Description
Object description
British private served with 12th Bn London Regt (The Rangers) on Western Front, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of training with London Regt in GB, 1915-1916: enlistment as volunteer; summary of movements; amusing story of tent on Bromeswell Heath, Suffolk; pay; passed as first class shot; story of attempting to shoot down a Zeppelin; problem of having to use outdated rifles; further training on Salisbury Plain; increase in pay for overseas service; description of voyage aboard SS Viper from Southampton to Le Havre, France, 1/1916. Recollections of operations with 12th Bn London Regt on Western Front. 1916-1918: description of train journey in horse wagons from Le Havre to front line trenches at Waly; description of trenches; proximity of Germans; German trench mortar fire; story of listening for German digging in no man's land with rope tied to ankle; comparison of conditions in front line, reserve and support; use of whale oil on feet to prevent frostbite; opinion of living conditions and rations in reserve billet and in trenches at Waly; problem of rats; withdrawal of German troops, 2/1917; story of taking over abandoned German trench, 16/Mar/1917; received food parcel from future wife; description of advance in battle order; use of German dugouts as shelter; story of rats eating cake in food parcel; rest period in Corps reserve; attached to railway construction company of Royal Engineers; opinion of rations and pay; description of demolishing ruins of station at Achiet-le-Grand; problem of heavy snow over Easter, 1917; role in operations at Fricourt and Bullecourt on Hindenburg Line, 6/1917; problem of rations and ammunition supplies; story of two soldiers killed delivering water and tea; problem of burying dead and smell of corpses; story of friend Morgan killed by sniper; reprimanded for setting up sniper post in no man's land; description of observation post; fired on by German rockets during relief; story of bath constructed in shell crater by Royal Engineers; captured prisoners after raid; Lt. Cooper awarded Military Cross; moved to Ypres sector, Belgium; wounded in thigh, 9/Sep/1917; medical treatment; story of losing sniper's rifle and ammunition; description of conditions in Steenbeek area; amusing story of rum ration; ordered not to fraternise with Germans over Christmas, 1917; casualties on Christmas Eve; story of Baptist padre; memories of Christmas Day and New Year celebrations, 1917-1918; story of collecting flowers; description of journey from Boulogne following German offensive, 3/1918; drafted into composite battalion; role in operations and helping French civilians; story of horses; rejoined 12th Bn London Regt; description of train journey to Longeau; casualties from gas attack; role in operations at Villers-Bretonneux, 24/Apr/1918; casualties; duties as stretcher bearer; description of bivouacs in quarry; story of being injured by shell blast; story of death of Bevan Harris; promoted corporal and assigned to Regimental Aid Post as medical orderly; transferred to Headquarters Company; story of American casualties during shelling; story of German machine gunner nicknamed 'Peter the Painter; description of operations, 8-9/Aug/1918; story of German POWs being used as stretcher bearers; story of sister's boyfriend; casualties and reinforcements; role in operations at Epehy, 9/1918; memory of soldier run over by tank; story of assisting in amputation; description of dugouts along railway line; story of German minefield; story of Red Cross flag; description of welcome from French civilians, 11/1918; story of burning Guy dressed as Kaiser, 5/Nov/1918; attitude to recapture of Mons by cavalry, 11/Nov/1918; death of Medical Officer from 9th Bn London Regt; sailed from Dunkirk to Dover, 2/1919; demobilised; problem of civilian clothes not fitting. Post-war life and employment in GB: amusing story of bank in Threadneedle St, London