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Description: | British boy seaman trained aboard HMS Mercury and HMS Impregnable in GB, 1916-1917; seaman served aboard HMS Revenge in North Sea, 1917-1918; served with Royal Navy in GB, 1918-1926.
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Worcestershire, GB, 1901-1916: childhood in Pershore and Wyre Piddle; family; fishing and swimming in Avon; story of bats; location of family house; market in Pershore; education; story of cycling accident; story of seeing first motorcar; story of seeing Bleriot’s aircraft; story of Boer War veteran; memories of father.
REEL 2 Continues: further memories of family; story of nickname Tommy; discussion of current affairs with father; reaction to outbreak of war, 8/1914; attitude to Kaiser; enlistment of local men; brothers’ service with Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli, 1915; story of attempting to join Army as bugler; attitude to Germans.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as boy seaman aboard HMS Mercury and HMS Impregnable in GB, 1916-1917: reaction to Battle of Jutland, 6/1916; comparison of British and German battleships; awareness of progress of war; role with dancing team entertaining wounded soldiers; opinion of British soldier; question of rivalry with Army; description of train journey from Plymouth to Thurso, Scotland, 1917. Aspects of operations aboard HMS Revenge in North Sea, 1917-1918: arrival in Scapa Flow; familiarisation with HMS Revenge; recognition of German ships; duties as Commander’s messenger; memories of Commander Neil O’Neill; celebrations for Armistice Day, 11/1918.
REEL 4 Continues: story of witnessing scuttling of German fleet in Scapa Flow, 1918; boarded battleship Hindenburg; post-war raising of sunken German ships and reuse of steel; use of trawlers to remove German sailors; story of German sailors being shot after refusing to surrender; length of naval service. Aspects of period with Royal Navy in GB 1918-1926: duties guarding merchant ships in Cardiff during General Strike, 1926; attitude to strikers; football matches with local civilians; story of volunteering for 2 years service with Royal Australian Navy, 1926; reason for remaining in Royal Australian Navy; comparison of Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy; memories of wife; attitude to being one of last First World War veterans.
REEL 5 Continues: Reflections on First World War. Further memories of pre-war life in Worcestershire and service with Royal Navy: story of raid on Zeppelin sheds; changes during lifetime; family life; story of boxing in Navy; description of making own clothes while in Navy; plays mouth organ and sings sea shanties. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Quickfire Media | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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