Description
Object description
British NCO served with 12th Bn York and Lancaster Regt (Sheffield Pals) in Egypt and on Western Front, 1915-1918; officer served with North Staffordshire Regt on Western Front, 1918
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period with 12th Bn York and Lancaster Regt (Sheffield Pals) in GB, 9/1914-12/1915: story of enlisting with friend at recruiting office in Sheffield, Yorkshire; drafted into newly formed Sheffield Pals Bn; continued to live at home during basic training; issued with blue uniform and cap; pay and allowances; drilled with broomsticks; description of accommodation in huts during winter, 1914-1915; posted to camp at Cannock Chase, 5/1915; reason for joining signals section; posted to Ripon Camp to form Bde, 7/1915; issued with pith helmets; description of voyage from Devonport to Alexandria, Egypt, 12/1915. Aspects of operations with 12th Bn York and Lancaster Regt (Sheffield Pals) in Egypt, 12/1915-3/1916: entrained to Port Said; attached to 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Bde (Mysore Lancers) guarding Suez Canal; description of train journey to Marseilles, France; relations with colonial troops. Aspects of operations with 12th Bn York and Lancaster Regt (Sheffield Pals) on Western Front, 3/1916-1918: initial training in trench warfare; reaction to first fatality; opinion of Prussian Guards; attitude to atrocity stories; problem of latrines being targeted by Germans; moved into trenches at Serre, Somme; role as signaller during first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1/Jul/1916; location of signals post at John Copse; description of first and second waves advancing and casualties; HQ moved back into Observation Wood; description of helping wounded back from no man's land during night; opinion of strategy during Battle of the Somme; casualties in 12th Bn; attitude to army discipline; reaction to loss of friends; moved to Vimy Ridge sector; billeted with family; description of night raid on German strongpoint.
REEL 2 Continues: story of singing hymns over unburied skeletons of men killed on 1/Jul/1916; moved to Ypres sector; story of collecting fish from lake at Dickebusch to eat for breakfast; posted to Officer Cadet School in Oxford, GB; amusing story of drilling Australian and New Zealand soldiers; commissioned into North Staffordshire Regt; story about leave in Paris. Aspects of operations with North Staffordshire Regt on Western Front, 1918: role in operations during Second Battle of the Marne, 7-8/1918; story of being wounded and evacuated to American Base Hospital; opinion of medical staff and treatment; story about American Army doctor committing suicide; story about death of friend on 1/Jul/1916; further comments on suicide of American Army doctor; description of medical treatment in GB; posted to Bn HQ in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; story about meeting former employer; promoted captain and seconded to Scottish Rifles in Invergordon; story of celebrating Armistice, 11/Nov/1918; further description of being wounded and medical treatment; story about Zeppelin raid while on home leave in Sheffield; duties playing the organ for church services; story of taking crucifix as souvenir; opinion of padre Frank Ford; religious beliefs; story about German POWs in Marseilles.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Germans; story of being reduced to the ranks for being improperly dressed; story of singing song 'Wandering the King's Highway' with Bn concert party; further comments on playing the organ.