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

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
WEA 2135

ItemName
trench club

ObjectType
concussive weapon

IndexPlaces
FR & Guillemont

IndexUnits
DE.A

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 German trench club was captured near Guillemont on the Somme front, in 1917. It is a good example of a club made in a local military workshop, as opposed to being commercially produced. It uses a British entrenching-tool handle, onto which a sceptre-like metal head has been fixed.

RelatedImageFile
WEA_002135.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
British entrenching tool handle, fitted "sceptre"- like head

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
WEA 2235

ItemName
M1916 trench knife & Couteau Poignard Mle 1916

ObjectType
knife

IndexUnits
FR.A

FullSummary
The Couteau Poignard Mle 1916 was the French Army's final official issue Trench knife of the First World War. It was produced by a number of different manufacturers. The inscription refers to the desire of the French to avenge their defeat by Prussia in the war of 1870-71.

ProductionCompany
Chabrol

RelatedImageFile
MH_013215.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
Plain wooden hilt, broad steel crossguard, double edged blade. Ricasso of blade bears manufacturer's name (Chabrol) on one side and the inscription "LE VENGEUR DE 1870" (the avenger of 1870) on the other.

Access
Access by prior appointment

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 7815

ProductionDate
1911

ItemName
Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark III Rifle

ObjectType
rifle

IndexUnits
GB.A

FullSummary
The Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle was adopted for British service in 1902. Variants of the design subsequently saw service in both World Wars and, in certain countries, long afterwards.

The rifle was the brainchild of the War Office Small Arms Committee, which decided that a universal 'short' rifle, based on the existing Lee Enfield design, should replace both the rifles issued to the infantry and the carbines which were used by cavalrymen and artillerymen. This concept was criticized by many who admired the long-range accuracy of Mauser rifles, but the First World War provided a triumphant vindication of the SMLE. It proved itself to be the most effective rifle in use by any country in the conditions which prevailed at the Front, being both rugged and compact.

The new rifle retained the 10 round magazine of its predecessor, but introduced the facility of charger-loading (where the ammunition is stripped into the magazine from a 5 round charger, rather than being loaded piecemeal). The SMLE was distinctive in outline, featuring a full stock and a unique nose-cap with prominent sight protecting ears.

This rifle is a Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield Mark III, which was the standard issue variant in 1914.

ProductionCompany
Enfield

RelatedImageFile
FIR_007815.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
regulated by Fultons, non adjustable back sight

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 11158

ProductionDate
1916

ItemName
Pistole 08 [3rd issue] (IWM) & Luger

ObjectType
pistol

IndexPeople
Everitt, W A (Capt MC)

IndexPlaces
FR & Beaumont Hamel, Somme

IndexUnits
1. DE.A & Kurassier Regt 4
2.GB.A & Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Bn 7

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 Pistole 08 was captured on 14 November 1916, at Beaumont Hamel, France, by Captain W A Everitt of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. It bears the unit mark of the German 4th Kurassier Regiment.

ProductionCompany
Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, Berlin, Germany

RelatedImageFile
FIR_011158.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
one magazine is numbered to gun

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 3540

ItemName
tin, bully beef

ObjectType
foodstuffs

IndexPeople
Green, Corporal

IndexUnits
GB.A & 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment

FullSummary
The tin was brought back from the trenches in 1915 by Corporal Green of the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.

ProductionCompany
Uruguay

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 9205

ProductionDate
1916

ItemName
MG 09

ObjectType
machine gun

IndexPeople
MacIntyre, R (Lt)

IndexPlaces
GR & Homondos

IndexUnits
GB.A & Lovat's Scouts
GB.A & Cameron Highlanders, Bn 2, Coy D
BG.A

FullSummary
The MG 09 was a commercial development of the German MG 08 Maxim (see FIR 9150) by the Berlin arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken.

This example was purchased by Bulgaria, and displays prominently the Bulgarian coat of arms and royal cipher.

It was captured during the Salonika campaign by D Company, 2nd Cameron Highlanders. On 14 October 1917 the gun was holding up the left flank of an attack on Homondos village. Lieutenant R MacIntyre, a Lovat's Scout attached to D Coy, gathered a group of men and captured it; an action which earned him a Military Cross.

ProductionCompany
Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, Berlin, Germany

RelatedImageFile
FIR_009205.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
WEA 475-1

ItemName
sword bayonet Pattern 1907, third type, with scabbard

ObjectType
bayonet

IndexUnits
British Army

FullSummary
The Pattern 1907 bayonet was developed for British Army use after the introduction of the Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle. It was decided to introduce a long 'sword' bayonet, as the existing Pattern 1988 and 1903 bayonets were not considered to offer sufficient 'reach' in combination with the new 'short' rifle. Experiments were made with bayonets based on Japanese, US and French models, with the former eventually being selected.

Initially the Pattern 1907 featured a hooked quillon, but this was deleted from October 1913. The Pattern 1907 remained in front-line service until 1945 (even later in the hands of Australian and Indian forces). The only further change made in its manufacture was the addition of a cleaning hole in the pommel from 1916 onwards.

RelatedImageFile
WEA_000475.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
Access by prior appointment

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
WEA 779/1

ItemName
US Mk 1 Trench Knife

ObjectType
knife

IndexUnits
US.A & American Expeditionary Force

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

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.

The US Mark 1 trench knife was one of two official issue fighting knives used by American forces during the First World War. It owed its design, which incorporated a heavy knuckle-duster grip, to tests carried out on knives already in use on the Western Front.

ProductionCompany
Landers, Frary and Clark, New Britain, CT, USA

RelatedImageFile
WEA_000779.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
21/09/2006 05:50:52

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

Theme
Western Front 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 55

ProductionDate
1915

ItemName
Webley .455 Mark 6 (VI military)

ObjectType
pistol

IndexPeople
Leather, C B (Lt)

IndexPlaces
FR & BE

IndexUnits
GB.A & King's Liverpool Regiment, Bn 13 & Bn 18

FullSummary
The Webley Mk VI was adopted for service in 1915; the last of a series of .455 inch calibre Webley revolvers which were the standard issue pistols of the British Army from 1887 onwards. They were robust and powerful weapons, which gave excellent service until replaced by the handier Enfield No 2 revolver (see FIR 385) in 1932.

Officers frequently purchased their own pistols, and this particular weapon bears the name of Lieutenant C B Leather, who served on the Western Front with the King's Liverpool Regiment. The Imperial War Museum's Department of Documents holds a collection of wartime letters written by Lt Leather (see DOCs 74/44/1).

ProductionCompany
P Webley & Son, Birmingham England

RelatedImageFile
FIR_000055.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
blued

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
WEA 2156

ItemName
trench club [machine-gun barrel]

ObjectType
concussive weapon

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 unusual (possibly unique) trench club is probably German in origin. It is constructed from the cut-down barrel of a German MG 08 machine-gun, which has been bound in leather. The barrel, evidently, had been discarded due to damage, or having simply become worn-out.

RelatedImageFile
WEA_002156.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
leather-bound length of MG08 barrel, with leather wrist strap

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 3681

ItemName
Colt Government Model (civilian, 1911)

ObjectType
pistol

IndexPeople
Churchill, Winston S (Sir)

IndexUnits
GB.A

FullSummary
The Colt Government Model (or Model 1911) pistol was designed by John M Browning, in response to a US Army requirement for a large-calibre self-loading pistol. The M1911 operated on the short-recoil principle and was chambered for a .45 inch cartridge.

