DeptName
Documents

IDNO
2791

OtherNumber
86/51/1

ItemName
Private Papers of G V Sharkey

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Detailed ms account (144pp based on contemporary notes) of his experiences as a Chief Petty Officer serving with the RN Armoured Car Division (attached 29th Division) covering his voyage to Egypt via Malta and Lemnos in HMT INONKA (March 1915), manoeuvres there and on Skyros, the bombardment of Bulair and landings at Gaba Tepe and Cape Helles in which he participated with graphic descriptions of the slaughter at Gallipoli and interesting references to atrocity stories, attitudes to the enemy and to the Allies, to trench conditions and being under fire and accounts of the Third Battle of Krithia and the action at Gully Ravine (April - July 1915); a brief resume of his service at Suvla Bay and in Egypt, August - November 1915, and a more detailed record of his service with the RNACD in North Africa on manoeuvres and patrols and during skirmishes with Arab tribesmen, November 1915 - January 1916. Also sketches, notes and the identity discs of 6 fallen RNACD comrades.

MakerName
Sharkey

Forenames
G V

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1697

OtherNumber
87/56/1

ItemName
Private Papers of A D Chater

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
15 interesting and informative ms letters, 8 of them photocopies, to his girlfriend and mother relating to his mobilisation and service as an NCO in the 28th Battalion London Regiment under training near London, August-October 1914, and his subsequent service as a subaltern in the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders (7th Division) on the Western Front, December 1914 - March 1915, including very graphic accounts of conditions in the trenches and his Battalion's participation in the Christmas Truce and references to the severe wounds which he sustained in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, together with a ms letter from a family friend describing his treatment at Lady Hadfield's Anglo-American Hospital in Wimereux and photocopies of an article and presscutting concerning the surgical treatment of his jaw wound and a ts autobiographical note on his life and military service. Chater's early letters give an educated man's reaction to Britain's entry into the war and the possibility of active service.

MakerName
Chater

Forenames
A D

Style
Captain

RelatedIWMItems
See DPH Q 112881

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
695

OtherNumber
91/3/1

ItemName
Private Papers of E Beer

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
A most interesting series of ms accounts (24pp, in French) by Edmond Beer and his two brothers who served as grenadiers in the Belgian Army at the start of the First World War, written in a family album whilst convalescing in Newmarket in early 1915, describing their participation in the defence of Belgium against the invading German forces during August - November 1914, including their part in defending the two forts of Wavre Ste Catherine, Anvers (Antwerp) and Waelhem, Malines (Mechelen), with vivid descriptions of trench warfare and of coming under enemy shell-fire during the siege of Antwerp (September - October 1914) and the Battle of the Yser (October - November 1914), in which two of the brothers were wounded and subsequently evacuated to the United Kingdom; the accounts, often highly emotional in tone, include graphic descriptions of death and wounding in the trenches, and of executions by firing-squad.

MakerName
Beer

Forenames
E

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1182

OtherNumber
91/19/1

ItemName
Private Papers of G Colbeck

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Photocopy of an excellent illustrated ts memoir (230pp written ca 1990), including extracts from his diary, of his service as a sergeant with the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment en route, in HMT CANBERRA (April - May 1982), to, and in the Falklands (May - June 1982), giving extremely good analyses of his motives, emotions, attitudes, morale and psyche, and the effect on them of the approach and experience of combat, airing thoughts on the enemy, the action of surrendering, survival, being wounded/maimed/killed, and being a professional soldier, with good descriptions of the landing and consolidation of positions at San Carlos, the action to take Mount Longdon (12 - 13 June), conditions in the trenches and on the march, and the scenes in Port Stanley after the Argentinian collapse, the whole showing a welter of esprit de corps, intelligence and balance; together with a printed minefield trace, Port Stanley (12 July 1982) and photocopies of ts intelligence and information summaries (March - April 1982 7pp) issued by the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment.

MakerName
Colbeck

Forenames
G

RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR (DPH/DPB)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
3608

OtherNumber
85/23/1

ItemName
Private Papers of A Anderson

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Well written ms account (95pp) of his service as a private with the 2/9th Battalion Royal Scots training and on guard duty in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dundee (Seaplane Station at Broughty Ferry, Tay Bridge and the docks) and Selkirk (October 1914 - April 1916) and then on active service with the 1/9th Battalion Royal Scots (51st Division) in France at Vimy Ridge (April - July 1916) and Beaumont Hamel/High Wood on the Somme (8 - 25 July 1916), containing outstanding descriptions, particularly of his first and later experiences of life under fire and in the trenches, of trench raids, of the German attack on Vimy Ridge (21 May 1916) and of various aspects of civilian and military life near the front line. Together with a notebook containing ts notes and excellent hand drawn technical illustrations (117pp) made during Artillery and other Army instruction courses, 1917 - 1919, and a folder of certificates and official papers relating to his military service in both world wars.

MakerName
Anderson

Forenames
A

Style
Major

RelatedIWMItems
See also ART and DPH (Q115127-31)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
4580

OtherNumber
96/12/1

ItemName
Private Papers of F Meisel

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Photocopy of a ts account (80pp), in English, written some time after the war by a German who served in the 371st Infantry Regiment during the First World War, describing his experiences as a schoolboy in Berlin at the outbreak of war in 1914 and the initial patriotic fervour (particularly on the part of his teachers), his enlistment into the German Army in late 1917 and active service on the Western Front, with particular reference to the Spring Offensive in 1918 and the final months of the war; the narrative is of limited use with regard to battles and locations, but provides a vivid (if sometimes melodramatic) account of life in the trenches and in combat, the relations between men and officers, looting, and the growing discontent and incidents of insubordination amongst the troops after the failure of the Spring Offensive. Together with a ms letter (6pp) written by Meisel to a friend in 1980, in which he describes episodes from his imprisonment as a US Air Force prisoner of war in German hands during the Second World War.

MakerName
Meisel

Forenames
F

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
5526

OtherNumber
96/36/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J S Barker

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
6 ms letters (20pp, March - December 1915) written to his wife while serving initially with the Field Force Engineers, 12th Indian Division, in India and Mesopotamia (March - August) and subsequently (November - December) as Field Engineer to the 6th Indian Division during their retreat from Ctesiphon to Kut al Amara, plus a long ms diary letter (75pp, December 1915 - April 1916, with 75pp photocopy) describing in detail the siege of Kut with his initial optimism degenerating to give a gloomy but interesting account of events and conditions with useful references to the lack of food and his changing diet, the shooting and eating of horses, the serious flooding of the trenches and his gradual decline in health; together with 2 brief ts telegrams from Kut, a ms letter to his wife (2pp, 1 June 1916) from a fellow officer concerning Barker's safety, a Red Crescent prisoner of war postcard (25 July 1916), a letter (4pp, 7 August 1916) and 2 postcards (January 1917) sent whilst a prisoner of war at Kastoumi camp in Anatolia describing his living conditions and the long journey by rail, donkey and on foot from Mesopotamia, 3 ms letters from Smyrna and Alexandria (November 1918) following his release and describing the prison camp, his frustration at the delays in his return home, the locals in Smyrna, and his voyage on the hospital ship ASSAYE to Egypt, and 3 ms letters (December 1908) regarding an inspection of the Lob road around Moghul Lot on the North West Frontier.

MakerName
Barker

Forenames
J S

Honours
MVO

Style
Lieutenant Colonel

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
5530

OtherNumber
96/29/1

ItemName
Private Papers of S A Knight

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Very interesting ms diary (35pp) with ts annotated transcription (68pp) covering his service as a Private with the 1/1st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company (7th Brigade, 3rd Division) on the Western Front (January - July 1915), written in an atmospheric staccato style and including his journey to France, the base camp at Rouen, almost daily details of life in billets at Locre, his first turn in the trenches at Spanbrock Moelen and his ensuing experiences of trench conditions and warfare, a spell in the convalescent camp at Rouen due to rheumatic sickness (March - May), the move of the Brigade to Ypres and the offensive made to extend the line at Hooge (16 June) where he received a head wound, giving excellent notes on this offensive, on going 'over the top', his journey back to the dressing station and subsequent evacuation to hospital in Chelsea, London. Together with the diary are 30 jocular and observant ms letters (29pp) and postcards written to his sweetheart in Hampstead, London (January - June 1915) showing his first impressions of France and his enjoyment of army life; his Officers Service Book covering his later active service as an officer with the North Somerset Yeomanry (November 1915 - March 1919); a full portrait photograph of him in uniform; 2 ts accounts containing anecdotes about dugouts and trench conditions (32pp); and various miscellaneous papers, including printed copies of Bruce Bairnsfather cartoons, Second World War newspaper adverts, and a printed commemorative napkin for the royal review of discharged soldiers at Hyde Park (November 1918).

