Description
Object description
British private served with 6th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on Western Front, 1914-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of operations with 6th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on Western Front, 1914-1918: story of being gassed at Delville Wood, Somme, France, 7/1916; medical treatment at Casualty Clearing Station and in hospital at Camiers; returned to GB and further hospital treatment in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; discipline in battalion; tour of duty with company commander in saps on Ypres Salient, Belgium; story of inexperienced young officer leading night patrol into German wire; attitude to self-preservation; story of going Absent Without Leave to find brothers during Battle of Loos, 1915; arrested on return to battalion and sentenced to loss of three day's pay by colonel; story of being detailed for firing squad but not required; attitude to execution of deserters and shell shock cases.
REEL 2 Continues: further comments on execution of deserters and shell shock cases; opinion of discipline in British Army; accustomed to discipline with Boys' Brigade, at home and in school; duties as runner delivering messages between units; importance of self-discipline; story of unconventional NCO in Bn who refused commission and was killed leading his men on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1/July/1916; story of capturing German machine gun and taking prisoner; further comments on being detailed for firing squad; casualties during capture of machine gun; story of being asked by officer to obtain German rifle as souvenir; use of searchlight from artillery as signal to retire from action; wore white camouflage over uniform in snow; further comments on capture of German machine gun; attitude to pardons for executed deserters and inclusion of names on war memorials; story of Regimental Sergeant-Major directing artillery strike onto German flamethrowers. Various memories of recent meetings with politicians and royalty and telegrams from the Queen.