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Description: | British NCO served with 5th Bn Norfolk Regt in GB and Gallipoli, 1911-1915; served with 1/4th Bn Norfolk Regt in GB, 1916-1918; served with King's African Rifles in Kenya, 1918-1919
REEL 1 Aspects of background in Melton Constable area, 1894-1914. Recruitment and service with F Coy, 1/5th Bn, Norfolk Regt at Melton Constable Drill Hall, 1911-1914: reasons; organisation of unit; training and tactical exercises; mobilisation and initial movements, 8/1914. Recollections of periods at Boxted, Bury St Edmunds and Watford, 9/1914-7/1915: conditions of service; reactions to army lifestyle and discipline; training; story of dealing with drunk soldier; role as lance corporal; relationship with other ranks, NCOs and officers.
REEL 2 Continues: relationship with civilians; story of losing cap and punishment; billets and precautions against spies at Bury St Edmunds; training; inspections by George V whilst at Colchester and his links with E (Sandringham) Coy; volunteering for overseas service; concentration of 54th Div at Watford. Voyage to Mudros, Imbros, 7/1915-8/1915: conditions aboard; seasickness. Recollections of landing and conditions of service during initial period at Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey, 10/8/1915-12/8/1915: landing under fire; move inland and attempts to dig in under Hill 60; terrain.
REEL 3 Continues: water and food rations; fly problem; corpses; sniping activities; shellfire; question of adequacy of training. Recollections of attack on Anafarta Ridge, 12/8/1915: plan of attack and briefing; state of morale; two mile advance under fire and loss of officers; overrunning Turkish frontline; arm wound and retirement; view of E Coy platoon surrounded in barn; retirement to beach.
REEL 4 Continues: Evacuation to Malta, conditions at St Georges Hospital and convalescence on return to GB, 8/1915-1/1916. Posting to 1/4th Bn Norfolk Regt depot at Halton Camp, 1/1916. Recollections of attending course followed by attachment as sergeant instructor to NCO's School at Tring House, Herts, 1916-1918: syllabus; role of drill; relationship with trainees; question of return to active service. Closure of school and return to 1/4th Bn Norfolk Regt at Halton Camp, 1918. Story of taking draft to France, 3/1918. Transfer to King's African Rifles, 3/1918: reasons; Swahili course; issue of officer style kit.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of journey via Port Said, Egypt to Nairobi, Kenya, 8/1918-10/1918: story of abandoning ship on U Boat alarm and reboarding when torpedos missed; relationship with other NCOs and their drinking habits; recreations during period in tents at Port Said. Recollections of period in tented camp near Nairobi, 10/1918-2/1919: absence of real training role or duties; unofficial hunting trips and story of being followed by lion; visiting tents of African soldiers; conditions of service; African servant; story of African civilian being whipped; British officers; recreations and question of drinking habits; pay.
REEL 6 Continues: malaria attack; joining in African celebrations following Armistice, 11/1918: rejection of opportunity to work in Africa. Demobilisation, 4/1919. Post war career and opinion of effects of war. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Williamson, Tom | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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