Description
Object description
British private served with 7th Bn Royal West Kent Regt on Western Front, 1915-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Background in East Peckham, Kent, 1894-1914: family; education; memories of the Boer War and the Russo-Japanese War; public attitude to army in early 20th century; origins of the word 'jingoism'; description of working on hop harvest in Kent.
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to outbreak of war, 8/1914; reason for volunteering; number of men from East Peckham killed during First World War; story of enlistment with Royal West Kent Regt in Tonbridge, 7/Sep/1914. Aspects of training with 7th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, 1914-1915: posted to barracks in Maidstone; opinion of living conditions in barracks; posted to Belhus Park, Essex; accommodation in tents; opinion of living conditions; problem of lack of uniforms and equipment; method of selecting NCOs; question of illiteracy among recruits; route marches and foot inspections; problem of blistered feet and punishment; state of physical fitness.
REEL 3 Continues: description of period in hospital; rifle training; story of Company Sergeant Major; posted to Gujurat barracks, Colchester; memories of Colchester; influence of Hindi on army language; story of route march and problem of thigh ulcers; opinion of General Maxse; description of divisional training on Salisbury Plain; memory of review by King George V, 7/1915; embarkation leave; description of voyage from Southampton to Le Havre, 7/1915. Recollections of operations with 7th Bn Royal West Kent Regt on Western Front, 1915-1918: description of journey to Bray-sur-Somme, France; casualties caused by accidents; daily routine; attitude to army life and discipline.
REEL 4 Continues: description of taking over French trenches near Fricourt; first impression of front line trenches; story of death of friend; reaction to loss of friends; daily routine in trenches in Fricourt area; question of awareness of progress of war; description of role as guard for brigadier and runner for Captain Fleming; story of General Maxse standing on corpse: story of assisting Captain Fleming return shell shocked men into front line during Battle of the Somme, 1916; description of burying corpses in Picquiny and Suzanne sectors; description of role as runner during Battle of the Somme, 7/1916.
REEL 5 Continues: story of section being cut off in Trones Wood; description of village of Thiepval and surrounding area during Battle of the Somme; problem of being runner in wet conditions; story of getting lost; description of damage in Montauban; story of statute of Virgin Mary in Montauban; comparison of Somme countryside in 1916 an 1918; description of role in operations during Third Battle of Ypres in Passchendaele sectors, Belgium, 1917; living conditions; problem of wet and mud; casualties among men and horses; smell of corpses; story of rescuing wounded man from drowning.
REEL 6 Continues: story of helping Captain Fleming return men to front line; daily routine in and out of trenches; description of landscape around Passchendaele; opinion of padres; amusing story of rum ration; morale; opinion of new drafts; location on east bank of River Oise, 1917; description of German offensive and retreat to Villers-Bretonneux, 3/1918; description of advance to Mons; memories of Armistice, 11/1918.
REEL 7 Continues: experience of gas and development of gas masks; description of packs for various duties; description of the Hindenburg Line; opinion of German dugouts; sanitation in trenches; problem of rats; effects of outbreak of Spanish flu; discipline and punishments; attitude of infantry to base staff; description of German artillery shells; recreational activities.
REEL 8 Continues: social life; communication with home; home leaves; demobilisation; post-war service in Army Reserve.
REEL 9 Continues: removal of bodies and weapons from battlefield; story of visiting battlefields in 1930; aerial activity on Western Front; reason for wanting to join Royal Flying Corps; multi-national composition of Allied forces; opinion of French; changes in British Army during course of war; opinion of German troops and High Command; organisation and role of Toc H.
REEL 10 Continues: further memories of Armistice, 11/1918; attitude to personal survival; reflections on First World War; reads some of own poetry relating to wartime service. Aspects of training and duties with air raid defences and Home Guard in GB, 1939-1945. REEL 11 Continues: Various reflections on First and Second World Wars.