Description
Object description
British NCO served with D Coy, 1/7th Bn Worcestershire Regt on Western Front and in Italy, 1916-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of training with 1/7th Worcestershire Regt in GB, 1914: story of enlistment, 8/1914; memories of annual fete at Corbett Hospital; description of training in Kidderminster and Maldon; billets. Aspects of operations as NCO with D Coy, 1/7th Bn Worcestershire Regt on Western Front, 3/1915-11/1917: posted to Armentieres sector, France; description of trenches and living conditions on Somme front; proximity of Germans; problem of corpses; nicknames for dugouts; rest periods in barns; personal hygiene; strength of battalion; background of officers; use of periscopes; snipers; discipline and punishments; moved to Hebuterne; opinion of role of Territorials at beginning of war; use of goat as battalion mascot and marching with band; preparations for Somme offensive; reinforcements; moved to Beaumont Hamel; description of artillery; in reserve on 1/July/1916; moved up line at night; description of battlefield; problem of depth of German dugouts and machine guns; length of Somme front; description of taking part in attack at Ovillers, Somme; story of friend killed by bombs; role as No 1 in Lewis gun team; death of other members of team; gallantry awards in 1/7th Bn; description of Australian dead at Bullecourt; opinion of German dugouts; moved to Martinpuich; living conditions; story of memorial cross to Durham Light Infantry; moved to Ypres sector, Belgium, 1917; terrain; story of helping dying soldier; sense of humour; story of escaping from shell hole with section; crossed Steenbeek River; story of role in arrest and punishment of soldier; comparison of casualties to Somme; sent on aircraft identification course; duties with anti-aircraft guns; returned to Somme area, France; posted with 48th Div to Italy, 11/1917. Aspects of operations as NCO with D Coy, 1/7th Bn Worcestershire Regt in Italy, 11/1917-11/1918: description of terrain around Asiago Plateau; weather conditions; nature of warfare; story of escorting senior officer to outpost at night; description of surrender of Austrian troops; comparison of living conditions with Western Front; tropical uniform; amusing story of sergeant-major falling in lake.