MakerName
Knight

Forenames
S A

Style
Lieutenant

RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR (DPB)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
7943

OtherNumber
99/13/1

ItemName
Private Papers of A J Rixon

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts transcription (49pp) of an excellent diary, March 1915 - January 1916, recording his service as a Company Sergeant Major with the 1/18th Battalion London Regiment TF (London Irish Rifles) (141st Brigade, 47th Division) on the Western Front, including his embarkation overseas, active service at Festubert, Givenchy and Maroc, his wounding at the Battle of Loos (September 1915) of which he gives a detailed description, recovery from his wounds in Taplow, Buckinghamshire (October 1915), service with the 3rd Battalion at Tadworth, Surrey (October 1915 - January 1916) before he re-embarked for France, and with comments on his love for his wife and children and his worries for their well-being if he is killed, trench conditions, "chasing rats as big as kittens" (April 1915), food, his off-duty entertainment, enemy shelling and sniping, relations with his officers and the French inhabitants, the accumulation of casualties, an inspection by Sir John French (March 1915), the "live and let live" agreement with the Saxons (April 1915), the death by sniping of the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General G C Nugent (May 1915) and the arrival of his successor, later General Sir William Thwaites, rumours of his own death (June 1915), the arrival of Kitchener's New Armies (July 1915), and home leave in London (August 1915). Also included are a photocopy (1p) and a transcription (1p) of his ts obituary in THE POST, the fortnightly journal of the Fawcett Association, November 1917, and a ts letter (1p) from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, September 1998, giving details of his death at the age of 33 in April 1917 and his commemoration on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

MakerName
Rixon

Forenames
A J

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
12383

OtherNumber
02/29/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J A Johnston

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Excellent word processed ts memoir (153pp plus appendices and illustrations) covering 1915 - 1918 and recording his service with the Machine Gun Section of the 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade (111th Brigade, 37th Division) on the Western Front, being briefly attached to the 34th Division for the Battle of the Somme (July - August 1916), describing his enlistment and training on Salisbury Plain, inspections by HM King George V, his embarkation for France (July 1915), relations with the French civilians, his journey to the front and service in the line at Hannescamps (September 1915), Berles-au-Bois (February 1916), La Boisselle (July 1916) and Calonne near Lens (September 1916), gas training and attacks, the workings of a machine gun section and trench warfare, his billets and living conditions, receiving news of his brother’s death in action, patrols into No Man’s Land and trench raids, Christmas celebrations, aerial warfare, communication with the Germans, recreational visits to estaminets and the cinema, involvement in the Battle of the Somme (July 1916), the devastation of the Somme battlefield at La Boisselle and the prevalence of corpses, going ‘over the top’ in an infantry attack, the hunting of rats, involvement in the Battle of the Ancre (November 1916) and the attack on Beaucourt during which he was wounded in the leg and evacuated by London bus and hospital train, his treatment in the 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport, before evacuation back to the United Kingdom (February 1917) for medical treatment in hospitals in London and Leeds, and then his transfer to the RAF (March 1918) for clerical duties in the UK.

MakerName
Johnston

Forenames
J A

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
327

ProductionDate
1974

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Fagence, Victor E xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London <Battersea Park>
GB, England & Aldeshot, Hants <Albuehra Barracks>
GB, England & Shoreham by Sea, Sussex < Convalescent Camp>
GB, England & Northampton, Northants
FR
BE
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders
BE & Scottish Wood, West Flanders
BE & Battle Wood, West Flanders
BE & Ypres/Comines Canal, West Flanders
BE & Reninghelst, West Flanders <Alberta Camp>
BE & St Eloi, West Flanders
BE & Dickebusch, West Flanders
BE & Messines Ridge, West Flanders
BE & Messines Ridge, West Flanders <Damstrasse Strongpoint>

IndexUnits
GB.A & Surrey Regt, West, Bn 1
GB.A & Surrey Regt, West, Bn 10
GB.A & Surrey Regt, West, Bn 12
GB.A & Surrey Regt, West, Bn 11
GB.A & Bde, 123
GB.A & Bde, 124
GB.A & Bde, 19
GB.A & Bde, 100
GB.A & Div, 41
GB.A & Div, 33
GB.A & Barracks, Albuehra, Aldershot
GB.A & Camp, Alberta, Reninghelst, Belgium
GB.A & Royal Army Medical Corps & Convalescent Camp, Shoreham by Sea

ShortSummary
British private served with 10th, 12th, 11th and 1st Bns Royal West Surrey Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1915-1919

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of training with B Coy, 10th Bn Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt at Battersea Park, London and Albuehra Barracks, Aldershot, 12/1915-5/1916: reasons for volunteering; uniform; drill; bayonet drill and question of relevance; experience of NCOs and officers; trench construction. Aspects of period with 12th Bn Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt at Northampton, 5/1916-12/1916: question of underage status and age required for active service overseas; reduced medical category.
REEL 2 Recollections of operations with 11th Bn Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt in front of Messines Ridge, Ypres area, Belgium, 12/1916-4/1917: journey out to join unit at Alberta Camp, Reninghelst, 12/1916; description of route into front line in St Eloi sector including first experience of German shell fire at Scottish Wood and ignorance of communication trenches; front line relief system; sniper problem; wet conditions and use of trench waders; rat and lice problems; cold conditions; lack of sleep; stand to.
REEL 3 Continues: night sentry duty; food rations; water supply; ration parties; differing nature of German shellfire on front and support lines; carrying parties; working parties building trenches under supervision of Royal Engineers; question of small arms fire reaching reserve trenches at Dickebusch; dugouts; opinion of Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery; cold conditions.
REEL 4 Continues: cold conditions and use of whale oil to prevent trench feet; heavy German shellfire during attempted raid by neighbouring 10th Bn Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt, 2/1917; German high velocity shells; shellfire in open ground; background to selection as Lewis gun ammunition carrier; role of Lewis gun team members; weight of equipment and ammunition carried during attack on Messines Ridge, 7/6/1917; role of Lewis gun Number One. Preparations for Battle of Messines, 4/1917-6/1917: tactical training during rest period at Houlle, 4/1917; battlefield models.
REEL 5 Continues: battlefield models; plan to capture Damstrasse strongpoint; tunnelling operations. Recollections of attack on Messines Ridge, 7/6/1917: move up and organisation of attack into waves of infantry; temporary suspension of artillery bombardment immediately prior to zero hour at 03.10; personal morale; attack across No Man's Land; difficulties with German barbed wire; capture of Damstrasse strongpoint; digging new front line trench; digging forward Lewis gun post and story of accidentally coming under fire from British troops; reasons for not consolidating old German positions; personal morale.
REEL 6 Recollections of operations in Ypres area, 6/1917-7/1917: increase in German long range shelling; enfilading fire on British positions in Ypres salient; ground conditions and question of artillery success in clearing barbed wire; personal morale; problems caused by German concrete pillboxes. Recollections of attack in Battle Wood sector, 31/7/1917: casualties whilst lying on start lines; advance across No Man's Land and capture of German first lines; delay in attack on German pillbox whilst waiting for artillery to lift barrage and consequent casualties; ground conditions effect on pace of advance; taking shelter in shell hole and close escape from German hand grenade; taking shelter in wood hut; stoppage whilst firing Lewis gun.
REEL 7 Continues: Lewis gun jammed by mud; story of being wounded by German machine gun fire whilst crossing open ground; initial treatment by stretcher bearer in shell hole; treatment at advanced dressing station and question of priority for serious wounds; evacuation as walking wounded to Ypres/Comines Canal. Evacuation in stages and hospitalisation in GB, 8/1917-9/1917: question of civilian knowledge of war; hospital uniform. Aspects of period at Shoreham by Sea Convalescent Camp, 9/1917-12/1917: grading of medical condition.
REEL 8 Continues: grading of medical condition; question of medical officer passing unfit men as A1 at medical boards; ruse to avoid being passed A1 a medical board; duties depending on medical grading; training. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt in Ypres area, 1/1918-3/1918: ground conditions; accuracy of German ranging on communications routes; use of shell hole posts to form front line; latrines; use of solidified methylated spirits to boil water for tea. Reactions to Armistice, 11/11/1918. Question of reaction to delay before demobilisation, 5/1919.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918

Duration
110

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
Full : 57pp

MakerName
Fagence, Victor Edgar

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Memoirs - Dept of Docs

RelatedSoundFile
000327S01.mp3
Fagence-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
554

ProductionDate
1975

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
song, 'Fred Karno's Army'
song, 'Oh what a lovely war'
song, 'I want to go home'
song, 'Far from Ypres I long to be'

IndexPeople
Quinnell, Charles R xxx
Van Someran (Captain)
Cazalet (Captain)

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Woolwich, London
GB, England & Hounslow, London <Barracks>
GB, England & Aldershot, Hants <North Camp>
GB, England & Colchester, Essex <Barracks>
GB, England & Shorncliffe, Kent <Camp>
FR
FR & Houplines, Nord
FR & Loos sector, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Vermelles, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Hulloch, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Hulloch, Pas-de-Calais <Hairpin Trench>
FR & Givenchy, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Givenchy, Pas-de-Calais <Ducksbill Mine 1>
FR & Givenchy, Pas-de-Calais <Ducksbill Mine 2>
FR & Givenchy, Pas-de-Calais <Ducksbill Mine 3>
FR & Sailly Labourse, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Somme area
FR & Ovillers, Somme
FR & Pozieres Ridge, Somme
FR & Pozieres Ridge, Somme <Ration Trench>
FR & Bapaume sector, Somme
FR & Etaples, Pas-de-Calais

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 9
GB.A & Middlesex Regt, Bn 1
GB.A & Bde, 36
GB.A & Div, 12
GB.A & Barracks, Hounslow
GB.A & Barracks, Colchester
GB.A & Camp, North, Aldershot
GB.A & Camp, Shorncliffe

ShortSummary
British NCO served with 9th Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1916.

