Description
Object description
British private served with A Coy,1/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and on Western Front, 1915-1917
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Salford, Manchester, GB, 1914: mobilisation at Cross Lane Barracks on outbreak of war, 4/Aug/1914; marched to Turton Camp; volunteered for overseas service; sailed from Southampton to Alexandria, Egypt, 9/1914. Aspects of operations with A Coy,1/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers in Gallipoli, 5-12/1915: ammunition supplies; description of landing on W Beach, Helles and advance up Gully Ravine, 5/May/1915; issued with two sand bags; problem of losing pack; story of dead soldier under tree; rejoined 1/8th Bn on beach; role in operations during Turkish attacks at Krithia; moved along deep communication trench leading to front line; story of soldier hit in face by shell; blown up by shell but not injured; opinion of Lee Metford rifle; story of two Turks surrendering to officer; description of bayonet charge by small number of men against Turks; death of Lt. Lodge; number of bullet holes in trousers; capture of Turkish trench; support from Anson Bn, Royal Naval Division; danger from Turkish snipers.
REEL 2 Continues: story of being shot in head by sniper, 15/Jul/1915; application of field dressing; taken by horse ambulance to marquee on beach; evacuated from beach under shelling from 'Asiatic Annie'; shell hit ammunition dump; conveyed by lighter to destroyer; taken aboard destroyer in rope net and sailed to Lemnos; description of terrain at Helles; opinion of Turkish artillery; story of three day voyage aboard hospital ship to Malta; manned concealed machine gun on ship; bombardment of Krithia by HMS Majestic; opinion of tactics used against Turks at Gallipoli; proximity of Turkish trenches; use of wire netting to prevent bombs landing in trench; spades and pick axes employed as weapons in hand to hand combat; arrived at hospital in Malta; reaction to death of friends; returned to Gallipoli, 8/1915; problem of cold weather; persistent smell of corpses; description of three dead Turks and dead Scottish soldier; problem of flies landing on food.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of operations with A Coy, 1/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers in Egypt and Palestine, 1/1916-2/1917: story of crossing Suez Canal on barge at El Kantara; story of colonel guarding well at El Katia; marched on wire mesh road across desert; attacked Turks with Australian troops; shower bath; story of taking message at night guided by stars and chance encounter with Turkish patrol; comparison of British and Turkish weapons; further memories of Gallipoli, 1915.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 9/1917-1918: transferred to Hanworth Park Hospital, Fulham London; relations with nurses; story visit from Lady Hamilton; hobby of embroidering regimental badges; description of treatment for leg wound; diagnosed unfit for active service; further treatment and convalescence at Heaton Park, Manchester; story being wounded at Frezenberg, 3/Sep/1917; attitude to nature of wound.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations with A Coy,1/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers in Egypt, Gallipoli and on Western Front, 1915-1917: story of first visit to brothel in Cairo; attitude to use of prostitutes; recreational activities; reaction to death of Scottish soldier; story of finding soldier crucified on water cart in Gallipoli; story of shooting at German planes in France; story of bullet hitting helmet; living conditions in Ypres, Belgium; story of setting up machine gun post at night in no man's land and praise from colonel; reaction to death of Col. Fallows.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Gurkhas; method of capturing trench and making loophole out of ammunition boxes; extreme right of British line; story of hearing woman's voice singing in Turkish trench; casualties caused by Turkish snipers; opinion of Australians at Gallipoli; rest periods in reserve; story of burying body of officer; further comments on Turkish snipers; use of trench periscope; slept on firing step or on floor of trench; question of careless behaviour leading to casualties in trenches; memory of swimming in sea at Suvla Bay; story of Scottish friend; operations with Australian Mounted Infantry in Sinai.
REEL 7 Continues: daily routine in trenches; stand to; attitude to corpses in and around trenches; repetition of story about head wound and treatment; story of finding gravestone with own name; machine gun team hit by shell; story of being wounded in foot and treatment at Canadian CCS; in hospital at Etaples during bombing raid; returned to GB, 9/1917; further treatment in Hanworth Park Hospital, London; memories of Zeppelin raid; story of hospital visit and gift of cigarettes; reason for refusing promotion to sergeant and removal of stripes; duties as army lecturer.