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Description: | British civilian worked in shell filling factory, London, 1916-1917; served as engine mechanic with Royal Naval Air Service in GB, 1917-1920; civilian during London Blitz, 1939-1945
REEL 1 Background in Walthamstow, London, 1900-1916: work filling shells with tear gas and phosgene gas from container drums in munitions factory, 1916-1917; opinion of causes of war. Recruitment as boy engine mechanic and initial training with Royal Naval Air Service at Crystal Palace, 12/1917: reasons; uniform; first view of aircraft, 1912; medical; story of pilot stunting with inexperienced passenger; delays prior to recruitment; 'ditty box'; journey to Tregantle. Period training at Tregantle, 12/1917-3/1918: conditions of service; opinion of officers.
REEL 2 Continues: reactions to draft to Letchworth, 3/1918. Period training in engines at Letchworth, 1918: hammocks; leave; rotary engines; story of burying engines to conceal them from senior officer's inspection; Rolls Royce engines; story of meeting future wife and circumstance of her brother's death during war; story of influenza epidemic and subsequent death of doctor; reaction to formation of RAF, 1/4/1918 including question of uniforms and significance of naval black ties.
REEL 3 Period at Cranwell and Halton Camp, 1918-1920: packing and operation of Guardian Angel and Mears types of parachutes; types of engines. Recollections of effects of Blitz in North London, 1939-1945: camping holidays to avoid bombing; story of house being hit by bomb and subsequent efforts to repair damage. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Salmon, Donald | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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