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of periods with 9th Bn Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow Barracks, 8/1914-9/1914: reception; barrack room; food rations; NCO instructors; drill; kitting out; sings 'Fred Karno's Army'; question of recruits' physical fitness; sleeping arrangements; washing; cleaning barrack room.
REEL 2 Continues: use of hand signals; kitting out and state of uniform. Recollections of period at Colchester Barracks, 9/1914-10/1914: puttees; webbing and equipment; barrack room; food rations.
REEL 3 Continues: meal time procedure and mess orderlies; route marches; cleaning rifle; rifle and bayonet training; trench digging; question of relevance of training to active service conditions on Western Front.
REEL 4 Continues: night training; opinion of officers and NCOs; story of indirectly reporting sergeant selling leave passes and using professional boxing experience to advantage in subsequent boxing bout with him; cleaning barrack room; specialist training opportunities; kit inspections. Aspects of period at Shorncliffe Camp, 10/1914-4/1915: shortage of tents.
REEL 5 Continues: coastal defence role; firing on rifle range; billeting and inspection by Kitchener during long distance march to Aldershot. Aspects of period at North Camp, Aldershot, 4/1915-5/1915: military nature of town; hut accommodation; divisional training; second hand reports illustrating soldier's ignorance of situation of friend serving with 1st Bn Middlesex Regt at Battle of Mons, 8/1914; method of erecting barbed wire.
REEL 6 Continues: method of erecting barbed wire; preparations for embarkation including hair cuts. Journey out to France, 5/1915. Recollections of operations on Western Front, 5/1915-7/1916: train journey; first impressions of trenches at Houplines; approach to front line by communication trenches; comparison of front, support and reserve trenches.
REEL 7 Continues: dugouts; trench fireplaces; latrines; collection of slivers of wood for cooking purposes prior to moving into line; securing extra bread; procedure on taking over front line positions; stand to; use of periscopes; procedure of ration and water parties; issue of food rations.
REEL 8 Continues: issue and cooking of breakfast food rations; method of making date puddings; food rations; disposal of rubbish and role of sanitary orderly.
REEL 9 Continues: trench repairs; sleeping arrangements; preparing trench mortar emplacements; reconnaissance patrols and opinion of Captain Van Someran; wiring parties; listening posts.
REEL 10 Continues: trench raids; developing ability to judge landing point of German shells; minenwerfers; view across No Man's Land as sentry; Royal Artillery gun positions and registration of targets; routine on moving into rest; working parties; lice problem.
REEL 11 Continues: brewery baths; pay; drinking habits; cigarette ration; YMCA and Church Army canteens; bingo; food rations on rest.
REEL 12 Continues: German stick bomb hand grenades; Tickler's jam; sings 'Oh What A Lovely War'; demonstration of method of making jam tin hand grenades and refusal to volunteer; sings 'I Want To Go Home' and 'Far Far From Ypres'; formation of 60 pounder trench mortar brigades and digging of trench mortar emplacements ; introduction and method of firing of Stokes mortar; gas masks; problem with zeroing of Lee Enfield rifle and training in quarry area.
REEL 13 Continues: sheepskin and goatskin coats; trench feet, issue of protective boots and effects of wet conditions; news of offensive and move to Loos sector, 25/9/1915; taking over and consolidating former German trenches in Vermelles sector; relationship with French troops; food rations; reconnaissance patrols to locate German front line; digging jumping off trenches ; minor German and British attacks on move to Hulloch sector, 10/1915.
REEL 14 Continues: acclimatisation; German minenwerfer fire in Hairpin Trench, Hulloch; effects of wet conditions; rum ration; rest periods at Sailly Labourse; trench feet and use of whale oil; story of detonation of German mine, dispute with officer over ordering precautionary rapid rifle fire and subsequent promotion to lance sergeant; working parties in Ducksbill Mines 1, 2 and 3 at Givenchy including nature of mines, work of miners and listening for sounds of German mining operations.
REEL 15 Continues: working parties in Ducksbill Mines 1, 2 and 3 at Givenchy including problems with flooding, effects of German detonation of mine whilst underground, story of two miners accidentally shot by NCO for not halting in trench when ordered illustrating their casual attitude, method of preparing and detonating mine; leave in Woolwich, London, 3/1916 including journey back, story illustrating relative wealth of munitions workers, question of civilians understanding of conditions on Western Front.
REEL 16 Continues: leave in Woolwich, London, 3/1916 including opinion of war reporters, civilian patriotism, personal morale, sleeping on floor and bicycling. Recollections of preparations for Somme offensive, 6/1916-7/1916: training; sheltering in woods from German air observation; view of air warfare activity; cancellation of planned attack on slag heap in Bapaume sector due to failure of initial assault to break thorough German front line, 1/7/1916.
REEL 17 Recollections of attack on Ovillers, 7/7/1916: prior movements, 2/7/1916-6/7/1916; equipment carried; German counter-bombardment; failure of attack in face of German machine gun fire; sheltering in shell hole; retirement to British front line; casualties; opinion of inexperienced reinforcement drafts; opinion of Captain Cazalet; role as platoon sergeant. Recollections of attack on Ration Trench, Pozieres Ridge, 4/8/1916-8/8/1916: move into assembly trenches; briefing as second wave of attack; deliberate effort to catch first wave in No Man's Land; close fighting in German front line; situation; consolidation.
REEL 18 Continues: sniping from German troops cut off by British advance; German flame-thrower attack, 5/8/1916; retreat behind barricade of corpses; collection of hand grenades ready repel German attacks; arrival of Stokes mortar crew and ammunition along communication trench dug across former No Man's Land; use of Stokes mortar and rifle grenades to repel German attacks; further ammunition supplies; absence of German shell fire; ground conditions; informal agreement with Germans not to shell ration parties and Red Cross facilities. Recollections of evacuation with leg wound to Etaples Hospital, 8/1916: attempts to save leg; amputation. Fitting with artificial leg at Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918

Duration
255

NumberOfParts
18

OtherFormats
Full : 131pp

MakerName
Quinnell, Charles Robert

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photo (1975) in transcript

RelatedSoundFile
000554S01.mp3
000554S02.mp3
000554S03.mp3
Quinnell1-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
25 June 2007

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
569

ProductionDate
1975

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Burke, Ulick B xxx

IndexUnits
GB.A & Devonshire Regt, Bn 3
GB.A & Devonshire Regt, Bn 2
GB.A & Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt, Bn 2
GB.A & Devonshire Regt, Depot
GB.A & Barracks, North Raglan, Plymouth
GB.A & Div, 8
GB.A & Div, 6
GB.A & Bde, 23
GB.A & Bde, 18
GB.O & School, Plymouth College
GB.N & College, Naval, Osborne
GB.N & College, Naval, Dartmouth
GB.N & Ship, Conway
GB, England
GB, England & Plymouth, Devon <North Raglan Barracks>
GB, England & Plymouth, Devon <Plymouth College>
GB, England & Exeter, Devon
GB, England & River Mersey, Lancs
FR
FR & Armentieres sector, Nord
FR & St Christ, Somme <Bridge>
FR & Villers Brettonneux sector, Somme
FR & Aisne area, Aisne
FR & Roucy, Aisne
FR & Pontavert, Aisne <Bridge>
FR & Juvincourt, Aisne
FR & Bois de Buttes sector, Aisne
BE
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders
BE & Wieltje, West Flanders
BE & Railway Wood sector, West Flanders
BE & White Chateau, West Flanders
BE & Lake Farm, West Flanders
BE & Bellewaarde Lake, West Flanders
NE
DE
DE & Mannerheim <Hospital>
DE & Heidelburg <Hospital>

ShortSummary
British officer served with 3rd Bn Devonshire Regt in GB, 1914; served with 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters and 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt on Western Front, 1914-1918; POW in Germany, 1918.

