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Description: | British rating served with Benbow Bn Royal Naval Div in GB, 1914; served aboard HMS Theseus in Mediterranean, 1915-1916; present during landings at Suvla, Gallipoli, 6/8/1915; voyage aboard Umta to Dutch East Indies, 1918; served as NCO with Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers and transported heavy lifting crane to Arromanches, Normandy, 6/6/1944
REEL 1 Background in East Greenwich, London, 1894-1910. Recollections of work as apprentice waterman on sailing barges on Thames, 1910-1914. Recruitment to Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 9/1914. Period at Crystal Palace Depot, 9/1914-11/1915: training with Benbow Bn Royal Naval Div; duties on Zeppelin watch from balloons during attachment to Balloon Section. Various duties on posting to Rosyth, 1914. Various aspects of service aboard HMS Theseus off Gallipoli, Turkey, 1915: voyage out to Mediterranean; role as gunner on 6" gun; status as RNVR recruit; landings at Suvla, 6/8/1915-7/8/1915, including transportation of troops, reaction to first casualty, shell damage to superstructure and taking gun ashore on raft.
REEL 2 Continues: landings at Suvla, 6/8/1915-7/8/1915, including taking gun ashore; story of ship torpedoed off Malta, 8/1915; reactions to first casualty; situation and naval bombardments; fatigue during coaling at Mudros, Lemnos, Greece; Sunday services; naval bombardments; question of clearing barbed wire from beaches prior to landings; boxing bout to settle dispute; diving to clear snagged propellors; food and water rations; impact of initial unfavourable marking whilst at Crystal Palace and status as RNVR recruit; illustration of special provision made for ex serviceman post war; use of iron Thames barges at Gallipoli; preparations for evacuation.
REEL 3 Continues: evacuation of troops on barges, 12/1915-1/1916; opinion of British troops; mules of Zion Mule Corps. Various aspects of period based at Crete, 1916-1917: rescuing crews of torpedoed ships and medical arrangements; story of Japanese naval ship taking torpedo intended for troopship; salvaged goods from ships; stories illustrating relationship with civilians and lifestyle; naval bombardments off Salonika; journey back to GB, 1917. Period at Chatham, 1917-1918: attending gunnery school; preparations and involvement in Zeebrugge raid, 1917. Various aspects of posting to join Umta at Naples, Italy and voyage out to Dutch East Indies, 1918: role as 6" gun layer; composition of crew.
REEL 4 Continues: prior disposal of pet dog; torpedoed ship in Mediterranean convoy; coaling ship; picking up sugar cargo; rubber planters taken aboard; shoulder injury and hospitalisation at Marseilles, France, 11/1918. Period removing guns from merchantmen in Dublin and Belfast, 1919. Transfer to Merchant Navy and story of spotting floating mine. Various aspects of service as water lighterman NCO with Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, 1940-1945: barge work on Clydeside; demonstration of loading railway engine on barge; story of visiting son aboard HMS Warspite; responsibility for tranportation of large crane to Arromanches, France, 6/6/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: situation on arrival at Arromanches, 1100hrs, 6/6/1944; aspects of period in Arromanches area, 6/1944, including food rations, temporary move inland, use of crane; story of protecting US food stores from pilfering, situation and construction of Mulberry Harbour; value of Gallipoli experience in planning D Day; relationship with US personnel; story illustrating relationships between officers and other ranks, 1914-1918. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Gearing, John Walter 'Jack | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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