Zillebeke; problem of water tasting of petrol; opinion of rations; repetition of story about being wounded at Lens; story about soldier killed using periscope to fire rifle; POWs; description of general duties including wiring parties and digging trenches; pay; description of conditions in Sanctuary Wood and Ypres; problem of looting; story about friend being punished by patrolling no man's land at night alone.