Description
Object description
British NCO served with 8th and 7th Bns Norfolk Regt on Western Front, 1915-1918, including Battle of the Somme, 7/1916
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1914-1915: enlistment at Britannia Barracks, Norwich, 8/1914; training; posted to France, spring 1915. Aspects of operations with 8th Bn Norfolk Regt during Battle of the Somme, France, 7/1916: summary of movements prior to 1/Jul/1916; memory of preliminary artillery barrage; description of leaving trenches, c.7.30am, 1/Jul/1916: problem of German barbed wire not being cut; overheating of rifle due to rapid fire; rations; story about death of Pte Henry; establishment of Bn HQ at Montauban; burial of dead; promoted lance-corporal; description of view over Trones Wood from observation balloon; moved into Delville Wood; story of being shot in shoulder, 18/ Jul/1916; description of medical treatment at dressing station; returned to GB for further treatment. Aspects of period in GB, 1916: opinion of medical treatment at hospital in Stockport; posted back to Britannia Barracks, Norwich; convalescent camp at Shoreham; posted to base camp, Etaples, France. Aspects of operations with 8th and 7th Bns Norfolk Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918: rejoined 8th Bn Norfolk Regt; composition of 8thBn; various memories of operations in Ypres sector, Belgium; 8thBn disbanded and posted to 7th Bn Norfolk Regt; memories of German offensive, 3/1918; issued with new clothing; embussed to Albert, Somme; rations; capture of Bn HQ by Germans and loss of 18-pounder guns.
REEL 2 Continues: situation in Albert; description of advance across country; story of officer; memory of spending last night of war in nunnery; returned to GB, 19/Feb/1919; demobilisation at Thetford; story of German revolver; question of pension and state of health. [Second interview rec. 1/Nov/1980]. Aspects of period in GB, 1914-1915: repetition of previous material. Aspects of operations with 8th Bn Norfolk Regt during Battle of the Somme, France, 7/1916: problem of lice; periods in and out of line; story of faulty mine; preparations for Battle of the Somme; location in Brick Alley, Carnoy; preliminary artillery barrage; description of leaving trenches, 1/Jul/1916; memory of eating ham sandwiches for breakfast; proximity of German trenches; mine explosion; problem of wire not being ; effect of German machine gun fire; capture of German prisoners; story of taking cover in shell hole; casualties; clearing German dugouts with Mills bombs; capture of objective Montauban Alley trenches; story of dead German; problem of rifle overheating due to rapid fire; number of survivors in platoon; story of receiving rations for whole platoon; burying dead; further memories of Trones Wood and Delville Wood; memory of Scottish soldiers.
REEL 3 Continues: reaction to friend shooting surrendering Germans; repetition of previous material about being shot in shoulder and medical treatment. Aspects of period in GB, 1916: further memories of hospital in Stockport; story of trip into Manchester; duties helping on wards; amusing story of doctor; leave; opinion of convalescent camp in Shoreham; posted back to 8th Bn in France. Aspects of operations with 8th and 7th Bns Norfolk Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918: further memories of operations during Third Battle of Ypres, Belgium, 1917; story of capture of brewery at Poelcapelle; moved to Laventie, France, 1918; relieved by Americans; repetition of material from Reel 3.
REEL 4 Continues: [Third interview, rec. 25/Jun/1981]: Aspects of operations with 8th and 7th Bns Norfolk Regt on Western Front, 1916-1918: repetition of previous material and corrections; description of German lines at Montauban Alley; organisation of companies; memory of Captain Hall; opinion of company bombing officer; story of Pte Henry being found alive; strength of platoon; casualty rate; burial of friends from platoon; Lewis gun course; opinion of medical services; question of fraternisation with Germans; story of death of two Lancashire soldiers; varied regional composition of Bn; brothers' military service.
REEL 5 Continues: role of 18th Div; opinion of artillery; opinion of German trenches; opinion of French soldiers; attitude to use of cavalry; memories of Ghurkas; further description of preparations for attack on Montauban, Somme, 1916; reason for volunteering for reconnaissance missions; communications; story of estaminet at Poelcapelle, Belgium, 1917; story of pigeons; opinion of tanks; opinion of Haig.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of CO, 18th Div; comments on strategy and tactics; memory of officers wearing privates' uniform; use of yellow triangle for identification; story of sergeant-major.