It was an immensely successful design and, with small alterations, remained in service with US Forces until the 1980s. In addition it was purchased by many other armies and private individuals. Copies of the design were also produced in a number of countries.

This particular pistol was purchased in 1915 by Winston Churchill. He carried it while serving on the Western Front as Commanding Officer of 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (January to May 1916). It is reputed to have been one of his favourite guns and bears obvious signs of frequent use. The right side of the slide is engraved 'WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL'.

ProductionCompany
Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co, Hartford, CT, USA

RelatedImageFile
FIR_003681.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
blueing on slide well worn

Access
On display at CWR London

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 113

ProductionDate
6/6/1917

ItemName
the GERMAN RETREAT AND THE BATTLE OF ARRAS [Main]
the BATTLE OF ARRAS [alternative]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).61
01/3(4-15).63

IndexObjects
weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun
weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer
weapons, British - gun: 9.2-inch howitzer
buildings, French - residential
defences, German - emplacement: gun positions & [captured]
reconstruction, British - symbolic
combat, British - trench raid
combat, South African - trench raid
demolition, German - denial
destruction, French military - area
operations, British military - sortie
prisoners of war, German - surrender
society, British military - friendship
celebrations, French - liberation
propaganda, British - inflammatory
transport, British military - bus
transport, British military - 2/3 wheel: bicycle
transport, French civilian - rail
combat, British - artillery bombardment

IndexPeople
Gordon, A

IndexPlaces
France & Bapaume area, Pas-de-Calais
France & Henin, Pas-de-Calais
France & Roye, Somme (?)
France & Arras, Pas-de-Calais
France & Monchy-le-Preux, Pas-de-Calais
France & Peronne area, Somme

IndexUnits
GB.A & Div 29
GB.A & [cyclists]
GB.A & Scottish Rifles, Cameronians, Bn 9 (?)
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 10
GB.A & Liverpool Regt, King's
GB.A & Shropshire Light Infantry, King's
GB.A & Kent Regt, West Royal
GB.A & Gordon Highlanders
GB.A & Hussars, 19
GB.A & Div 9
GB.A & South African Bde
GB.A & Royal Artillery & RGA & Siege Bty 11 (?)
FR.A
ZA.A & South African Bde, Regt 1
AU.A & Australian Imperial Force

ShortSummary
The aftermath of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and the Battle of Arras, Western Front, March-April 1917.

FullSummary
(Reel 1) The opening shows the destruction near Bapaume and Péronne caused by the German retreat. Buildings have been blown up, trees cut down. A British cyclist patrol is greeted by the population of a newly liberated village. French soldiers in another liberated village, probably Roye. A British 6-inch howitzer battery near Henin is shown, along with its 21-year old commander (possibly Major A Gordon of 11th Siege Battery RGA). Batteries of 18-pounders and 9.2-inch howitzers are also in action in the Henin area. (Reel 2) South African 1st Regiment during a trench raid (their leader, Captain Rolf, was awarded the MC), taking three prisoners. Another trench raid, possibly by 9th Battalion, the Cameronians. Behind the lines near Arras 19th Hussars wait. (Reel 3) Soldiers of 10th (London Stock Exchange) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and Royal West Kents march up to the battlefield for the attack. German prisoners and wounded come back, but no fighting is shown. (Reel 4) Men of the King's Liverpool Regiment and King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry move up. In the aftermath, captured German gun positions are shown together with British howitzers moving to Monchy-le-Preux. The first train arrives at Arras station, played in by the pipe band of a battalion of Gordon Highlanders. Australians and men of 29th Division rest after the attack. On 13 April men of 29th Division are taken to rest by buses.

ContextDescription
Dopesheet: a dopesheet for this film exists in the Film and Video Archive, but is suspect in many respects.
Remarks: the last, and least successful, of the three 'big battle' pictures made between summer 1916 and spring 1917 by British official cameramen. Compare with IWM 116 THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE AND THE ADVANCE OF THE TANKS and IWM 191 THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. The film is patchy, without drama and lacks scenes of actual combat. It was a recognition of these limitations which led to the shift away from the 'big battle' format.

Duration
68 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
4

Dimensions
4129 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office Cinema Committee

ProductionCompany
Topical Film Company

ProductionTeam
Jury, William F: producer
Malins, Geoffrey H: cameraman
McDowell, J B: cameraman
Raymond, H C: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
A J Peacock : (winter) 1981 : Evidence In Camera : Stand To! : No 3
W Alex Frame : (spring) 1982 : Unknown Raiders : Stand To! : No 4
shotsheet
dopesheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 116

ProductionDate
1/1917

ItemName
the BATTLE OF THE ANCRE AND THE ADVANCE OF THE TANKS [Main]
BATTLE OF THE ANCRE [alternative]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).57

IndexObjects
armour, British - tank: Tank Mark I Male & [+]
armour, British - tank: Tank Mark I Female & [+]
casualties, British wounded - battlefield
combat [simulated], British - trench raid
combat [simulated], British - tank
combat, British - artillery bombardment
communications, British military - wire
destruction, French military - area
medical, British military - emergency
operations, British military - sortie
operations, British military - preparation
operations, British military - return
operations, British military - movement
prisoners of war, German - movement: [+]
society, British military - sustenance
society, British military - hygiene
supplies, British, movement [FA] - munitions: [+]
transport, British military - animal packload: [+]
transport, British military - rail
weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun
weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer
weapons, British - gun: 8-inch howitzer

IndexPlaces
France & Flers-Courcelette area, Somme
France & Ancre area, Somme
France & Martinpuich, Pas-de-Calais

IndexUnits
GB.A & Div 16 (?)
GB.A & Div 29
GB.A & Div 63
GB.A & Royal Naval Div, Bn Howe
GB.A & Royal Naval Div, Bn Hawke
GB.N & Royal Naval Div, Bn Howe
GB.N & Royal Naval Div, Bn Hawke
AU.A & Australian Imperial Force, Div 1
AU.A & Australian Imperial Force, Div 2
GB.A & Machine Gun Corps, Heavy Branch
GB.A & [Tank Corps]
GB.A & Worcestershire Regt, Bn 4
GB.A & Northamptonshire Regt, Bn 2
GB.A & Yorkshire Regt, West, Bn 2
GB.A & Scottish Borderers, King's Own, Bn 11
GB.A & Scottish Borderers, King's Own, Bn 8
GB.A & Scots Fusiliers, Royal, Bn 13
GB.A & Cameron Highlanders, Bn 6
GB.A & Cameron Highlanders, Bn 9
GB.A & Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Bn 11
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry, Bn 8
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry, Bn 9
GB.A & Essex Regt
GB.A & Welch Fusiliers, Royal

ShortSummary
British operations in the Somme offensive between the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the Battle of the Ancre, Western Front, September-November 1916.