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine as cadet aboard HMS Conway moored in Mersey River, 1909-1911: failed application to enter Osborne Naval College; entrance interview; organisation of naval and Merchant Marine cadets; ship layout and accommodation on orlop deck; coaling ship.
REEL 2 coaling ship; relationship with Merchant Marine cadets; role of cadet petty officers; story of being fooled by practical jokes on arrival and subsequent punishment over misunderstanding; story of injuries suffered through practical joke whilst climbing rigging and subsequent punishment of offender; stowing hammocks; corporal punishment with spunyarn.
REEL 3 Continues: question of bullying by senior cadets; stowing hammocks; washing; mess table; breakfast; cleaning decks divisional parade; educational classes; learning to fire boiler; sailing pinnace; lunch.
REEL 4 Continues: tea; recreations; tea parties with captain; rowing contests; failing entrance examinations for Dartmouth Naval College. Recollections of OTC activities during period attending Plymouth College, 1911-1913: summer camp exercises; Certificate A training. Recollections of period as officer training with 3rd Bn Devonshire Regt at Exeter and North Raglan Barracks, Devonport, 4/1914-10/1914: pay and bills.
REEL 5 Continues: description of officers' mess lifestyle including mess bills, necessity of securing allowance from father, drinking habits, treatment of officers in financial debt, recreations, disapproval of regular dining out of mess, food and traditional procedure of mess night; pride in regiment; officers' saluting drill; subsequent effects of war on messlife.
REEL 6 Continues: story of accidentally failing to salute colonel's wife; necessity of securing colonel's permission to marry; inspection of officers' civilian walking out clothes; ceremonial uniforms worn in officers' mess and on church parade; tea dances; calling card etiquette; drill; rifle training including practice in aiming and target recognition.
REEL 7 Continues: rifle training including rifle range procedures, rapid fire techniques and ammunition control; other ranks' ceremonial uniform, webbing and equipment; preparing for kit inspections; puttees; nature of disciplinary offences and punishments including clashes with sailors and punishment drills; route marches.
REEL 8 Continues: route marches; question of other ranks wearing civilian clothes; status of regulars; guard duties and 'stick man' system; practice in digging shallow trenches with entrenching tool; mobilisation procedure and posting of drafts to 1st and 2nd Bns Devonshire Regt on outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; mass recruitment and consequent shortage of uniform.
REEL 9 Continues: shortages of uniform and shells; wartime attitude of British and French civilians to soldiers; move to North Raglan Barracks, Devonport; role of depot. Recollections of operations with 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters on Western Front, 10/1914-12/1914: circumstance of posting to replace officer casualties; train journey and march to join unit; ration parties; communication trench; reception and posting as platoon commander; morning routine; sentry system; repairing trenches.
REEL 10 Continues: cooking arrangements and food rations; iron rations; sentries; reconnaissance patrols and checking state of German barbed wire; wiring parties; repairing and improving trenches; question of shaving and baths; effects of wet conditions including attempts to drain trenches and trench feet.
REEL 11 Continues: lice problem; story of being wounded in foot during reconnaissance patrol; food rations; medical treatments at regimental aid post and evacuation to GB, 12/1914. Recollections of period commanding trench mortar section with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in Armentieres sector, France, 4/1915-7/1915: prior trench mortar training and method of firing; German artillery retaliation to mortar fire; problem carrying mortar bombs; reaction of infantry to mortar fire; comparison of British mortars with minenwerfers.
REEL 12 Continues: method of taking up mortar positions and firing on map referenced targets without direct observation; nickname of 'Suicide Club'. Aspects of periods in GB, 1914-1915: effects of war; reaction to newspaper reports on Western Front. Recollections of operations with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in Somme area, 1916-1917: state of unit morale; battlefield conditions; comparison of British and German dugouts.
REEL 13 Continues: question of value of experience in trench warfare; German shellfire; story of trying to avoid zone of fire of German machine gun prior to going over top; question of discipline including story of over strict officer shot by his own men during attack, state of morale during retreat, 3/1918, role of training and value of instilling self reliance in other ranks; question of behaviour of German officers; fighting patrols and story of getting caught in German barbed wire; introduction of 106 fuse shell designed to clear barbed wire; consolidation of German trenches. Recollections of operations in Ypres area, 4/1917-7/1917: question of varying conditions on Western Front.
REEL 14 Continues: absence of winter offensives; training on practice battlefield; familiarisation with Railway Woods sector; storing ammunition in elephant shelters; rest period at Wieltje including checking ammunition, recreations, visits to estaminets and church canteens and concert parties. Account of attack from Railway Woods towards Bellewaarde Lake, 31/7/1917: question of rain; briefing; rum rations atmosphere in front line prior to attack, 03.50; successful advance to Lake Farm.
REEL 15 Continues: rate of progress and formation employed in advance; use of hand grenades on German dugouts; question of use of bayonet and prior training; receiving bayonet shoulder wound on jumping into German trench; medical treatment at regimental aid post and White Chateau Casualty Clearing Station during evacuation as walking wounded; period of hospitalisation and convalescence. Recollections of operations in Ypres area, 9/1917-12/1917: difficulty in using railway sleeper and duckboard tracks and case of drowning in mud.
REEL 16 Continues: situation and muddy ground conditions; absence of latrines; nature of shell hole trench lines; story illustrating difficulty in locating front line posts; tea in former petrol cans; hay boxes; rations parties supplied by other units; us of lime chloride; trench fever and feet; rest period at Wieltje, 2/1917; strategic background to Ypres offensive. Recollections of operation during German offensive in Somme area, 3/1918-4/1918: success in command of C Coy in defence of St Christ bridge across Somme, 23/3/1918-25/3/1918; rearguard actions during retreat.
REEL 17 Continues: supply situation; question of physical fitness; emergency move back into line and operations in Villers Brettonneux sector, 4/1918; reinforcement drafts of former rear echelon troops. Move into Aisne area, 5/1918: reception on taking over from French; appointment as adjutant and question of quality of reinforcement drafts; cave billets at Roucy. Account of German offensive in Bois de Buttes sector, Aisne area, 27/5/1918: emergency move from reserve into line on German attack and attempts to locate 'battle headquarters'; German preliminary bombardment; case of accidental firing on retreating French troops; defence of Pontavert Bridge from repeated German attacks from direction of Juvincourt including orders not to retreat, ammunition shortage, leg wounds and ordering final bayonet charge.
REEL 18 Continues: capture by German troops. Recollections of period as POW in hospitals at Heidelburg and Mannerheim in Germany, 6/1918-10/1918: inadequate nature of medical treatment; inspections by German officers; story of having jaw broken by rifle butt having accidentally hit German doctor during operation without anaesthetic; special treatment during inspection by Swiss delegation; lack of notification of parents; food. Repatriation via Netherlands to GB, 10/1918: reception from German civilians in Cologne; nature of repatriation scheme for severely wounded; attack on German medical orderlies on passing into Netherlands; effects of rich food; story of German doctor grafting officer's amputated arm stump to chest prior to repatriation; closure of bank account having being notified dead; reception in Plymouth; hospitalisation, 1918-1921.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Prisoners Of War, 1914-1918

Duration
260

NumberOfParts
18

OtherFormats
Full : 103pp

MakerName
Burke, Ulick Bernard

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photograph in typescript

RelatedSoundFile
000569S01.mp3
Burke-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
577

ProductionDate
1974

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Clarke, Walter E xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Bournemouth, Hants
FR
FR & Arras area, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Petit Vimy, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais <Base Hospital>
BE

IndexUnits
GB.A & Hampshire Regt
GB.A & Worcestershire Regt
GB.A & Royal Army Medical Corps & Base Hospital, Boulogne
GB.O & Boys Brigade

ShortSummary
British private served with Hampshire Regt in GB, 1917-1918; served with Worcestershire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Bournemouth, 1914-1917: morale of troops training in area; treatment of wounded from convalescent home; work as member of Boys Brigade in YMCA canteen for troops and services provided; volunteering to enlist. Recollections of training with Hampshire Regt, 8/1917-1918: question of differing attitudes and treatment given to conscripts and volunteers; use of bribes to improve treatment from NCOs.
REEL 2 Continues: effects of vaccinations; weapon training; trench construction; question of adequacy of training. Recollections of operations with Worcestershire Regt. in Arras area, 6/1918-8/1918: reactions of new draft to first experience of German shellfire illustrating inadequacy of training; gas mask training; question of declining standards of discipline and training; personal morale.
REEL 3 Continues: journey out to France, 6/1918; first impressions of trenches; lack of sleep; brewing tea; story of being gassed in German mustard gas shell attack at Petit Vimy, 3/8/1918; evacuation to support lines, effects of gas and initial treatment; evacuation unconscious to Boulogne Base Hospital.
REEL 4 Recollections of period at Boulogne Hospital; 8/1918: medical treatment; reactions on removal of eye bandages; evacuation to GB. Further recollections of operations with Worcestershire Regt. in Arras area, 6/1918-8/1918: story of maggots in corned beef ration; story of cats labelled as rabbits for meat ration; baths; lice problem; keeping trenches clean.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918

Duration
60

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
Full : 28pp

MakerName
Clarke, Walter Ernest

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photo in transcript

RelatedSoundFile
000577S01.mp3
Clarke-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
578

ProductionDate
20/Mar/1975

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Webb, Percy xxx
Wells, Billy

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Ferndown, Dorset
GB, England & Poole, Dorset
GB, England & Wyke Regis, Dorset
GB, England & Weymouth, Dorset
GB, England & Bovington, Dorset <Camp>
GB, England & Exmouth, Devon
FR
FR & Somme area, Somme
FR & Carnoy, Somme
FR & Le Transloy, Somme
FR & Somme area, Somme
FR & Arras area, Pas-de-Calais
FR & Rouen, Seine Maritime
BE
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders
BE & Yser Canal, West Flanders

IndexUnits
GB.A & Dorsetshire Regt, Bn 7
GB.A & Dorsetshire Regt, Bn 6
GB.A & Manchester Regt, Bn 12
GB.A & Camp, Bovington

