Description
Object description
British rifleman served with B Coy, 10th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps on Western Front, 1915-1917; POW in Germany and Belgium, 1917-1918.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of training with B Coy,10th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps period in GB, 1914-1915: story of enlistment and question of height; posted from Winchester to Blackdown, c. Jan/1915; amusing story about inspection by Lord Kitchener; attitude to wearing civilian clothes; issued with uniform, c. 4/1915; attitude to serving with King's Royal Rifle Corps; posted to Witley for rifle training, 2/1915; description of marching to camp on Salisbury Plain, 4/1915; kitted out and issued with rifle and ammunition; description of train journey to Folkestone; reaction to going overseas; problem of seasickness during voyage to France; disembarked Boulogne, France, 21/Jul/1915. Aspects of operations with B Coy, 10th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps on Western Front, 7/1915-11/1917: marched from camp at Boulogne to Elwes; story about tin of jam; slept in field; marched into line at Laventie; selected to join team of brigade bombers; story about aborted trench raid at Fleurbaix; duties carrying gas cylinders; description of trenches in Laventie sector; story about death of 2nd Lt. Cyril Mort; opinion of platoon sergeant; role as brigade bomber during Battle of Loos, 9-10/1915; description of lighting and throwing smoke bombs; attitude to fear; moved to Ypres sector, 1916; relieved A Coy after attack at St. Jean; story about shell shocked corporal; relieved Belgians in trenches at Boesinghe; story of German mortars landing in canal; description of dugouts in canal bank; moved to Somme area, 8/1916; description of Carnoy camp; duties priming bombs; story of finding letter from Cornish woman in box of bombs; description of attack at Guillemont, 3/Sep/1916; problem of Mills bombs thrown into German dugout not exploding; story of Corps Commander explaining why 16th Irish Div had been officially credited with taking Guillemont; reaction to padre choosing hymn 'Nearer My God to Thee' during church parade at Carnoy camp.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to malingerers reporting sick; story of complaining to officer about order from platoon sergeant to clear battlefield; method of carrying bombs; duties as brigade bomber; trained as signaller after bombing section disbanded; opinion of attack at Guillemont; story of taking message to company to evacuate front line trenches at Le Transloy, c.10/1916; nature of terrain; method of obtaining fresh water; description of kit and signalling equipment; story of slipping in frozen mud and returning to Bn HQ to thaw out over charcoal fire; reprimanded by RSM Solomons for leaving rifle outside dugout; description of trenches at Le Transloy; use of whale oil to prevent trench feet; opinion of rum ration; moved into line at Lesboeufs; reason for helmet being covered with sacking; story of helmet being struck by piece of shrapnel; reaction to being relieved by Bantam battalion; story of taking German prisoners in dugout; further description of trenches at Le Transloy; description of conditions in Delville Wood including problem of unburied bodies; attitude to becoming a casualty; description of attack on German post at Havrincourt Wood, 1/Apr/1917; casualties including company CO; story about death of newly drafted lieutenant after three days in action; opinion of officers; recreational and sporting activities out of line; story of shooting at German soldier.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of German dugouts at Combles; description of artillery bombardment at Pilkem Ridge; story of finding Germans had retreated to Hindenburg Line, 3/1917; description of advancing behind tanks at Cambrai, 20/Nov/1917; opinion of tanks. Aspects of period as POW in Germany and Belgium, 30/Nov/1917-11/1918: taken by train to POW camp at Dulmen, Westphalia; story of bartering for food with Russian POWs; transferred to work camp near Tournai, Belgium, 1-10/1918; billeted in convent; story about Irish nun giving food to POWs; opinion of German officer and guards; story of selling piece of soap to guards; story of eating potato peelings from waste pit; description of food parcels and sharing contents; comparison of food situation with French and Italian POWs; opinion of German POW rations; story about German NCO who spoke English; description of operation to remove cyst on backside; story about being accidentally shot in shoulder and bullet not being discovered until six years after end of war; story of being taken prisoner at Cambrai, 30/Nov/1917; story of Irish soldier giving out Woodbines at Dulmen POW camp.
REEL 4 Continues: story of going on leave in London and engagement to future wife Ethel, 1917; story of cousin being posted missing presumed killed; story of brother being badly gassed at Bourlon Wood, 30/Nov/1917; story of coming last in half-mile during battalion sports day; reason for nickname 'Nobbler'; various memories of friend Freddie Stevens serving with Machine Gun Corps; further description of attack at Guillemont, 3/Sep/1916; story of enlistment with friend Freddie Stevens into King's Royal Rifle Corps in London, 31/Dec/1914; reasons for volunteering; opinion of recruitment propaganda; attitude to serving with conscripted men. Reflections on military service and pre-war life in London, including contributions from wife Ethel.