FullSummary
(Reel 1) Material from various phases of the Somme offensive without regard for logical or chronological continuity. The film opens with the unloading of supply trains, and soldiers on the march to the battlefield, horses being used to carry 18-pounder shells to the guns in saddle-panniers as the mud is impassable for wheeled transport, and the first appearance of the tanks. Includes brief footage of black servicemen of the British West Indies Regiment amongst a team of men loading the train. (Reel 2) 18-pounder guns, 6-inch and 8-inch howitzers fire under the control of battery officers and forward observation officers. A sequence of "Irish troops" attacking Martinpuich is shown (fake ?). (Reel 3) The tanks and Highlanders take Martinpuich on 15 September. (Reel 4) Scenes of ruins and a field dressing station after the battle. A German colonel captured with his staff on 13th November. Men of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division rest after capturing Beaumont Hamel. (Reel 5) General views of the Ancre battlefield and troops cleaning up and resting in the aftermath. The final sequence is of silhouetted supply columns moving on up the road. Among the various units in the film, those which are identified are three tanks, HMLS 'Oh I Say !', HMLS 'Daphne' and HMLS 'Dodo', the Australian 1st and 2nd Divisions, Howe and Hawke Battalions from 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, 29th Division, and several Infantry regiments. These include 4th Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, the West Yorkshire Regiment, 7th and 8th Battalions, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, 13th Battalion, the Royal Scots, 11th Battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 6th and 10th Battalions, the Cameron Highlanders, 8th and 9th Battalions, the Durham Light Infantry, the Essex Regiment and the Royal Welch Fusiliers

ContextDescription
Shotsheet: a detailed shotsheet and analysis of this film has been published to accompany the video distribution of this film (1993).
Remarks: the second of the three 'big battle' films made between summer 1916 and spring 1917 by British official organisations, and that which conforms most closely to the 'big battle' format. Compare with IWM 113 THE GERMAN RETREAT AND BATTLE OF ARRAS and IWM 191 THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. Extremely patchy, it shows evidence of the use of fakes, particularly in the 'Irish' attack, while the close-ups of tanks are clearly filmed in a training ground. Nevertheless it has some good moments, such as the long ride to take shells to the guns in reel 1 and the attack of the Highlanders in reel 3. The novelty value of the tanks is heavily played upon.
Summary: additional information courtesy of Tony T of Illuminations TV/Sweet Patootie.

Duration
76 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
5

Dimensions
4472 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office

ProductionCompany
British Topical Committee for War Films

ProductionTeam
Jury, William F: producer
Malins, Geoffrey H: cameraman
McDowell, J B: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
Malins, Geoffrey H : 1920 : How I Filmed The War : Herbert Jenkins
shotsheet
dopesheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
MechanisationBlitzkrieg
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 191

ProductionDate
11/8/1916

ItemName
BATTLE OF THE SOMME [Main]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).57

IndexObjects
weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun
weapons, British - gun: 4.7-inch
weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer
weapons, British - gun: 60-pounder
weapons, British - gun: 15-inch howitzer & [+]
weapons, British - mortar: 2-inch plum pudding
weapons, British - mortar: 9.45-inch
weapons, British - smallarm: Vickers machine gun
weapons, German - gun: 77mm field gun & [captured]
animals, mammals: horse & [casualties]
animals, mammals: dog & [casualties]
animals, mammals: fox
agriculture, French - arable
casualties, British wounded - battlefield
casualties, German wounded - battlefield
casualties, German dead - battlefield
casualties, British dead - battlefield
combat, British - artillery bombardment
combat, British - mortar bombardment: [+]
combat [simulated], British
combat, British - mine explosion
defences, German - emplacement: [captured]
destruction, French military - area
equipment, British - personal: wire cutters
medical, British military - emergency
operations, British military - movement: march
operations, British military - preparation
operations, British military - return
operations, British military - routine
prisoners of war, German - movement
society, British military - sustenance
supplies, British, storage [FA] - munitions

IndexPeople
De Lisle, Beauvoir

IndexPlaces
France & Beaumont Hamel area, Somme <Hawthorn Redoubt>
France & Carnoy area, Somme <Minden Post>
France & La Boisselle area, Somme
France & Fricourt area, Somme (?)

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Artillery & RGA & Siege Bty 15
CA.A & Canadian Expeditionary Force & [artillery]
GB.A & Div 7
GB.A & Welch Fusiliers, Royal, Bn 1
GB.A & Manchester Regt, Bn 22
GB.A & Manchester Regt, Bn 24
GB.A & Warwickshire Regt, Royal, Bn 2
GB.A & Devonshire Regt
GB.A & Gordon Highlanders, Bn 2
GB.A & Div 29
GB.A & Lancashire Fusiliers, Bn 2
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 2
GB.A & Hampshire Regt, Bn 2
GB.A & Worcestershire Regt, Bn 4
GB.A & Middlesex Regt, Bn 16
GB.A & Essex Regt, Bn 1
GB.A & Div 56
GB.A & London Regt, Bn 1/14
GB.A & Div 31
GB.A & Yorkshire Regt, East, Bn 10
GB.A & Div 18
GB.A & Kent Regt, East (The Buffs), Bn 7
GB.A & Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt, Bn 7
GB.A & Suffolk Regt, Bn 8
GB.A & Div 4
GB.A & Seaforth Highlanders, Bn 2
GB.A & Div 37
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 13
GB.A & Royal Army Medical Corps
GB.N & Royal Marines & Royal Marine Artillery
DE.A & Wurttemberg Reserve Regt 109 (?)

ShortSummary
British forces, chiefly 7th and 29th Divisions, on the first day of the Somme offensive, Western Front, 1 July 1916.

FullSummary
The 'big battle' structure of the film opens with the preparatory bombardment for the days before the attack, the Infantry marching to their final positions, the attack itself, the casualties, prisoners and consolidation of the next few days as the attacking troops are withdrawn for rest. The bombardment, shown in the opening reels, is by a variety of guns from a giant 15-inch howitzer to trench mortars. The attack by 29th Division at Beaumont Hamel is shown, including the explosion of a mine under Hawthorn Redoubt. The remainder of the film shows the British and German wounded being treated at the Minden Post dressing station in 7th Division sector and the consolidation of captured German positions at Fricourt and Mametz. The British soldiers come out of the line to rest and they and their German prisoners retire to the rear.

ContextDescription
Shotsheet: a detailed shotsheet and analysis of the film has been prepared as a resource on the IWM website to accompany DVD distribution of this film (2008)
Distribution: THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME appears to have been used in at least some cinemas with FOR THE EMPIRE (IWM 714) as the supporting programme. For example, a newspaper advertisement for the Palladium in Southampton promotes screenings of BATTLE OF THE SOMME as 'the most Thrilling Pictures of the War' then says 'Also an extremely interesting Patriotic Film, entitled FOR THE EMPIRE, issued by order H.M. Treasury.' (Information supplied by Dr Michael Hammond, Southampton University.)
Remarks: the classic First World War film in every sense, widely used for stockshots even today. It established the basic structure of the 'big battle' film, which was to continue for a further two productions until the spring of 1917. The only British official film to have a major impact on the perception of the war, both at the time and in historical terms. Also the only official film of the war with a claim to be regarded as great art in its own right. The unprecedented and unexpected public success of this film established cinema as a major factor in British propaganda for the rest of the war.

