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Description: | British NCO served with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division on Western Front, 1914-1918
REEL 1 Recollections of attack with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division on Beaucourt, Somme area, France, 13/11/1916: story of meeting Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Freyburg; digging in in front of Beaucourt; standing patrol; story of soldier stealing German mail and parcels. Recollections of operations in Ypres area, Belgium, 10/1917-11/1917: reputation of Ypres area; muddy conditions; rum ration; problem with exposed flanks; German pillboxes. Recollections of retreat after German offensive in Somme area, 21/3/1918-26/3/1918: situation and rearguard actions; crossing Somme battlefields; state of morale. Reaction to news of French and US successes, 8/1918. Recollections of attack on Beaucourt, 13/11/1916: personal morale in jumping-off trenches and during attack across No Man's Land; officer casualties and question of competence of surviving officer. Recollections of operations in Ypres area, 10/1917-11/1917: danger of drowning in mud if wounded; isolated posts which formed front line; German registration and constant shell fire on duckboard tracks; difficulties in organising relief; stories illustrating muddy conditions. Recollections of retreat after German offensive in Somme area, 21/3/1918-26/3/1918: signs of imminent German offensive and personal morale; German preliminary bombardment; role organising store and rear echelon personnel whilst unit moved forward into support; situation; success in locating unit; reactions to sight of Belgian refugees; effects of German heavy howitzer shell fire. Story of reaching jumping-off trench used on 13/11/916 during retreat, 21/3/1918-26/3/1918. Reaction to arrival of US troops, 1918. Recollections of occupation of Antwerp, 10/1914: reaction to sight of Belgian refugees; reception from Belgian civilians on arrival; false alarm of German night attack; effects of German heavy howitzer shell fire; retreat through Antwerp and across pontoon bridge; reaction to sight of Belgian refugees; story of feeding baby during overnight rest in village. Recollections of retreat after German offensive in Somme area, 21/3/1918-26/3/1918: situation and question of British shortage of manpower; state of morale; German preparations and effects of gas shells; unit reserve positions in Havrincourt Wood, Cambrai area, 20/3/1918. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | BBC | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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