|
Date: |
|
Description: | British trooper trained with 2/1st Ayrshire Yeomanry in GB,1917-1918; served with 11th Bn, Royal Scots on Western Front,1918
REEL 1 Background to recruitment as trooper with Ayrshire Yeomanry, 3/1917. Recollections of training with 2/1st AY at Dunbar and Heatherwick Camp, 3/1917-2/1918: reception; theft of boots; pay; taking civilian exams; signal and bicycle training. Recollections of period with A Coy, 11th Bn, Royal Scots in Somme area, France, 2/1918-3/1918: journey out; story of soldier's self inflicted wound; reception; initial movements and role digging trenches in expectation of German offensive; German gas shell bombardment, 21/3/1918; prior gas training.
REEL 2 Continues: firing on German mass attack, 21/3/1918; German air attack; retreat to Green Line, 22/3/1918; personal morale; retreat ; close escape from German machine gun fire during advance whilst covering retreat; crossing river; looking after shell shock case; move to Albert; misunderstanding whilst collecting food from canteen; positions long Albert railway embankment; close escape during listening post duty; success in locating German sniper; close escape from German mortar shell; relief by Australian troops, ca 25/3/1918. Recollections of period in Ypres area, Belgium, 3/1918-4/1918: initial positions at Spoil Bank; ground conditions; posting as signaller to Headquarters Coy; close escape from German shell fire whilst attempting to contact brigade headquarters by signal lamp; story of refusing extra rum ration.
REEL 3 Continues: divisional rest, 4/1918. Period in Meteren sector, 5/1918-8/1918: nature of trenches; death of Corporal Clarke MM; conditions of service; effects of attack of Spanish influenza; artillery barrage during successful attack on Hoogenacker Ridge, 8/1918. Recollections of advance in Ypres area, 8/1918-11/1918: initial period at Dirty Bucket Corner; reaction to news of Allied advances; successful attack, 19/9/1918, including shell shock case and terrain; Armistice celebrations, 11/11/1918; march into Germany; reception from Belgian and German civilians. Recollections of period in Cologne, 1918-1919: educational courses; delayed demobilisation; unrest amongst troops and story of C Coy refusing to go on parade; view of riot amongst troops home on leave at Victoria Station, London, 1/1919.
REEL 4 Continues: story of view of riot amongst troops home on leave at Victoria Station, London, 1/1919; opinion of German troops; relationship with German civilians; question of situation on Western Front, 3/1918; relationship with officers; opinion of conduct of war and Haig; effects of war service. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Jamieson, Alexander James | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
|
|