Duration
79 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
5

Dimensions
4694 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office

ProductionCompany
British Topical Committee for War Films

ProductionTeam
Jury, William F: producer
Urban, Charles: film editor
Malins, Geoffrey H: film editor
Malins, Geoffrey H: cameraman
McDowell, J B: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
Malins, Geoffrey H : 1920 : How I Filmed the War : Herbert Jenkins
Middlebrook, Martin : 1971 : the First Day on the Somme : Allen Lane
Low, Rachael : 1948 : a History of British Film : Allen & Unwin : Volume III 1914-1918
Brownlow, Kevin : 1978 : the War, the West and the Wilderness : Secker & Warburg
Latter, J C : 1949 : the History of the Lancashire Fusiliers : 1914-1918 : Gale and Polden : Volume I, pages 137-138
Badsey, S D : 1983 : Battle of the Somme, British war-propaganda : Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television : No 2 Vol iii : pages 109-115
Smither, Roger : 1993 : 'A Wonderful Idea of the Fighting': the question of fakes in The Battle of the Somme : Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television : No 2 Vol xiii : pages 149-168
shotsheet
dopesheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
MachineryOfDelivery
ForgingNationalities
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
06/10/2008 05:50:19

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 207

ProductionDate
13/3/1916

ItemName
HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES WITH THE GUARDS IN THE FRONT LINE [Main]
OFFICIAL PICTURES OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE - SECOND SERIES [series]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).4

IndexObjects
buildings, Belgian - religious: church (temporary)
religion, Christianity - military, British
weapons, British - smallarm: SMLE rifle
equipment, British - fire control: sniperscope
weapons, British - smallarm: Vickers machine gun
casualties, British wounded - battlefield
equipment, British - personal: waders
medical, British military - preventative

IndexPeople
Edward, Prince (Duke of Windsor)
Cavan, Frederic (10th Earl)

IndexPlaces
France & Aubers Ridge, Nord
France & Richebourg Saint Vaast, Pas-de-Calais
France & Béthune area, Pas-de-Calais <La Gorge>

IndexUnits
GB.A & Div, Guards
GB.A & Welsh Guards, Bn 1
GB.A & Grenadier Guards, Bn 1
GB.A & Grenadier Guards, Bn 4
GB.A & Irish Guards
GB.A & Scots Guards
GB.A & Coldstream Guards

ShortSummary
The front line trenches of the Guards Division in front of Aubers Ridge, and the Prince of Wales with the Earl of Cavan, December 1915.

FullSummary
1st or 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards, with 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, in a street, probably Richebourg-St-Vaast, about to be led off by a pipe and drum band for a Christmas service, 25 December 1915. They enter the temporary church at La Gorge (?). After the service a number of officers emerge, including the divisional commander, Major-General the Earl of Cavan, and the Prince of Wales, who served on the divisional staff. About two days later, a party led by Cavan and the Prince visits a concealed battery headquarters (no sign of guns) in a leafless wood. Men of the Scots Guards grease their feet as a protection against trench foot and put on waders before going into the line. A battalion of Irish Guards gets up and pulls on its packs after resting by the roadside. Coldstream Guards in the second line work in the rain with shovels to clear a swamped "trench road". The second line trenches are all flooded to between knee and waist depth. An Irish Guards chaplain makes his rounds. In a forward trench one of the Irish Guards uses a sniperscope to fire at the enemy. Another sniper with a head wound is taken away on a stretcher. A rear view of a Vickers machine gun team firing, then removing the gun. A platoon of 1st Battalion, the Welsh Guards, is checked by its officer for trench foot after coming out of the line.

ContextDescription
Cameraman: this was either Malins or Tong.

Duration
10 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
594 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office

ProductionCompany
British Topical Committee for War Films

ProductionTeam
Malins, Geoffrey H (?): cameraman
Tong, Edward G (?): cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
Malins, Geoffrey H : 1920 : How I Filmed the War : Herbert Jenkins
Headlam, C : 1924 : the Guards Division in the Great War : 1915-1918 : John Murray : Volume I
: : Bioscope : 17th February 1916 : page 674
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 127

ProductionDate
(?) 1917

ItemName
SCENES ON THE MENIN ROAD [Main]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).74

IndexObjects
defences, British - emplacement: trenches
engineering, military, British
society, British military - sustenance
society, British military - hygiene
weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer & [-]
transport, British military - rail: narrow gauge train
religion, Christianity - military, British
medical, British military - emergency
prisoners of war, German - movement

IndexPlaces
Belgium & Menin Road area, West Flanders

IndexUnits
GB.A & Kent Regt, West Royal
GB.A & Royal Engineers
GB.A & [yeomanry]
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps
AU.A & Australian Imperial Force

ShortSummary
General views of the area around Ypres, Western Front, probably 1917.

FullSummary
I. German prisoners escorted by Yeomanry over an iron bridge. A metre-gauge railway train holding a platoon of the Queen's Regiment. A repair workshop for guns and howitzers. A group of soldiers shaving in a field of horses. Royal Engineers in combat gear coming up a trench. Soldiers clearing mud from a narrow gauge railway track. Guns, hidden by scrim netting, firing, followed by mules being led past them. A poor quality shot of a 6-inch howitzer (?). A party of Durham Light Infantry falling in by a roadside. Men of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and Royal Engineers digging a trench. Soldiers eating in the open. A chaplain assisting in the treatment of a man with a wounded arm. German prisoners sitting with British stretcher-bearers. II. The film ends with a poor quality scene of German prisoners carrying Australians on stretchers to the rear, from IWM 158 FIGHTING IN FLANDERS.

ContextDescription
Summary: see also IWM 158.

Duration
12 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B & W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
665 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office Cinema Committee (?)

ProductionCompany
Topical Film Company

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 130-01+2

ProductionDate
1917

ItemName
SONS OF OUR EMPIRE EPISODE 1 : Winter on the Western Front [Main]
WINTER ON THE WESTERN FRONT [alternative]
PREPARING FOR THE SPRING OPERATIONS [original part title]
the FALL OF BAPAUME [original part title]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).5
01/3(4-15).6
01/3(4-15).7

IndexObjects
weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer
weapons, British - gun: 9.2-inch howitzer
weapons, British - gun: 60-pounder
weapons, British - gun [AA]: 13-pounder
weapons, British - projector: rifle grenade
weapons, British - mortar: 3-inch Stokes
weapons, British - smallarm: Vickers machine gun
communications, British military - electronic
combat, British - artillery bombardment
combat, British - trench raid: [+]
training, British military
defences, German - passive: observation post & [captured]
destruction, French military - area
society, British military - sustenance: [+]

IndexPlaces
France & Bapaume, Pas-de-Calais <station>

IndexUnits
GB.A & Highland Light Infantry (?)
AU.A & Australian Imperial Force, Div 5 (?)
GB.A & [infantry]

ShortSummary
Winter training for British troops, and Bapaume after its capture, Western Front, early 1917

FullSummary
I. (Reel 1) Winter training for British troops. Infantry guns and Highlanders move in columns along the roads up to the snow covered trenches. Hot soup is brought to troops in the trenches. A dawn 'stand to'. Rifle grenades and a 3-inch Stokes mortar are test fired. A bombardment in snow by various British guns: 6-inch howitzers, 9.2-inch howitzers, 18-pounders and 60-pounders, directed by air observation. A major daylight trench raid through the snow, covered by smoke grenades. The raid is in four waves including wiring parties. Meanwhile other trenches are repaired and 6-inch howitzers continue the harassing fire. II. (Reel 2) Damage to Bapaume shown after its capture. Highland Light Infantry (?) repair the Bapaume road. A panorama of the town starting with the railway station. Views from the Rue de Casernes and the Rue de Bapaume. Some buildings are still smouldering and parties of British troops who walk by warm themselves by the fires. A detailed scene of the railway station. A German observation post on top of the sugar factory. More damage, including the town hall, and a Vickers machine gun emplacement on the Rue de Péronne. British troops, including lorry-mounted 13-pounder anti-aircraft guns, move through the town. Australians, probably of Australian 5th Division, enter the town.