ShortSummary
British NCO served as machine gunner with 7th Bn Dorsetshire Regt in GB, 1915-1916; served with 6th Bn Dorsetshire Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Reactions to outbreak of war in Ferndown, Dorset 4/8/1914. Recruitment to join Dorsetshire Regt at Poole, 12/1915: reasons; question of white feathers and discharge badges. Recollections of training as signaller with B Coy, 7th Bn Dorsetshire Regt at Bovington Camp, 1/1916-11/1916: Morse Code flags and signallers' pronunciation of alphabet; Morse shutter device; night exercises on trench training ground based on Somme area; Lewis gun training.
REEL 2 Continues: Lewis gun training including role of team members and technique of firing in bursts on advancing infantry; rifle, bayonet and hand grenade training; sandbags and wire revetting; erection of barbed wire; gas masks and training in gas chamber.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of NCOs and officers; story of officer who wanted everyone in his company to grow moustaches; PT and boxing sessions with instructor Bombardier Billy Wells; cookhouse fatigues; army and church canteens in camp. selection for draft party; move to billets in Exmouth.
REEL 4 Story of eleven men of 12th Bn Manchester Regt billeted in mother's house at Ferndown, 1915: confusion over numbers to be billeted; poor conduct of soldiers; role as butcher in supplying meat for billets; troops food allowance money paid to billets. Aspects of period with 3rd Bn Dorsetshire Regt at Wyke Regis, 11/1916-12/1916. Journey out to France, 12/1916: send off at Weymouth; question of equipment carried; story of throwing letter from train; Channel crossing initially interrupted by threat of German submarine activity.
REEL 5 Continues: voyage to Rouen. Recollections of operations with 6th Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Somme, Arras and Ypres areas, 1917: terrain in rest area at Carnoy; personal morale and state of unit; Nissen huts; journey to front line at Le Transloy including runner's role as guide, use of white tape, problem walking in muddy communication trenches, German shellfire and briefing on arrival; sentries use of periscopes.
REEL 6 Continues: establishing Lewis gun post and sentries use of periscopes; method of erecting Lewis gun on post within sandbag ring to provide anti-aircraft fire; dugouts; stand to; food rations; German snipers; ration party system and food rations issued.
REEL 7 Continues: method of brewing tea without making smoke; makeshift chimney to allow fire; question of meal times; trench repairs; muddy conditions; lice problem; gas alarm and wearing gas mask; restrictions on using water from shell holes; mustard gas burns; story of German accidentally crossing No Mans Land; rat problem.
REEL 8 Continues: use of gelignite to kill rats in Yser Canal sector, Ypres area; visits from brigadier; clearing dried mud; latrines; casualties caused by frozen earth thrown up by shells; snow; trench feet and question of use of whale oil; fatigue; German shellfire; German trench mortars; nature of terrain in Ypres area; conditions of service during rest periods.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918

Duration
110

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
Full : 66pp

MakerName
Webb, Percy

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photo (1916) in transcript

RelatedSoundFile
000578S01.mp3
Webb-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
716

ProductionDate
1975

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Oxley, Henry xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Chatham, Kent
GB, England & London, Plumstead
GB, England & London, Woolwich <Arsenal>
FR
BE
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders <Dilly Farm>
BE & Gravenstaffel, West Flanders
BE & Kemmel, West Flanders
BE & Comines, West Flanders

IndexUnits
GB.A & Middlesex Regt, Bn 6
GB.A & Middlesex Regt, Bn 23
GB.A & Army Service Corps
GB.A & Barracks, Chatham
GB.O & Munitions Factory, Woolwich Arsenal

ShortSummary
British civilian worked at Woolwich Arsenal, London, GB, 1916-1917; NCO served as battalion gas instructor with 23rd Bn Middlesex Regt on Western Front, 1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of work in Light Machine Tool Shop, Woolwich Arsenal, 1916-1917: reasons for taking job; drilling holes in shell fuses; pay; shiftwork; travelling from Peckham; machines employed; problems from getting filings in eyes and lack of safety precautions; question of effects of introduction of women workers; breaks and recreations; question of workers deliberately seeking reserved occupation status.
REEL 2 Continues: question of pay differences between munitions workers and soldiers; air raid alarms and blackout at factory; story of being hurt by bombs dropped by Zeppelin; fatigue; air raids on Peckham; food scarcities; pay; interest in motorcycles and failure of attempt to join up as despatch rider; question of knowledge of conditions on Western Front. Initial call up to join Army Service Corps, 4/1917.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of training as gas instructor whilst posted to 6th Bn Middlesex Regt at Chatham Barracks, 4/1917-3/1918: hut gas chambers; method of detecting different gases; gas alarms. Recollections of conditions of operations as gas instructor with 23rd Bn Middlesex Regt in Ypres area, 3/1918-9/1918: inspecting gas masks; gas refresher course; story of mistaking smell of decomposing corpses for gas; first impressions on joining unit; move up to front line.
REEL 4 Continues: move up to front line and personal morale; nature of front line; breastwork trenches at Gravenstaffel; use of 'A' frames and duckboards; method of constructing new trenches; comparison of British, French and German trenches; question of trench repairs; slit trenches; wiring parties in Kemmel sector.
REEL 5 Continues: comparison of Ypres and Kemmel terrain; casualties drowned in mud in Ypres area; story of falling in shellhole; stand to; sentry duty and use of periscopes; ration parties; food rations; tommy cookers; method of brewing tea; rum ration.
REEL 6 Continues: food rations during rest periods; personal hygiene and lice problem; questions of trench feet; absence of rats; latrines; trench pumps; role of stretcher bearers.
REEL 7 Continues: evacuation procedure and medical treatment on being wounded at Comines, 29/9/1918; personal morale under concentrated German shellfire in Kemmel sector; German snipers; casualties from German machine gun fire during attack, 9/1918; story of abortive raid on Dilly Farm illustrating importance of keeping still in No Man's Land when German star shells were fired; question of avoiding German shellfire on front lines by going into No Man's Land; story of charging soldier for disobeying orders.
REEL 8 Continues: story of charging soldier for disobeying orders, his court martial and subsequent No 1 Field Punishment; spit and polish out of line; common disciplinary offences; case of shell shock; comparison of British and US soldiers' discipline.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Civilian Life And War Work, 1914-1919: War Work, 1914-1918

Duration
110

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
Full: 58pp

MakerName
Oxley, Henry

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
000716S01.mp3
Oxley-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
7396

ProductionDate
1984

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Hancock, Malcolm E xxx
Cody, Samuel F
Cowdery, Samuel Franklin
George VI <King>
Tatham, Wilfrid
Churchill, Winston L S

IndexPlaces
GB, England & Gloucester, Glos <King's School>
GB, England & Wellingborough, Northants <School>
GB, England & Bisley, Surrey
GB, England & Norwich, Norfolk
GB, England & St Albans, Herts
GB, England & London
GB, England & Chequers Court, Bucks
GB, England & London
GB, England & Regents Park, London
GB, England & Halton, Bucks <Camp>
GB, England & Guildford, Surrey <Stoughton Barracks>
GB, England & Crowborough, Sussex
GB, England & Pirbright, Surrey <Barracks>
GB, England & Sandringham, Norfolk <Palace>
GB, England & Coleshill, Berks <House>
GR & Lemnos & Mudros
MT
EG & Alexandria
EG & Luxor
EG & Alexandria <Ras el Tin Hospital>
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli <A Beach>
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli <Kiretch Tepe>
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli <Kidney Hill>
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli <Green Hill>
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli <Hill 60>
TR & Anzac, Gallipoli
SL & Freetown <Wilberforce Barracks>
SL & Mabanta
DE & Berlin, Berlin
DE & Berlin, Berlin <Reichstag>
DE & Brunswick, ///
DE & Beilfield, ///

IndexUnits
GB.O & Gallipoli Association
GB.A & Gloucestershire Regt, Bn 3
GB.A & Northamptonshire Regt, Bn 1/4
GB.A & West African Regt,
GB.A & Northamptonshire Regt, Bn 2/4
GB.A & Officers Training Corps, Wellingborough School
GB.A & Bde, 162
GB.A & Bde, 207
GB.A & Home Guard, Auxiliary Units
GB.A & Div, 54
GB.A & Div, 69
GB.A & Camp, Halton
GB.A & Coats Mission
GB.A & Barracks, Stoughton, Guildford
GB.A & Barracks, Pirbright
GB.A & Barracks, Wilberforce, Freetown
GB.A & Local Defence Volunteers
GB.A & Coldstream Guards, Bn Training
GB.A & Coldstream Guards, Bn Holding
GB.A & Camp, Halton
GB.A & West African Regt
GB.A & Plans Group G
GB.N & Royal George
GB.N & Royal Edward
GB.N & Nevassa
GB.N & Esquibo
GB.N & Britannic
GB.N & Hyacinth
GB.O School, Wellingborough
GB.O School, King's School, Gloucester

