Description
Object description
British sapper served with 474th (1st South Midland) Field Coy, Royal Engineers on Western Front, 1914-1917.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1914: pre-war service with Territorial Army; story of being mobilized by telegram on outbreak of war, 8/1914; description of basic training; attitude to army discipline; opinion of sergeant-major; sailed from Southampton to Calais, France, 12/1914. Aspects of operations with 474th (1st South Midland) Field Coy, Royal Engineers on Western Front, 12/1914-1917: story of being shelled on train journey to Poperinghe; attached to 27th Div; problem of cold weather; transferred to 48th (South Midland) Div at Ploegsteert, 5/1915; description of chateau on top of hill; story about London Scottish soldiers advancing with bagpipes; problem of ammunition shortages; story of being gassed during Second Battle of Ypres, 4/1915; description of gas mask; moved to Albert sector, Somme, 1916; story about fight between Australian soldiers; description of artillery bombardment on Pozieres; duties reversing parapet in trenches; attitude to being under fire; amusing story about rat; story of inspecting captured German dugouts with officer; reaction to finding body of dead German; story of using body of Scottish soldier as landmark; problem of dead remaining unburied; story of sitting on dead body in trench.
REEL 2 Continues: description of 15-inch gun and 12-inch naval guns firing; marched to Peronne, 9/1916; weather conditions; problem of booby traps; duties erecting pontoon bridges; story about mine exploding in Bn HQ; description of cleaning out well; story about sapper killed by booby trap in well; story about booby-trapped piano exploding; problem of trees blocking roads; moved to Ypres sector, 1917; billeted on canal bank; description of carrying supplies up to front line on horses; problem of horses falling into shell holes and having to be shot; description of conditions in Ypres; story of being burned by mustard gas and medical treatment in France and GB; story about returning home on leave infested with lice; opinion of medical treatment at VAD hospital in Chudleigh, GB, after being gassed; amusing story about cockney soldier called Lewis.