ContextDescription
Date: the original version of Episode 1 of SONS OF OUR EMPIRE, which was devoted entirely to winter training, was first shown at the Scala Theatre, London, on 21 March 1917. Shortly afterwards the Germans abandoned Bapaume in their retreat to the Siegfried Stellung (or Hindenburg Line) and film of the captured town was included in the version of the episode released to the public on 9 April 1917. Some fragments of the original version of Episode 1 can be found in IWM 123. A copy of a War Office Cinematograph Committee programme held in the Film and Video Archive in fact designates reel 2 as "Part II" with the title THE FALL OF BAPAUME. ON THE 17TH MARCH 1917. and adds the sub-title PREPARING FOR THE SPRING OPERATIONS to the Part I title as given above.
Summary: by extensive use of stock footage, this episode and the remainder of the series seek to give the impression that Bapaume fell as the direct consequence of a major British offensive, which it did not. In effect, the series portrays a non-existent battle. Furthermore, the decision to include the material of Bapaume as soon as it was received has meant that the series shows this material, of April 1917, considerably before its episode on the capture of Courcelette in November 1916.
Remarks: generally, the series is an improvement on both IWM 116 THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE AND THE ADVANCE OF THE TANKS and IWM 113 THE GERMAN RETREAT AND THE BATTLE OF ARRAS in representing warfare between late 1916 and early 1917. In this episode, the trench raid sequence, in starkly contrasting blacks and whites against a snow setting, is very lovely and quite surreal in appearance. The film of Bapaume should have been used to better effect rather than being fitted into a completed series in this manner.

Duration
34 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
2

Dimensions
2002 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office Cinema Committee

ProductionCompany
Topical Film Company

ProductionTeam
Jury, William F: producer
McDowell, J B: cameraman
Raymond, H C: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
None

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 208

ProductionDate
27/3/1916

ItemName
LIVELINESS ON THE BRITISH FRONT [Main]
OFFICIAL PICTURES OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE - THIRD SERIES [series]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).5

IndexObjects
transport, British military - bus
training, British military - combat
buildings, French - historic: château & [wrecked]
casualties, British graves - battlefield

IndexPeople
Alexander, Harold R L G

IndexPlaces
France & Epinette, Pas-de-Calais <château>
France & Béthune area, Pas-de-Calais <Rouge Croix crossroads>
France & Aubers Ridge, Nord <Southerland Avenue>

IndexUnits
GB.A & Div 38
GB.A & Welch Fusiliers, Royal
GB.A & Div, Guards
GB.A & Irish Guards, Bn 2
GB.A & Grenadier Guards

ShortSummary
The Guards Division in the line in front of Aubers Ridge, Western Front, early 1916.

FullSummary
A New Army battalion of Royal Welch Fusiliers, 38th (Welsh) Division (attached to the Guards Division for training) arrives by bus and gets out in the Guards area. Grenadier Guards in the rubble of Epinette Château filling sandbags and clearing debris. A wooden tramway on the La Bassée road is used to move corrugated iron for strongpoints. At Rouge Croix crossroads, about three kilometres from the front, soldiers race across to avoid German shells. A first aid post in the front lines with canvas screens and a water pump. 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, at "Southerland Avenue" (sic) trench with the flag they carried in the Battle of Loos. Men of the battalion work on the drainage system in the trenches: showing interest in the camera is Captain the Honourable H R L Alexander (the future Field Marshal Earl Alexander). Wooden crosses mark graves just by the second line trenches. A Grenadier sniper in a front line trench. Men of a tunnelling company enter and leave a trench minehead. II. A final sequence, almost certainly a training exercise, of New Army troops throwing smoke grenades forward from their trenches and then rushing forward into the smoke (note the caps rather than helmets and lack of equipment).

ContextDescription
Cameraman: this was either Malins or Tong.
Remarks: generally valuable, like all the early film of the war. The training exercise 'attack' at the end is quite attractive.

Duration
8 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
471 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office

ProductionCompany
British Topical Committee for War Films

ProductionTeam
Tong, Edward G (?): cameraman
Malins, Geoffrey H (?): cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 255

ProductionDate
20/3/1916

ItemName
IN ACTION WITH OUR CANADIAN TROOPS [Main]
OFFICIAL PICTURES OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE - SECOND SERIES [series]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).5

IndexObjects
operations, Canadian military - routine
casualties, Canadian graves - battlefield

IndexPlaces
Belgium & Mont Sorel, West Flanders (?) <Prowse Point>

IndexUnits
CA.A & Canadian Light Infantry, Princess Patricia's
CA.A & Canadian Expeditionary Force, Div 1, Bn 5

ShortSummary
Canadian troops on the Western Front, February 1916.

FullSummary
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry parade with the standard presented by the Princess, and march to the trenches. They enter heading towards "Prowse Point", the shallow, waterlogged trench which forms the junction of the British and Canadian lines. 5th (Saskatchewan) Battalion, 1st Division, repairs its own trenches and stops for a meal. The men of the battalion stand-to in their trench (which like the others is narrow, shallow and waterlogged) and send out a reconnaissance party past some shattered buildings and water-filled shellholes. One sniper is poised in the ruins of a house's front room. The view from a front line trench of shell-bursts over buildings in the German positions. A short pan over the Canadian line from an elevated position. An officer and some men crouch in a wood close to the enemy, possibly Mont Sorel. Finally, a fenced enclosure for the graves of "Canadian Heroes".

ContextDescription
Cameraman: the cameraman was either Malins or Tong.
Remarks: in addition to the generally poor film quality, which makes unit identification difficult, much of this film does not look right, and it may have quite a lot of fakes in it.

Duration
11 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
623 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office

ProductionCompany
British Topical Committee for War Films

ProductionTeam
Malins, Geoffrey H (?): cameraman
Tong, Edward G (?): cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
English

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 483-1

ProductionDate
10/1915

ItemName
MESSTER WOCHE 43 1915 [Main]
SEMANA MESSTER 43 1915 (on copy held) [alternative]

IndexEvents
First World War, German Occupied France & 9/1915 = 10/1915
01/3(4-15).4

IndexObjects
prisoners of war, British - movement
medical, German military - movement
animals, mammals: horse
animals, mammals: dog (mascot)
buildings, French - religious: church & [damaged]
defences, German - emplacement
engineering, military, German
combat, German
society, German military - charity

IndexPeople
Laffert, von (General)

IndexPlaces
France & Lille, Nord (?)
France

IndexUnits
DE.A

ShortSummary
Portuguese language version of a German newsreel of their own forces in the area of Lille, occupied France, autumn 1915.