IndexConcepts
anti war

ShortSummary
British officer served with 1/4th Bn Northamptonshire Regt in GB and Gallipoli, 1915; served with West African Regt in Sierra Leone, 1917-1918. Served with Home Guard in GB, 1943-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1: Outbreak of war, 4/8/1914. Period teaching at King's School, Gloucester, 9/1914-4/1915. Opinion of concientious objectors. Commission into Northamptonshire Regt, 13/4/1915. Recollections of pre-war Officers' Training Corps activities at Wellingborough School, 1911-1914: training at summer camps; seeing Cody; entering rifle shooting competition at Bisley. Recollections of period with A Coy, Northamtonshire Regt at Norwich and St Albans, 4/1915-7/1915: parents' reaction to enlistment; reception and story illustrating early responsibility; kitting out; drill instruction for new officers; route marches; tactical exercises.
REEL 2 Continues: training; formation of 162 Bde; officers weapons; duties as billeting officer at St Albans; relationship with St Albans civilians; kitting out with tropical kit. Recollections of voyage aboard Royal George to Mudros, Lemnos, Greece, 7/1915-8/1915: send off at St Albans; question of submarine threat; conditions; visit to Malta; gas lectures and inadequate masks issued; Turkish lectures; leaving heavy equipment at Alexandria, Egypt; machine gun practise; news of sinking of Royal Edward; issue of iron rations.
REEL 3 Continues: Landing from destroyer at A Beach, Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey, 15/8/1915: personal morale; absence of fire. Recollections of operations in Kiritch Tepe sector, 15/8/1915-16/8/1915: initial advance towards Kidney Hill; reaction to casualties coming back; communication problems; failure of attack, 16/8/1915; story of rescue of wounded soldier in view of Turks; being relieved. Movements in Suvla area, 8/1915: situation; water shortage; view of fighting towards Anzac; food rations; situation; march along beach; digging in at Green Hill; naval bombardment.
REEL 4 Continues: story of shell hitting court martial party at Green Hill. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle in front line at Hill 60, 9/1915-10/1915: situation; corpses built into parapets and story illustrating acclimatisation; deepening trenches and effort to cover corpses; question of overhead cover; sniper problem; establishing machine gun post; blocking off communication trenches leading from Turkish lines; use of periscope rifle to damage Turkish sandbags; view of Suvla area; limited perspective of junior officers; opinion of situation; dugouts; duties.
REEL 5 Continues: latrines; corpse and fly problems; ignorance of lice problem; food rations; story of being shelled whilst taking water party to water barges on beach; water shortage and importance of conservation; story of being shelled whilst bathing in sea; periods in rest area at Green Hill including fatigue parties, continued exposure to enemy fire and personal dugout; prevalence of dysentery and its effects; appearance of troops; question of noise levels.
REEL 6 Continues: daily routine including duties as platoon commander and company bombing officer, meals and use of periscope; deepening trenches; sentries; detachment to guard ammunition dump near Green Hill; contact with Sikh troops; duties as company and brigade bombing officer including description of jam tin, cricket ball and hairbrush bombs and re-using Turkish bombs; story of close escape from Turkish bomb whilst bombing; sniping activities.
REEL 7 Continues: enfilading shrapnel fire; naval bombardments; shooting at unidentified aircraft digging and successful detonation of mine by Australian Light Horse; question of detection of mining; effects of mines; question of patrolling; treatment, evacuation and reactions of wounded; reaction to casualties; acclimatisation of new drafts; morale; raids by neighbouring Gurkha unit.
REEL 8 Continues: opinion of Australian and New Zealand troops and story illustrating their acclimatisation to corpses in trenches; opinion of Turkish troops and illustrative stories of them withholding fire during rescue of wounded soldiers; question of award of Military Cross; question of relevance of training for Gallipoli conditions; reaction to newspaper news of miners strike in GB; parcels from GB; climate; story of being wounded in leg by shrapnel during assignment to teach bombing techniques and use of bomb catapult to Norfolk Yeomanry, 31/10/1915. Recollections of evacuation to Alexandria, 31/10/1915-2/11/1915 : stretcher journey to Anzac dressing station; reaction to leaving Gallipoli aboard Nevassa.
REEL 9 Continues: period in dressing station at Anzac; medical treatment on Nevassa. Medical treatment at Ras-el-Tin Hospital, Alexandria, and convalescence at Luxor, 11/1915. Voyage on Esquibo and Britannic to GB, 12/1915. Period in convalescent home in London, 12/1915. Convalescent leave in St Albans, 12/1915: relationship with civilians; further operation on leg. Period training recruits with 2/4th Bn Northamptonshire Regt at Halton Camp, 1916. Relationship with regular officers on posting to Pioneer Coy, 3rd Bn Gloucestershire Regt at Sittingbourne, 1917. Posting to Stoughton Barracks, Guildford, 1917: organising farm labour.
REEL 10 Continues: organising farm labour; story of missing train from London. Posting to 2/4th Bn Northamptonshire Regt at Crowborough, 1917. Story of receiving wound gratuity and award of Military Cross, 1916. Background to volunteering for West African service and question of attitude to possibility of service on Western Front 1917. Recollections of period with West African Regt at Wilberforce Barracks, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1917-1918: training in bush warfare; guarding public utilities; assisting district commissioner at Mabanta out station; origin of African troops and rumour of cannibal incident; attempt to capture African civilian terrorising local villages; conditions of service; reaction to news of Armistice, 11/1918; malaria attack.
REEL 11 Continues: malaria attack. Voyage aboard HMS Hyacinth to GB, 11/1918. Leave prior to demobilisation, 3/1919. Establishing career as horse racing judge, 1919-1939. Outbreak of war and service with Local Defence Volunteers prior to commission into Coldstream Guards, 9/1939-5/1940. Opinion of developments in tactical training observed during period with A Coy, Training Bn Coldstream Guards at Pirbright, 1940-1941. Recollections of period with Coats Mission, 1941-1942: role evacuating and defending Royal family in event of attack; training; guarding Royal family when outside London; George VI's expertise at Sandringham shooting parties; 'safe houses' used.
REEL 12 Continues: defences established at 'safe houses'; emergency transport arrangements for Royal family; recollections of Tatham and other officers; personal contacts with Royal family; pride in role. Period with Holding Bn at Regents Park, London, 1942-1943: guarding Royal and Prime Ministerial residences; recollections of Churchill; Chequers defences. Period with Auxiliary Units, Home Guard, 1943-1945: geographical organisation and sabotage role in event of invasion; supply duties as deputy assistant quarter master general; local units and their concealed dugouts; training at Coleshill House; communications system.
REEL 13 Continues: Recollections of period as assistant welfare officer, Berlin area, Germany, 1946-1946: prior assessment interview; preparations; role providing entertainment for troops; preliminary work in Beilfield and Brunswick as part of Plans Group G; difficulty in getting permission to enter Berlin from Russian troops, 1/7/1945; reception from German civilians; requisitioning buildings and entertainment facilities of all kinds to entertain troops; relaxation of non fraternisation rule; publication of 'Welfare Bulletin'; role housing voluntary welfare organisations; story illustrating relationship with Russians.
REEL 14 Continues: Story illustrating relationship with Russians; relationship with Americans; damage caused by Russian troops to Reichstag; Victory parades; demobilisation, 8/1945. Position as President of Gallipoli Association, 1984: initial recruitment; annual functions; visit to Gallipoli, 1983.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Gallipoli, 1915

Duration
420

NumberOfParts
14

OtherFormats
Full : 130pp

MakerName
Hancock, Malcolm Ernest

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photographs (1941, 1983) in transcript and file
Another interview on 16446

RelatedSoundFile
007396S01.mp3
007396S02.mp3
Hancock-remembrance.mp3
Hancock-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare
Death

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
8667

ProductionDate
1984

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
song : From Wimbledon to Wombleton

IndexPeople
Boughton, Harold xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England & Leigh, Lancs <POW camp>
GB, England & Saxmundham, Suffolk
GB, England & Aldeburgh, Suffolk
GB, England & Guildford, Surrey
GB, England & South Kensington, London
GB, England & Victoria, London <Railway Station>
GB, England & Hampstead, London <Pond Street Drill Hall>
GB, England & London <Handel Street Drill Hall>
GB, England & Kentish Town, London
GB, England & Tonbidge, Kent
TR & Suvla, Gallipoli
TR & Helles, Gallipoli <V Beach>
TR & Helles, Gallipoli
GR & Lemnos & Mudros
EG & Cairo
EG & Alexandria
EG & Sidi Bishr
EG & Wardan
EG & Cairo <Pyramids>
EG & Cairo
FR & Rouen, Seine Maritime <Camp>
FR & Rouen, Seine Maritime <Cathedral>
MT & Valetta <St George's Hospital>
MT & Valetta <St George's Barracks>

IndexUnits
GB.A & Provisional Bn, 100
GB.A & Bde, 88
GB.A & Div, 29
GB.A & Royal Defence Corps
GB.A & London Regt, Bn 1/2
GB.A & POW camp, Leigh
GB.N & Iverna
GB.N & River Clyde
GB.N & Partridge
GB.N & Galeeka
GB.O & Daily Mail

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British private served with 2/1st Bn City of London Regt in GB, Malta, Gallipoli, Egypt and on Western Front, 1914-1916; served with 100th Provisional Bn in GB, 1916; served with Royal Defence Corps at Leigh POW Camp, GB, 1916-1919

