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Description: | British NCO served with 2nd Bn Worcestershire Regt on Western Front, 1914
REEL 1: Background to service with Worcestershire Regt in GB, 1904-1914: background to enlistment; joining unit and service with 1st Bn Worcestershire Regt in Ireland; relationship with Irish civilians; troopship voyage to Malta; service with 4th Bn Worcestershire Regt at Malta, 1906-1909; internal security role during detachment to Egypt, 1906; detachment to island; football injury and return to GB, 1907; leaving army, 1907. Period as civilian in Birmingham, 1907-1914. Outbreak of war 1914 and call up as reservist on to join 2nd Bn Worcestershire Regt at Aldershot, 4/8/1914: reactions; pay. Recollections of operations with 2nd Bn Worcestershire Regt on Western Front, 8/1914-10/1914: situation on arrival; advance to Mons area, positions in Framieres sector, 23/8/1914; view of attacking German troops, 24/8/1914; retreat, 24/8/1914; rearguard actions during retreat; role as lance corporal; listening posts and difficulty in retiring to join main body; story of difficulty in locating neighbouring unit under German shell fire.
REEL 2 Continues: story of difficulty in finding neighbouring unit under shell fire; question of award of medals; question of keeping diary; fatigue; shortage of ammunition and effect of pattern of rifle fire; food rations; question of souvenirs; story of French spy; relationship with French civilians during retreat; relationship with officers and periods as officers' servant; relationship with other ranks and NCOs; attitude to retreat; nature of fighting and movements, 9/1914-10/1914. Account of being wounded during attack on Gheluvelt Chateau, Ypres area, Belgium, 31/10/1914-2/11/1914: situation; charge; sighting Uhlan cavalry; severe leg and back wounds.
REEL 3 Continues: first aid and assistance from various soldiers; discovery by German officer; taking cover in ditch; view of German attacks; discovery and rescue; medical treatment in convent dressing station, 2/11/1914. Recollections of evacuation and hospital treatment in France and GB, 1914-1915: hospital train; medical treatment and problem with gangrene; return to GB, 1/1915; movements; confused situation and discharge, 1915; attitude to return to active service; reports of having been missing presumed killed and subsequently recorded as killed in action on war memorial. Atmosphere during charge at Gheluvelt Chateau, 31/10/1914. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Hart, Peter | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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