Description
Object description
British NCO served with 13th, 1st and 10th Bns Rifle Brigade on Western Front, 1915-1917
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period with B Coy, 13th Bn Rifle Brigade in GB, 8/1914-7/1915: joined up, 16/Aug/1914; story of enlisting with Rifle Brigade at Winchester, 1/Sep/1914; description of living conditions at Alton Park Camp; opinion of RSM; various memories of officers in B Coy; opinion of billets in High Wycombe, 11-12/1914; posted to Salisbury Plain; opinion of Bn CO Lt. Col. Pretor-Pinney; posted to France, 7/1915. Aspects of operations with B Coy, 13th Bn Rifle Brigade on Western Front, 7/1915-7/1916: description of bayonet training under Col. Campbell; moved to billets in Armentieres; opinion of pay; duties building light railway from Armentieres to Seven Trees Fort; story about German sniper; description of trenches at Seven Trees Fort; relieved French troops in line at Hannescamps; proximity to German trenches; duties with brigade patrol; story about German-speaking soldier eavesdropping on Germans in trenches; description of trench weapons; story about clubbing German soldier to death during brigade patrol; method of cutting German wire and nature of German trench system; description of French dugouts and gas alarm; use of paraffin to boil kettle; description of carrying and burying gas cylinders; problem of gas blowing back onto own troops; duties in officer's kitchen at chateau; description of journey on London bus to Albert, Somme, 1916; absence of civilians in town; story of soldiers helping themselves to beer and having party in street; moved into front line at La Boisselle; description of bodies of Scottish soldiers still hanging on barbed wire; story of returning from Albert carrying tin of biscuits on head; story about shell killing two soldiers in trench and burial of bodies; description of attack at Contalmaison, 10/Jul/1916; casualties including large number of officers; wounded in kneecap.
REEL 2 Continues: story about death of stretcher bearer named Saunders; description of journey back to England. Aspects of period in GB, 7/1916-1/1917: admitted to Salford Infirmary, Manchester; story of falling down stairs; moved to hospital in Whitworth, Rochdale; story of visiting barber's shop in Rochdale owned by hangman John Ellis; story about having tea with Mr. Nuttall; opinion of Matron at Whitworth Hospital; posted to 5th Bn Rifle Brigade on Isle of Sheppey; volunteered for cooking course in Brighton; duties as cook on farm; posted to 1st Bn Rifle Brigade in France, 1/1917. Aspects of operations with F Coy, 1st Bn Rifle Brigade on Western Front, 1/1917-4/1917: comparison between 13th and 1st Bns Rifle Brigade; joined 1st Bn at Corbie; description of Lewis gun training; story about South African officer in 13th Bn; description of march to Arras, 4/1917; rations, story of being shot in leg during attack at Longueval, 9/Apr/1917; description of medical treatment at Casualty Clearing Station and at hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent; posted to 10th Bn Rifle Bde, c.7/1917. Aspects of operations with B Coy, 10th Bn Rifle Brigade on Western Front, 7-11/1917: story about meeting with Col. Trout; description of mustard gas shelling at Passchendaele and modification to gas mask; moved to front line at Ypres; story about Sgt. Phillips giving away position of guns during interrogation by Germans; attitude to executions for cowardice; description of crossing the Steenbeke on duckboards; story of refusing to take section through wood.
REEL 3 Continues: story about Cpt. Blake being shot in head; description of advancing up hill; story of life being saved by company runner; story of refusing to obey order from unknown officer; role in charge of two Lewis gun teams; story of conversation with South African officer about cricket; description of firing on party of Germans; problem of heavy rain; story of being surprised by advance party of Yorkshire Light Infantry; description of artillery barrage at Langemarck; casualties in Lewis gun teams; reaction to being offered bottle of rum by officer; posted to officers' school as Lewis gun instructor; story about cricket match with the Guards at Proven; story about officer with shell shock; advanced to 15 Ravine at Cambrai; story of accompanying 2/Lt. Tennyson to study replica of German trenches at Gueudecourt in preparation for attack; story of being wounded at 15 Ravine and given lift in staff officer's car, 11/1917. Aspects of period in GB, 1917-1918: admitted to Lord Derby's War Hospital, Warrington, GB; transferred to Whitworth Hospital, Rochdale; story of being sent by doctor to convalescent hospital in Sutton Coldfield and qualifying as PT instructor.