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Kentish Town, London, 1895-1914: poor eyesight; clerical work; activities on joining Royal Fusilier cadets at Pond Street, Hampstead, London, 1912-1914. Recruitment and basic training with 2/1st Bn City of London Regt at Handel Street Drill Hall, 5/9/1914-14/12/1914: initial problems in enlisting because of poor eyesight; minimal medical examination; route marches; sings, 'From Wimbledon to Wombledon'. Aspects of period at Tonbridge, 12/1914-2/1915. Voyage on Galeeka to Malta, 2/1915: ruse to avoid U Boats; seasickness; conditions. Recollections of period at St George Barracks, Valetta, Malta, 2/1915-8/1915: first impressions; meeting front line units; story of mutiny over inadequate food; unloading Gallipoli wounded into St George's Hospital. Voyage on Iverna to Alexandria, Egypt, 8/1915. Period in camp at Sidi Bishr, 8/1915: preparations for Gallipoli; Australian riots in Cairo. Voyage on cattle boat to Mudros, Lemnos, 8/1915. Landing at Suvla, 25/8/1915. Recollections of operations at Suvla, 8/1915-12/1915: food rations and water shortages; ; difficulty in evacuating casualties; fly problem; nature of fighting.
REEL 2 Continues: naval support bombardments; barricade nature of trenches; steel observation plate; fly problem; food rations; scrub vegetation; biscuit pudding; Machonachies; rat problem; tortoises; parcels from GB; shortage of cigarettes and makeshift tea leaf cigarettes; difficulty in telling time due to scarcity of watches; personal appearance; opinion of officers; minimal washing; climate and casualties as a result of freezing conditions, 11/1915; uniform; lighters used; rest periods in reserve trenches; makeshift lamps; Long Lee Enfields issued; ammunition and equipment carried.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of raids; slight neck shrapnel wound and local treatment; close escape from sniper; question of glasses; duties; rumours; unit morale and question of adequacy of training; refusal to become NCO because of poor eyesight; problems out on night patrol; situation; absence of dugouts; dysentery; lice problem; inability to change clothes; medical provisions available; gas masks issued and use of gauze to keep flies off face; sentry duty and effects of fatigue; discipline and personal morale.
REEL 4 Continues: burying corpses; unofficial truce during freeze, 11/1915; raids to secure Turkish POWs; opinion of Turkish troops. Recollections of evacuation, 15/12/1915: rumours that Turks had been paid to allow evacuation; ruses to create illusion of maintained presence; fixed automatic rifles; evacuation aboard HMS Partridge; inactivity of Turks. Period at Lemnos, 12/1915: state of uniform; question of news of war elsewhere; letter contact with GB; rumour of Salonika posting; move to Helles, Gallipoli, 25/12/1915; reputation of 29th Div. Recollections of period at Helles, 25/12/1915-8/1/1916: landing through River Clyde at V Beach; lookout for Asiatic Annie shells.
REEL 5 Continues: move inland and reaction from regular troops; situation in front line; preparations for evacuation; state of morale; Asiatic Annie shell fire on V Beach; food rations; cold weather; evacuation, ca 8/1/1916. Period in camp at Sidi Bishr and Warden, 1/1916-4/1916: issue of stored kit bags; meeting family friend; dysentery during train journey; canteen; opinion of strict colonel and relationship with officers; operations against Senussi Arabs and precautions against Arabs stealing rifles; visits to Cairo and Pyramids.
REEL 6 Continues: visits to Cairo and Pyramids; latrines; question of use of cameras. Journey to Rouen Camp, France, 4/1916. Recollections of period at Rouen Camp, 4/1916-5/1916: baths; drill; failing surprise eyesight test and consequent regrading as C3; dissolution of unit; visit to Rouen cathedral. Return to GB, 5/1916. Period in transit camp in South Kensington, London, 5/1916-6/1916: loading army mailbags on trains and dispute with railway personnel at Victoria Station; low grade fitness of troops in camp. Posting to 100th Provisional Bn at Aldeburgh, 6/1916: composition of unit from troops refusing to serve overseas and consequent status with wound stripe and long service chevrons; coastal defence based in fortified billets; Zeppelin alarms; state of defences. Posting as carpenter attached to Suffolk Cyclists Bn at Saxmundham Estate, 1916: ruse to secure posting; preparing wooden dugout frames.
REEL 7 Continues: conditions of service, pay and recreations. Period repairing billets damaged by troops in Guildford area, 1916. Posting to Royal Defence Corps at Leigh POW Camp, 1916-1919: low physical fitness of Royal Defence Corps guards; relationship with POWs and learning German; POW working parties in local factories; recreation; marriage, 8/1918; background to becoming orderly room clerk; sleeping out pass; question of superior rations given to POWs and controversy over letter written by Broughton to Daily Mail; rifles issued; medical provision and treatment for epidemic of boils.
REEL 8 Continues: medical inspections of guards to check low physical fitness gradings and reputation of Royal Defence Corps; reactions to approach of end of war; armistice celebrations, 11/11/1918. Demobilisation, 2/1919: ruse to secure early demobilisation; grants paid; dismissal of replacement female workers and return to pre-war clerical job. Post-war career: securing better paid job; economic and housing situation; opinions of war.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Gallipoli, 1915
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Egypt & Palestine, 1915-1918
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918

Duration
240

NumberOfParts
8

OtherFormats
Full : 92pp

MakerName
Boughton, Harold

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Boughton-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
12498

ProductionDate
10/Mar/1992

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
award, British: Military Cross

IndexPeople
Stacpoole, Alberic John xxx
Stacpoole, Humphrey Adam John xxx
Ironse, John

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, Northern Ireland
GB, Northern Ireland & Belfast
KR
KR & Pusan
KR & The Hook
KR & Seoul
JP
JP & Tokyo
JP & Kure
EG
EG & Canal Zone
EG & Port Said
NO
NO & Bardufoss
CY
CY & Kyrenia Mountains
CY & Famagusta
CM
SL
NG
NG & Lagos
NG & Kaduna

IndexUnits
GB.A & BA Sandhurst Royal Military Academy
GB.A & West Riding Regt, Duke of Wellington's, Bn 1, Coy Support
GB.O & Ship, Empire Fowey
GB.A & Parachute Regt, Bn 2
GB.A & BA, Talavera Barracks, Aldershot
CY.O & EOKA
GB.A & Royal West African Frontier Force, Nigeria Regt
GB.O & Abbey, Ampleforth
CN.AC & Chinese People's Liberation Army

ShortSummary
British officer served with Support Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt in Korea, 1952-1953; served with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt in Canal Zone, Egypt, 1954, Cyprus, 1956-1957 and Suez, Egypt, 1956; served as ADC to general commanding troops in West Africa, 1957-1959. Entered Ampleforth Abbey as monk, 9/1960

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Northern Ireland and Yorkshire, 1931-1949: family; education; reasons for joining army, 1949; opinion of British Empire. Period with Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1950. Opinion of Yorkshire men and regiments. Posting to Korea, spring 1952. Recollections of posting to Korea, 1952: voyage from GB to Korea aboard Empire Fowey; reaction to posting to Korea; nature of voyage; effect of posting on Chindit veterans of unit as ship neared Korea; question of reputation of Chinese soldiers.
REEL 2 Continues: question of failure to brief soldiers about what situation they would facing with reference to service in Cyprus. Recollections of operations with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington Regt in Korea, 1952-1953: reception in Pusan; move to Seoul; initial impressions of Korea; positions on The Hook; Chinese attack and United Nations' counter-attack on The Hook, 5/1953; reaction to use of napalm; construction of barbed wire defences; repelling of Chinese attack on The Hook, 5/1953; wounding and evacuation to Seoul, 6/1953; events of last few hours before ceasefire, 7/1953; attitude of ROK troops towards Communist troops; contrast between US Marines and US Army personnel; attitude towards Chinese troops; effect of Chinese psychological warfare on British troops; layout of barbed wire on The Hook.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of wire-laying; effects of United Nations' psychological warfare; patrolling; coping with cold in trenches; effects of monsoon rains on conditions in trenches; rats; use of parkas; opinion of equipment used; physical demands of digging in; dealing with mortar casualties in dugouts; role of conscripts in unit; work of South Wales miners in unit.
REEL 4 Continues: comforts received by troops from GB; alcohol ration; rest and recreation in Tokyo and Kure; contrast in motivation between regulars and conscripts; award of Military Cross; singing songs in reserve; Chinese 'human wave' tactics; Chinese prisoners taken and their will to die; treatment of Chinese POWs; clearing up after cease-fire, 6/1953. Training for Parachute Regt, 1953. Period with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt, Canal Zone, Egypt, 1954: situation in Canal Zone; unit casualties; Egyptian hostility as unit left.
REEL 5 Continues: attitude to service in Canal Zone; return to Talavera Barracks, Aldershot, GB, 1955. Period on survival course at Bardufoss, Norway, winter 1955-1956. Recollections of operations with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt in Cyprus, 1956: move to Cyprus; discovery of EOKA personnel in Kyrenia Mountains; attitude of Greek Cypriot civilians to unit; theft by troops from civilians and how thieves were dealt with. Recollections of Suez operation with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt, Suez, Egypt, 10/1956: contact with French paratroopers; shortage of aircraft for parachute drop; move to Suez by sea from Famagusta, Cyprus.
REEL 6 Continues: effect on unit of Hugh Gaitskill's speech attacking Suez operation; sight of Port Said landing zone; his role on disembarking; push inland from Port Said. Return with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt to Cyprus, 1956-1957 including degree of personal danger. Period of leave in GB, 2/1957-4/1957. Recollections of period as ADC to General commanding troops in West Africa, 1957-1959: securing post as ADC, 5/1957; preparing structures for independence; accommodation in Lagos; visits he made to Sierra Leone and the Cameroons.
REEL 7 Continues: social life and activities; Kaduna durbar, 1959; character of commanding general; Major John Ironse's predictions of sweeping away of British forms of government on independence; character of soldiers in the Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force; attitude of Nigerian politicians to British presence; record of West Africans troops in Burma in 1944; effects of British rule in Nigeria; factors of change in Nigeria after 1945.
REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of family history especially in relation to Imperial service: nature of life in Empire, 1930-1960; history of mother's family the McGonigalls. Reasons for leaving army and becoming a monk in Ampleforth Abbey, 9/60. Memories of German Air Force attacks on Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1941. Question of his experience of violence on his decision to become a monk.
REEL 9 Continues: Opinion of army's provision of medical facilities for troops. Further family history. Decision to become monk.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Korea, 1950-1953
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Canal Zone and Suez, 1951-1956
Airborne Forces

Duration
270

NumberOfParts
9

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Stacpoole, Alberic John

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photos (1954, 1950s) in file
Copy of MC action description in file
Map of The Hook and Military Cross citation held by Department of Documents. Military Cross held by Department Exhibitions and Firearms.

