Description
Object description
British NCO served with 1/4th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers on Western Front, 1914-1915, and with West African Frontier Force in East Africa, 1916-1918.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of operations with 1/4th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers on Western Front, 11/1914-1/1915: enlisted with Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 19/Feb/1912; volunteered for overseas service on outbreak of war, 4/Aug/1914; disembarked Le Havre, France, 5/Nov/1914; story about Bn sending representative party to St. Omer following death of Lord Roberts, 14/Nov/1914; problem of German snipers; description of Princess Mary's Christmas gift box; opinion of Retreat from Mons; took over French trenches in front line, 12/1914; duties as corporal in charge of quarter guard; use of dugout as Guard Room; story of being wounded with brother by shell explosion at Givenchy, 25/Jan/1915; medical treatment; problem of feet being frozen; description of conditions in trenches; admitted to No. 14 General Hospital, Boulogne; returned to GB aboard HMS Victory and disembarked Southampton. Aspects of period in GB, 1915-1916: description of medical treatment at military hospital in Liverpool; promoted sergeant and appointed drill and musketry instructor for 4th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers in GB; daily routine and duties; story of being prevented from joining draft to Dardanelles; volunteered for transfer to King's African Rifles; posted to West African Frontier Force. Aspects of operations with West African Frontier Force in East Africa, 1916-1918: posted as colour sergeant to Sierra Leone; accommodation at Tower Hill Barracks and in bungalow on river; problem of malaria; description of duties training Sierra Leone Carrier Corps.
REEL 2 Continues: Further aspects of operations with 1/4th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers on Western Front, 11/1914-1/1915: opinion of Lewis gun; opinion of rations; story of cutting hand while opening tin of bully beef; story about soldier shooting himself in the foot; relations with French civilians; question of some French civilians spying for Germans; opinion of French soldiers; description of La Bassee Canal; story of being knocked over by recoil from Royal Garrison Artillery gun; problem of not being able to take off boots; proximity to German trenches; problem of French troops making noise when taking over trenches; story of capturing German advanced post; conditions in trenches; opinion of Kitchener's Army and training; eating utensils; wiring parties. Further aspects of operations with West African Frontier Force in Sierra Leone, 1916-1918: opinion of Gen. von Lettow-Vorbeck; story about lion; further comments on duties with Sierra Leone Carrier Corps; story about soldier taking overdose of veronal; story of being taken ill on voyage back from Port Amelia.