FullSummary
British prisoners, probably from the Battle of Loos, are marched through the streets of Lille (?) with a mounted escort. German wounded are taken by ambulance to a temporary hospital in the town and unloaded. Soldiers distribute meat to the people (mainly old men and women) of Lille. Nearer the battle zone, a horse from a gun-team is coaxed out from a patch of mud. Members of the "General Staff" (probably not the Grosse Generalstab) visit a ruined church. Sappers repair a trench blown in by British shells. Work in a sawmill and timber-yard. A dog kept as a mascot in the rear trenches. The headquarters of a front-line battalion in a deep dugout. A Cavalry commander, General von Laffert (?) with his staff beside a château. A mining operation in which sappers take sandbags into the forward trenches and carry earth away from the mine. A view over no man's land from the front trenches - a sniper fires across at the British. The rest of the troops take up position on the firing-step and open fire. (All the trenches are very well made and dry.)

ContextDescription
Production: the Portuguese language version of the German weekly newsreel MESSTER WOCHE, produced by Oskar Messter in association with the German government
Summary: note that as this is German film all troops in it are German unless otherwise stated. British official filming of the Western Front did not start until November 1915, and French filming at about the same date. This series is therefore among the earliest film of the Western Front in existence. The series runs from IWM 483-01 to IWM 483-06, or from issues 43 to 48 of 1915
Technical: the whole series is held under the single number IWM 483
Remarks: the contrast between the German trenches and the British equivalents, as shown in films such as IWM 207 and IWM 208, is very marked. The Germans, however, clearly suffered from the same technical problems in filming as the British

Duration
12 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
727 ft

ProductionCompany
Messter Film

ProductionTeam
Messter, O: producer

ProductionCountry
Germany

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
Portuguese

LanguageSubtitles
Portuguese

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 508-50

ProductionDate
(?) 23/2/1918

ItemName
ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 50 [Main]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).80 [1918 Ervantes]
01/3(4-15).8
01/3(4-15).8
01/3(4-15).8

IndexObjects
prisoners of war, German - movement
operations, United States military - movement: march
society, United States military - sustenance
operations, French military - routine
weapons, French - projector: rifle grenade
defences, French - emplacement: trenches
equipment, French - personal: gasmask
weapons, French - smallarm: Hotchkiss machine gun
training, French military - specialist: equestrian
ceremonies, French - event-related: investiture

IndexPeople
Riols de Fonclare, de (Lieutenant-General) (?)

IndexPlaces
France & Moncel area, Alsace
France & Aisne (River)
France & Marne
France

IndexUnits
FR.A & Corps 25
FR.A & Corps 25 & Div 123
FR.A & [dragoons]
US.A & American Expeditionary Force
US.A & Corps 2
FR.A
FR.A & [cavalry]

ShortSummary
I. French newsreel item on the aftermath of the action at Ervantes, near Moncel, Alsace area, Western Front, 20th February 1918.
II. French newsreel item on US troops near the River Aisne, Western Front, February 1918.
III. French newsreel item on their own forces in the Marne area, Western Front, February 1918.
IV. French newsreel item on a Cavalry regiment practising manoeuvres behind the lines, Western Front, February 1918.

FullSummary
Well behind the lines, a mass of soldiers, most probably from 123rd Division semi-posed as if waiting for transport. A senior officer is with them, possibly Lieutenant-General de Riols de Fonclare, the commander of XV Corps. Dragoons escort the German prisoners (11 officers and 525 other ranks) to the rear. The Germans march in step and salute the camera and watching Frenchmen, breaking step on command at the end of the marchpast. (Whole episode acted ?)
The soldiers are probably rear-echelon troops of II Corps. They form up in a village and march on northwards to their base, where their cook cuts up meat and prepares stew. One of the men talks with a small French girl.
A trench system in the Champagne region. One party of four soldiers is firing rifle grenades. A similar party is patrolling the trench. A regimental colonel emerges from his sandbagged command post. A medical team makes its way along the trench. In a dugout to the rear some men rest and others carry hods of earth. Observers climb a tree to their post, a sentry in a gasmask keeps guard, others look out from a front line hide. A Hotchkiss machine gun is fired on a high angle for harassing purposes (given as anti-aircraft).
The regiment marches past along a road in a quiet area behind the lines. Arriving at an open field the regiment deploys into column of troops and finally full line. After an inspection one officer receives the Legion of Honour. A 'charge' in successive columns of troops is made for the camera.

ContextDescription
Title: this and the subtitles are flashframes
Production etc: see Notes to IWM 508-10
Remarks: if the French really got an event into a newsreel within two days of filming it this speaks well for their censorship and publicity services. However the whole Ervantes episode appears to have been taken in the rear areas, the German behaviour is strange (although not impossible) and generally the film is suspect

Duration
10 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
581 ft

ProductionCompany
Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française

ProductionCountry
France

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
French

LanguageSubtitles
French

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
87 / 1544

ProductionDate
1987

ItemName
The killing ground
the British Army, the Western Front and the emergence of modern warfare, 1900-1918

IndexPeople
[ Haig, Douglas. 1st Earl of Bemersyde]

IndexPlaces
Great Britain
UK
Great Britain
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexConcepts
armies in general
conduct of offensives
blitzkrieg
infiltration
first german offensive in france 1918
first battles of the somme 1918
battle of the somme 1916
historiography
historians
historical writings
army, general officers
military unit histories
armed forces in general
armies
military art and science
strategy and tactics, theory
theory of warfare
reference works, guides and chronologies
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]

ContextDescription
pages 294-303

NumberOfParts
xxiv, 309p., 8p. of plates
ill., maps, ports.

Dimensions
25cm.

MakerName
Tim Travers

MakerInfo
TRAVERS, TIM

ProductionCompany
Allen and Unwin

ProductionCountry
London

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/10/2009 05:50:17

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

FormatDescription
Bibl.:p.294-303
Includes index

Access
02(41).0/3

ISBN
0-04-942205-7

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
85 / 3374

OtherNumber
K

ProductionDate
1916

ItemName
German methods of trench warfare

IndexPlaces
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940
Germany

IndexConcepts
trench warfare
trenches
trench warfare
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles
military art and science
strategy and tactics, theory
theory of warfare

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

NumberOfParts
7p., 2 fold leaves of plates
2 maps

Dimensions
34cm.

MakerInfo
FIRST ARMY
1ST ARMY

ProductionCompany
1st Army

ProductionCountry
N.p.