RelatedSoundFile
012498S01.mp3
012498S02.mp3
Stacpoole-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
13451

ProductionDate
18/Oct/1993

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Webster, Bryan Courtney xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
KR
KR & Pusan
KR & Point 159
KR & The Hook

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 1, Coy A
US.A & Camp Casey
GB.N & Ocean

ShortSummary
British officer served as platoon commander with A Coy, 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers in Korea, 1952-1953

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as platoon commander, A Coy, 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers in Korea, 1952-1953: reaction to posting to Korea; arrival in Pusan, 10/1952; initial impression of countryside; degree of briefing about Communists; move into front-line at Point 159; terrain around Point 159; contact with US relieved and inadequate positioning of US standing patrols; equipment and litter left behind by US troops; incident of opening fire on wild pigs; ineffectiveness of Chinese propaganda; United Nations' counter-propaganda; patrolling; Operation Pimlico; effect on morale of failure of Operation Pimlico; living conditions at Point 159; vermin in trenches; opinion of Chinese troops; difficulty of capturing Chinese; use of artillery to support patrols; success of unit patrols; presence of Korean Augmentation Troops Commonwealth (KATCOMs) attached to unit.
REEL 2 Continues: adapting to service in front-line; suitability of equipment; ration supply; in reserve Camp Casey; move to position west of Point 159; opinion of performance of conscripts; accurate picture presented by television programme MASH. Recollections of the Battle of the Hook, 5/1953: preparations for blocking position in case of Chinese mass attack; Chinese shelling of Harlequin bridge; Chinese mass of attack on 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's position; view of British shelling of The Hook position during Chinese attack; move of unit into line to relieve Duke of Wellington's Regt; work of Royal Engineers in repairing British positions; apprehension of Chinese attack next night; extrication of unit patrol in difficulties; reasons for Chinese mass attack. Recollections of period with 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers in Korea, summer 1953: frequency of 'blue on blue' incidents; opinion of other United Nations' contingents.
REEL 3 Continues: under-fire from Chinese sniper, 5/1953; lucky escape from dangerous patrol; firing of red, white and blue coloured smoke onto Chinese lines on Coronation Day, 6/1953; declaration of armistice and emergence of large numbers of Chinese troops; work of unit on demarcation line; lack of fraternisation with Chinese on armistice day; degree of ideological motivation; degree of air support. Period with Fleet Air Arm flying from HMS Ocean identifying ground targets, 5/1953: Firefly attacks on Chinese positions. Attitude to leaving Korea, summer 1953.

ContextDescription
Service Operations Since 1945: Korea, 1950-1953

Duration
75

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Webster, Bryan Courtney

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photo (1953) in file
See AC 13583 dealing with his experiences during the Suez Crisis 11/1956 and as commanding officer of 8th Infantry Bde in Northern Ireland, 1975-1977

RelatedSoundFile
Webster-landwarfare.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 1345

ProductionDate
1910

ItemName
Pistole 08 [1st issue] (IWM) & Luger

ObjectType
pistol

IndexUnits
DE.A & Ulanen Regt 4

FullSummary
The Parabellum pistol was designed in the 1890s by Georg Luger, an employee of the German arms making company Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken. Luger's name has since supplanted the pistol's trade-name "Parabellum" in common use. His design was a development on an earlier DWM product - the Borchardt pistol.

Central to the concept was a method of breech locking which employed a toggle-action, similar to that employed in Maxim machine-guns. Parabellums were made to a high standard and continued to be made by various manufacturers until the early years of the Second World War.

The Parabellum was sold commercially and also purchased by several European armies. The German Navy adopted a version in 1904, followed by the German Army in 1908. The year of adoption gave the latter its military designation: Pistole 08.

This particular Pistole 08 was manufactured at DWM in 1910 and bears the mark of the 4th Uhlan Regiment. It is a typical early-production example, lacking the lug for fitting a wooden stock, which is to be found on the butt of later guns.

ProductionCompany
Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, Berlin, Germany

RelatedImageFile
FIR_001345.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
retro-fitted with hold-open

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
UNI 167

ProductionDate
1915

ItemName
steel helmet, British, Brodie pattern 1915

ObjectType
headdress

IndexPeople
unknown

IndexUnits
GB.A

FullSummary
The original and very distinctive steel helmet adopted by Great Britain was designed and patented in 1915 by an inventor called Brodie. After many experiments, Brodie came to the conclusion that a relatively simple form of helmet would offer reasonable protection, be serviceable and cheap to produce in large numbers. In comparison with both the French Adrian pattern helmet (1915) and the German M1916, the British helmet proved light, robust, simple to make and, for its time, was highly effective. The first helmets were produced at the Sheffield steel works of Sir Robert Hadfield who had pointed out the the many virtues of a high percentage ( 12%) manganese steel. This alloy, rolled in sheets of 20 gauge or .036 inch, would resist pistol bullets of 230 grains jacketed with cupro-nickel, travelling at the rate of 600 feet per second. Such a bullet caused a deep dent in the helmet but did not penetrate. Moreover, if at higher velocity the projectile passed through the plate, no shattering or splintering occurred. The helmet made its first appearance in any numbers at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. The overall shape, with modifications, and changes to the liner and finishes, remained in service with British and Commonwealth forces until the lend of the Second World War. The same shape of helmet was used during the Second World War by all services and by the Police, Fire Services and ARP Services. The Brodie `tin hat' was a masterpiece of simple design and its shape became instantly identifiable.

ProductionCompany
Sir Robert Hadfield, Sheffield

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
manganese steel helmet in the shape of an inverted bowl with a narrow shelving brim. The helmet has a detachable liner secured by a single screw through the top of the helmet. The chinstrap is leather with a brass buckle adjustment. The strap is secured either side of the helmet through a square `loop' riveted to the inner part of the shell. The outer shell has a roughened finish. The helmet weighs just under 2 lbs.

Access
Access restrictions may apply

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
MUN 1350

ProductionDate
Oct/1916

ItemName
Grenade, Hand, No. 5

ObjectType
grenade

IndexUnits
GB.A

FullSummary
The 'Grenade, Hand, No.5' was invented, or more correctly, improved from the 'Roland Grenade' during the time between December 1914 and February 1915 by Sir William Mills.
The first issue to the British Expeditionary Force was a shipment of 48 grenades on 15th March 1915, and the first formal order was for 50,000, and they began coming off the production lines in quantity by about May 1915. By the time of Loos in September 1915, there were 11,484 on hand, mainly issued to the Guards Division.
The Grenade, Hand, No.5 or 'Mills Bomb', was to become the best known of all British grenades, leading to the development of the No.23 and No.36.
It was officially adopted for service on 20 May 1915 and finally declared obsolete on 6 May 1920.
The last version, the No.36 Mk.1 served well into the 1980s, and may still be in use in some countries today.

ProductionCompany
Moorwood's

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
The grenade consists of an oval shaped cast iron body, with external segmenting grooves, designed to break into small fragments upon detonation. The safety pin and pull-ring secure a flat striker lever, and the fuze/detonator is inserted through the bottom, after removal of the base plug. To throw the grenade, it is grasped so that the lever is held down, the safety pin is pulled out, and the grenade is thrown. When the grenade leaves the hand, the lever flies off, releasing the striker, which is forced down into the cap and fires the fuze. The fuze burns for 5 seconds, and ignites the detonator, which in turn, sets off the bursting charge.

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
WEA 774/1

ItemName
punch dagger with scabbard

ObjectType
knife

IndexPeople
Kendal, J (2nd Lieutenant)

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 16th Battalion (3rd Birmingham)

FullSummary
The specialized nature of trench warfare, as it developed during the First World War, spawned a variety of new weapons. Many of these, such as clubs and knives intended for close quarter fighting, recalled more primitive eras of warfare.

This trench knife is one of a series produced by the Robbins company of Dudley, Worcestershire. It is of a type known as a push (or 'punch') dagger, as the grip, which is right angles to the blade, is held in the user's clenched fist.

This particular knife was used in France and Italy by Lieutenant (later Captain) J Murray Kendal of the 16th Battalion (3rd Birmingham) Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Kendal, who later became an employee of the Imperial War Museum, purchased it from the Civil Service Co-operative Stores in Regent Street in 1915.

ProductionCompany
Robbins, Dudley, Worcs

RelatedImageFile
WEA_000774.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
SUR 527

ItemName
remedy for poison gas

ObjectType
medical

FullSummary
The First World War was the first conflict in which poison gas was employmed as a weapon. Many counter-measures were devised, of which this "Remedy for Poison Gas" is one.

It is evidently a commercially made product, which soldiers could purchase privately. It is not known what its active ingredients are, but it would appear that it was intended that the contents of the glass ampoules should be inhaled, probably to counteract the effects of Chlorine gas.

RelatedImageFile
SUR_000527.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y