|
Date: |
|
Description: | British officer served with 1/7th Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on Western Front, 1915-1917; served as staff officer with 154 and 152 Bdes on Western Front, 1917-1918
REEL 1 Recollections of operations with 1/7th Bn, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders on Western Front, 1915-1917: daily routine and conditions of service in Beaumont Hamel sector, Somme area, 7/1915, including stand to, rum ration, question of washing, food rations, trench repairs, inspections of troops, latrines; wiring parties, ration parties, ammunition supply and nature of trenches; corpses built into section of trench taken over from French troops; Labyrinth trench; seltzer water found in captured German trench at Beaumont Hamel, 11/1916.
REEL 2 Continues: problems in occupying former German dugouts at Beaumont Hamel, 11/1916; periods in reserve; use of hand grenades in fishing; reserve system; training during rest periods; trench digging competition between Scottish miners in Bain's platoon and Royal Engineer team; 'Turnip Tops' concert party and sings, 'The Highland Division', 'Bumpity Umpity Dragoon' and 'Why Do They Call Me Cohen?'; drinking whisky; story of buying beer barrel for Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1915; sporting activities.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison of attitude and discipline of territorial and regular soldiers; story illustrating relationship with other ranks; role as assistant adjutant; role as intelligence officer including interrogation of German POWs; sniping activities and use of privately obtained armour piercing bullets; mapping layout of Labyrinth trenches; commencing mining operations.
REEL 4 Continues: disposal of earth; background to refusal of promotion to join Royal Engineer Tunnelling Companies; detonation of mines; effects of winter conditions and consequent replacement of kilts with trews; casualties amongst attacking company of 9th Bn Royal Scots caused by misdirected overhead machine gun fire during attack on Poelcapelle, Ypres area. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, 154th Bde, 6/1917-4/1918: supply role.
REEL 5 Continues: food rations; developing system of financial credits paid to units salvaging metal; efforts to secure posting to unit of returning wounded officers; troop movements; troops looting of champagne during period at Epernay, 1918; location of brigade headquarters. Aspects of period with Headquarters 152nd Bde, 4/1918-11/1918: multiple role due to capture of previous staff; opinion of staff of 51st Div; story of meeting with Prince Albert, Duke of York.
REEL 6 Continues: story of riding with Prince Albert, Duke of York to inspect unit; story of attack by German tank; German flamethrower attack. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Lance, David G | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
|
|