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Description: | British motorcycle despatch rider served with 1 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1915-1918; served with RAF in Iraq and on North West Frontier, India, 1928-1934; served with Transport Column, RAF in France, 1940
REEL 1 Enlistment and training as Second Class Air Mechanic in Royal Flying Corps, 5/1915; enlistment underage; brief training at Pinehurst Barracks, Aldershot, 5/1915. Recollections of period as despatch rider with 1 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in Ypres area, Belgium, 6/1915-11/1918: initial impressions on landing at Calais, France; prior civilian motorbike experience; duties helping pilots re-start aircraft which had forced landings; nature of flying experience as gunner/observer including contact with Richthofen; story of forgetting despatches on first journey; role carrying cypher codes to artillery units for signal communications with squadron; relationship with army; story of shooting cow whilst fearing attack by German agents.
REEL 2 Continues: story of shooting cow whilst fearing attack by German agents; story illustrating relationship with Belgian civilians; close escapes from shell fire and consequent speech impediment; relationship with despatch riders; nature of role as despatch riders; story of front line incident in Arras area, 1917; story of close escape from heavy shell whilst in rear area; opinions on war; reception on leave in GB; motorbikes ridden and necessity of self maintenance; clothes worn; speed of riding.
REEL 3 Continues: question of timing journeys to avoid shell fire; gas attacks and use of gas masks; choice of routes; visits to Talbot House, Poperingue; front line locations of Church Army Huts; Armistice Day, 11/11/1918, and return to same location, 1939. Aspects of career with RAF in Iraq and on North West Frontier, India, 1919-1939: meeting Gertrude Bell in Baghdad, Iraq; period in North West Frontier area, India, 1928-1934, including meeting T E Lawrence, opinion of Afghanistan civilians, sniping problem whilst travelling, evacuation of European civilians from Kabul, Afghanistan to Kohat by air and successful negotiations whilst acting as interpreter in negotiations to clear landing strip.
REEL 4 Aspects of period in charge of transport column of RAF during evacuation via Cherbourg, France, 5/1940-6/1940: story of French civilians surrendering village to Adams under impression they were German and subsequent hospitality; relationship with army; success in salvaging most of transport; close escape from bombing on return to GB. Story of 'jinxed' motorbike at Kohat, 1928. Failed attempt to form despatch rider association. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Lance, David G | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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