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/10/2009 05:50:17

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

Access
01/3(4-15).046

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
42068

ProductionDate
1930

ItemName
The Wipers Times
including for the first time in one volume a facsimile reproduction of the complete series of the famous wartime trench magazines

IndexPlaces
Great Britain
UK

IndexUnits
[ British Expeditionary Force]

IndexConcepts
journalism
service newspapers
british army, british expeditionary force, bef
military operations western front first world war
campaigns on the western front first world war
literature
fiction
humorous prose
anthologies of humorous writing
journalism
press
war reporting
[ Wipers Times]

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
Signed by F.J. Roberts

ContextDescription
"To John Bilham in memory of good days from the Editor F.J. Roberts" - handwritten on flyleaf
Copy of 2006 edition in the Reading Room - L47

NumberOfParts
[5], vii, [332]p., 3 leaves of plates
figs., frontis., ports

Dimensions
26

MakerName
editor : Lieut.-Col. F.J. Roberts
sub-editor : Major J.H. Pearson
with a foreword by Field Marshal Lord Plumer

MakerInfo
ROBERTS, F.J.
PEARSON, J.H.

ProductionCompany
Eveleigh Nash and Grayson

ProductionCountry
London

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
04/05/2007 05:50:26

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

Access
Special Collection

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
67047

ProductionDate
1917

ItemName
Das 10. Wurtt. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180 in der Somme-Schlacht 1916

IndexPlaces
Germany, pre 1945 and post 1990
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexUnits
[ 180 Inf. Regt.]

IndexConcepts
armies, german regular infantry regiments
british operations prior to the somme 1916
military unit histories
armed forces in general
armies
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]

NumberOfParts
70p., 3 fold. leaves of plates
maps

Dimensions
21

MakerName
von Alfred Vischer

MakerInfo
VISCHER, ALFRED

ProductionCompany
Uhland'sche Buchdruckerei

ProductionCountry
Stuttgart

Language
German

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
23/07/2007 05:50:21

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
85 / 2910

ProductionDate
1916

ItemName
Programme of the official War Office film representing scenes from The Battle of the Somme
Sandringham, Thursday September 14th, 1916

IndexPlaces
Great Britain
UK
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexConcepts
films
newsreels
propaganda in films
film propaganda
army, intelligence and propaganda
military filming
film units
battle of the somme 1916
cinema and films
propaganda
psychological warfare
military unit histories
armed forces in general
armies
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles
ephemeral material
documents
official forms
press cuttings

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
Pbk
Bound with purple ribbon

ContextDescription
Pbk
In secol envelope with 85/2909 "Programme of official pictures representing His Majesty's visit to The Grand Fleet and to the battlefields of France"

NumberOfParts
[6]p.

Dimensions
26

MakerInfo
PROGRAMME OF THE OFFICIAL WAR OFFICE FILM REPRESENTING SCENES FROM THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME
WAR OFFICE. CINEMATOGRAPH COMMITTEE
SCALA THEATRE, LONDON

ProductionCompany
n.pub.

ProductionCountry
N.p.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

Access
Rare B.

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
12668

ProductionDate
1928

ItemName
Epic of Verdun and ballads of France and other war poems...

IndexPeople
[ Lewys, Georges]

IndexPlaces
France
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexConcepts
poetry
verse
poems by individual authors
battle of verdun 1916
operations from 1 july 1915 to 31 december 1915 western front
operations in champagne, flanders and artois july 1915 to december 1915
poetry
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles
fiction
poetry
drama

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
Museum's copy is no. 44 of a limited edition of 375 copies and is signed by the author and inscribed to Sir Austen Chamberlain

ContextDescription
Museum's copy is no. 44 of a limited edition of 375 copies and is signed by the author and inscribed to Sir Austen Chamberlain

NumberOfParts
[5], 304p.

Dimensions
29

MakerName
Georges Lewys

MakerInfo
LEWYS, GEORGES

ProductionCompany
Lavater-Dorette

ProductionCountry
New York

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
92 / 1152

OtherNumber
[O]

ProductionDate
1991

ItemName
Topography of Armageddon
a British trench map atlas of the Western Front, 1914-1918

IndexPlaces
Western Europe
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexConcepts
encyclopaedias
encyclopedias
military operations western front first world war
campaigns on the western front first world war
atlases
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles
illustrated works
atlases
pictorial works

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]

NumberOfParts
200 pages
maps

Dimensions
42

MakerName
by Peter Chasseau
[preface by Alan Sillitoe]

MakerInfo
CHASSEAUD, PETER
SILLITOE, ALAN

ProductionCompany
Mapbooks

ProductionCountry
Lewes, East Sussex

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

ISBN
0-9512080-1-2 (pbk.)

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
96 / 1880

ProductionDate
1996

ItemName
The Battles of the Somme, 1916
historiography and annotated bibliography

SubTitle
Bibliographies of battles and leaders; no. 17

IndexPlaces
Western Europe
Place in general
The world
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexConcepts
bibliographies of battles
bibliographies of wars and military campaigns
war on land, bibliographies
subject bibliographies
historiography
historians
historical writings
battle of the somme 1916
bibliographies and catalogues
reference works, guides and chronologies
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles
bibliographies
library catalogues

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials - bibliography]

NumberOfParts
137p.

Dimensions
23

MakerName
compiled by Fred R. van Hartesveldt

MakerInfo
HARTESVELDT, FRED R. VAN
BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF BATTLES AND LEADERS; NO. 17

ProductionCompany
Greenwood Press

ProductionCountry
Westport, Connecticut

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

FormatDescription
index
Bibliographies of battles and leaders; no. 17

ISBN
0-313-29386-4

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
78 / 152

ProductionDate
1977

ItemName
The road to Passchendaele
the Flanders offensive of 1917
a study in inevitability

IndexPlaces
Theatre of operations Western Front 1914-1918
Theatre of operations France and the Low Countries 1939-1940

IndexConcepts
battle of ypres 1917
military operations
campaigns, military
warfare (conventional)
battles

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

NumberOfParts
xxii, 365p.
ill., maps

Dimensions
24

MakerName
by John Terraine

MakerInfo
TERRAINE, JOHN

ProductionCompany
Leo Cooper

ProductionCountry
London

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

FormatDescription
index

Access
Copy in Reading Room - A3(4-15)

ISBN
0-85052-299-3

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 10551

ProductionDate
1914

ItemName
Colt New Service (commercial post-1905)

ObjectType
pistol

IndexPeople
Martin, C G (Brigadier, VC DSO CBE)

IndexPlaces
Belgium & Spanbroek Molen

IndexUnits
British Army, Royal Engineers, 56th Field Company

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
This Colt New Service (see FIR 11511) was damaged on 12 March 1915, in the course of an action in which Lieutenant C G Martin won the Victoria Cross.

Martin, a Royal Engineer (56th Field Company), volunteered to lead a bombing attack with men of the 3rd Worcestershire Regiment to clear a German trench near a mill at Spanbroek in Belgium. Ignoring a wound received prior to the attack, Martin captured his objective and held it against strong counter-attacks. He survived the war, rising to the rank of Brigadier before his retirement after the Second World War.

ProductionCompany
Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co, Hartford, CT, USA

RelatedImageFile
FIR_010551.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
22/05/2008 05:50:36

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
relic condition, front and back straps deformed and broken.

Access
Access restrictions may apply

IndexPlace
Spanbroek Molen, Belgium [NEW TERM]

Theme
British Army 1914-1918
Western Front 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
FIR 11384

ItemName
Maschinengewehr 08 & MG 08

ObjectType
machine gun

IndexPeople
McBeath, Robert (L Cpl VC)

IndexPlaces
FR & Cambrai

IndexUnits
GB.A & Seaforth Highlanders, Bn 1/5

FullSummary
One of several guns captured by Lance Corporal McBeath of the 5th Seaforth Highlanders, on 20 November 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai. McBeath volunteered to deal with a group of German machine guns which were holding up the advance of two British battalions near Ribecourt. Armed with a Lewis Gun and a revolver, and operating in concert with a tank, he drove off the enemy gunners, capturing 33 of them in a dugout. For his deed McBeath was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
Standard MG 08, fitted with recoil intensifier, flash-hider and flash shield. Mounted on green-painted trench-mount attached to a thick wooden board with metal prong feet.

Access
Access restrictions may apply

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
UNI 162

ItemName
steel helmet, pattern M1916, with frontal plate

ObjectType
headdress

IndexPeople
unknown

IndexUnits
DE.A

FullSummary
Prior to the introduction of the Model 1916 helmet, most German troops had continued to wear their pre-war headdress. This afforded little real protection against head injury and it was therefore decided to introduce a steel helmet which provided protection not only for the head but for the neck and temple. Following the conclusion of preliminary research work in Berlin, the 1st Assault Battalion under the command of a Captain Rohr received the first shipment of helmets in December 1915 for field testing. These helmets proved so successful that by the end of January 1916, the first 30,000 helmets were issued from the factory in Thale. The frontal plate was primarily designed to protect the wearer against infantry small-arms fire from a distance of about 50 meters and beyond. Because of it's considerable weight, the frontal plate could only be worn for short periods and was unsuited for wear by troops required to move rapidly. It therefore became mainly worn by `static' troops, including sentinels, forward observers and the like. For this reason it is usually known as the `sniper' plate. The shape allowed it to be worn on all sizes of helmets. It hooks onto the ventilation lugs on either side of the helmet and is secured in position by a leather strap with a metal buckle.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
German Model 1916 steel helmet with detachable frontal plate painted in a brown, green and back camouflage pattern.

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Aircraft, Engines & Vehicles

IDNO
4100.90.1

OtherNumber
128.66

ItemName
Mark V (Male) Tank

ObjectType
vehicle, tracked, armoured

SubTitle
tank

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

ShortSummary
The tank is missing both sponsons and armament

NumberOfParts
incomplete externally and internally

MakerName
Metropolitan Carriage Wagon and Finance Company

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare
MechanisationBlitzkrieg

URLEncodedDeptName
AircraftEnginesVehicles

Nationality
british

DeptName
Aircraft, Engines & Vehicles

IDNO
4009.30.1

OtherNumber
101.85

ProductionDate
1 January 1917

ItemName
Baldwin Steam Locomotive 10-12-D Class

ObjectType
vehicle,railway

SubTitle
locomotive

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

ShortSummary
After service on the Western Front (exact wherabouts unknown) it was sold to Triven Engineering Works, UP, India, where it was used on the Khatauli Sugar Plantation. While in India it was renamed 'Tiger'.

NumberOfParts
complete

MakerName
Baldwin

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

URLEncodedDeptName
AircraftEnginesVehicles

Nationality
american

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
92 / 2432

ItemName
Pocket bible
[found in trench near La Levville, July 13th, 1918 by Gnr. Duke A. 94209, 5 Bty.]

FullSummary
[Printed Materials]

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Art

IDNO
IWM ART 1656

ProductionDate
1918

ProductionPeriod
First World War

ItemName
'Over The Top'. 1st Artists' Rifles at Marcoing, 30th December 1917

ObjectType
painting

IndexConcepts
action
trench / defences
landscape
military personnel
death
natural phenomena / time / weather
uniform

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
‘Over the Top’ is one of very few officially commissioned works depicting a specific and clearly identifiable action. The painting commemorates the 1st Artists’ Rifles involvement in an attack on the morning of 30th December, 1917, at Welsh Ridge, near Marcoing (south west of Cambrai). The unit was recalled from ‘rest’ in response to a German attack and hastily committed to action. The consequences were disastrous and the Artists’ Rifles suffered heavy casualties. In a sense this action was typical of the hastily arranged and badly planned local counter-attack. Nash’s soldier figures climbing out of the trench, shoulders hunched over, walking out into the snow seem resigned to their fate. This battle experience profoundly affected the artist and his painting. The simplicity and directness of this image is a valuable visual complement to the historical accounts of the event to be found in the unit history and battalion war diary.

ContextDescription
image: A landscape in the snow. On the left, a red earth trench lined with duckboards stretches away from the viewer. A group of soldiers clamber from the trench, going 'over the top'. Two lie dead in the trench and another has fallen lying face down in the snow. Those who have survived plod forward towards the right without looking back. They walk beneath a grey, stormy sky, with clouds from shell and gunfire in the distance.

Format
oil

Support
canvas

Dimensions
798 mm
1080 mm

CopyrightStatus
crown

MakerName
Nash, John RA

ProductionCountry
Great Britain

AcquisitionMethod
transfer

AcquisitionNote
Ministry of Information Commission, Scheme 2

AcquisitionDate
1.1.1919

RelatedImageFile
PCD0004/IWM_ART_001656.jpg

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
20/08/2007 05:50:24

URLEncodedDeptName
Art

FormatDescription
painting

AuthorityLink
Nash, John RA

IndexPlace
Marcoing, Nord, France

IndexPlaceDetail
Welsh Ridge, Marcoing

IndexEvent
Action of Welsh Ridge, Western Front, First World War

Theme
British Army 1914-1918
Western Front 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Art

IDNO
IWM ART 2955

ProductionDate
1918

ProductionPeriod
First World War

ItemName
Dead Germans in a Trench

ObjectType
painting

IndexConcepts
trench / defences
death
military personnel
bomb damage

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
The bright white chalk spoil, immediately behind the wattle-revetted German trench, suggests the Somme front for ‘Dead Germans in a Trench’. The war has moved on leaving only its derelict victims; one of whom gracelessly buries his helmeted head in the chalky soil in anticipation of his return to dust. The second, lying grotesquely on his back, stares unseeing at the viewer, his mouth open. The blue-green of the corpse hints at putrefaction and is a marked contrast to the vivid blue of the sky above the parapet. Lurid and disturbing colours appear in several of Orpen's works on the aftermath of battle, and clearly reflect his sensitivity to the atmosphere and significance of what he had seen.

ContextDescription
image: A view down into a trench lined with wooden planks and caning. At the bottom lie the decaying corpses of two German soldiers. One corpse lies on his back, his face contorted in an expression of pain; the other lies face down in the mud.

Format
oil

Support
canvas

Dimensions
914 mm
762 mm

CopyrightStatus
IWM

MakerName
Orpen, William Sir RA

ProductionCountry
France

AcquisitionMethod
gift

AcquisitionNote
Department of Information commission

CreditLine
Gift of the artist, 1918

AcquisitionDate
6.5.1919

RelatedImageFile
PCD0001/IWM_ART_002955.jpg

SubThemeTag
TrenchWarfare

UncatTransferDate
20/08/2007 05:50:24

URLEncodedDeptName
Art

FormatDescription
painting

AuthorityLink
Orpen, William Sir RA

IndexPlace
Somme, France

IndexEvent
Western Front, First World War

Theme
Western Front 1914-1918
German Army 1914-1918
British Army 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y