THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918 Image: IWM (Q 49087) 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 Image: IWM (Q 11562) 
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 Image: IWM (Q 2903) 
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 Image: IWM (Q 6060) 
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 Image: IWM (Q 6058) 
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 Image: IWM (Q 6059) 
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 Image: IWM (Q 6056) 
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 Image: IWM (Q 6057) 
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR Image: IWM (BOX 117-1349-7B-28C-1918) 
THE US ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1917-1918 Image: IWM (Q 110761) 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 Image: IWM (Q 10709) 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 Image: IWM (Q 10711) 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 Image: IWM (Q 10710) 
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 Image: IWM (Q 8703) Addy, Jason (Oral history)
British private served as gunner with B Bn Tank Corps during Battle of Cambrai, France, 11/1917
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as gunner with D Bn Tank Corps in Battle of Cambrai, France, 11/1917: conditions at Passchendaele, Belgium, 9/1917; role of tanks in Battle of Cambrai; tank crew; memories of officers Lieutenant Alfred Enoch and Lieutenant Geoffrey Knight; description of operations on road between Saint-Julien and Poelkapelle, Belgium, 9/1917; problem of trees across road; description of conditions in tank; view from Mark IV Tank; story of destruction of Lieutenant Geoffrey Knight’s tank by artillery fire; reaching objective; story of rescue of Corporal Jagger; removal of wounded from tank; question of not stopping to help wounded; use of camouflage on tanks; characteristics of Mark IV Tank and crew including armaments, speed; petrol consumption; kit and equipment, rations, ammunition; signalling flags and pigeons; description of noise and smell in tanks; story of post-war trip to Cambrai, France for 60th Anniversary, 1977; role as gunner in fore sponson; view from Mark IV Tank; terrain; reaching German front line; tanks’ use of zigzagging; surrender of Germans; how tanks flattened barbed wire for infantry; tank hit by artillery fire and disabled on Flesquieres Ridge, France; capture of large numbers of German prisoners of war; restarting tank and return to Havrincourt Wood, France; salvaging tanks from battlefield. REEL 2 Continues: use of salvaged tanks in counter-attack; further comments on battlefield tour of Cambrai, France, 1977.
Birks, Horace Leslie (Oral history)
British officer served with Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps in GB, 1916-1917; served with No 2 Coy, D Bn Tank Corps, 1st Tank Bde on Western Front, 1917
Vanaf minuut 24 over Sint-Juliaan
REEL 2 Continues: description of training establishment at Bovington Camp including courses and instructors; driving and gunnery training; firing on the move and from stationary positions. Recollections of operations as officer with 2 Coy, D Bn, Tank Corps, 1st Tank Bde on Western Front, 1917: joining unit; use of Mark II Tank; organisation of battalion; duties of tank commander and crew; preference for ‘male’ tanks; lack of tactical role for tanks; question of motivation; degree of mechanical knowledge amongst tank crews; attack on Saint-Julien, Belgium; problems with Lewis Machine Gun and tank reliability.
Hall, John Lawrence (Oral history)
British private served with 1/11th (County of London) Bn (Finsbury Rifles) London Regt, 3rd London Bde, 1st London Div and 2/11th (County of London) Bn (Finsbury Rifles) London Regt, 2/2nd London Bde, 2/1st London Div in GB, 1/1915-5/1916; served with and 1/21st (County of London) Bn (First Surrey Rifles) London Regt, 142nd Bde, 47th (2nd London) Div on Western Front, 5/1916-9/1916; served with 2/11th (County of London) Bn London Regt (Finsbury Rifles), 175th Bde, 58th (2/1st London) Div and 47th Coy, Machine Gun Corps and 16th Bn Machine Gun Corps, 16th Infantry Div on Western Front, 1916-1918
REEL 3 Continues: period in Ypres Salient, Belgium, 1917 including muddy conditions, failure to rescue wounded soldier sinking in mud, attack at Saint-Julian and casualties; receiving head wound from artillery fire; medical evacuation, hospitalisation and convalescence; relations with officers; story of officer expecting salute in trenches; lice problem; visit to cafes during rest periods; story of acting as regimental police and ejection of Australian soldier from brothel in Calais, France; situation on rejoining unit following wound, 1917; increases in number of machine guns and subsequent formation of 47th Coy Machine Gun Corps; story of contacts with Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Montgomery; defence of Bourlon Wood during Imperial German Army counter-attack near Cambrai, France, 25/11/1917; role of tanks.
Henderson, Hardie Mann Blatchford (Oral history)
British private served with 1/6th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers in GB and Western Front, 1914-1917; served as officer with 2nd Bn Cameronians Scottish Rifles on Western Front, 1918-1919; served with Railway Operating Department, Royal Engineers in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1945
REEL 2 Continues: business community origins of ORs in A Coy; composition of 50th Div; rifle and bayonet training; route marches; relationship with civilians; coastal defence duties at Seaton Delaville; food rations; business community origins of ORs and officers in A Coy; question of catching up with levels of pre-war territorial training. Journey out and initial period in Ypres area, Belgium, 20/4/1915-25/4/1915: send off; period in fields near Ypres; success in shooting down German aircraft. Account of attack on St Julian, 26/4/1915: situation; advance under heavy German fire to British front line,
REEL 4 Question of German shellfire during advance on St Julian, 26/4/1915. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine in Hooge Wood sector, 5/1915-7/1915: question of washing; latrines; rubbish disposal; lice problem; problem with corpses in front line; burials behind line including story illustrating post-war difficulty in locating graves, painting names on crosses and identity disc system; writing to family of fatal casualties as battalion postman; effects of wet conditions; stand to; rum ration; sentry duty; conversations.
Murdie, Robert (Oral history)
British private served with 1/4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, Northumberland Bde, Northumberland Div in GB, 11/1914-4/1915; served with 1/4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, 149th Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Div on Western Front, 4/1915-3/1916
REEL 2 Continues: training for guard duty. Recollections of operations as private with 1/4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, 149th Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Div on Western Front, 1914-1915: problem of sea sickness during voyage from Lowestoft, GB to Le Havre, France, 4/1915; sight of French villagers slaughtering cow; march to Ypres Salient, Belgium; sight of artillery shells landing on Ypres Cathedral, Belgium; arresting spy flashing torch from Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium; attack at Saint-Julien, Belgium, 5/1915; method of attack and formation; problem of heavy rain and lightning strikes; chain of command; casualties; personal morale during attack; story of being hit by bullet in right shoulder and medical treatment; period of convalescence in GB and return to battalion, 8/1915; battalion’s involvement in diversionary attack during Battle of Loos, France, 9/1915; location in advanced post and throwing smoke bombs; firing rifle for two hours without a break.
Harbottle, George (Oral history)
British NCO served with 1/6th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1917; served as officer with 15th Machine Gun Bn, Machine Gun Corps on Western Front, 1918
REEL 3 Continues: relationship with other ranks and NCOs; promotion to lance sergeant; opinion of officers; recreations; question of trench warfare training; territorial status; background to failure of application for commission. Journey out to Ypres area, Belgium, 21/4/1915-24/5/1915: duty as guard during train journey; volunteering for foreign service; situation on arrival; German shellfire on Ypres. Account of attack on St Julian, 26/4/1915: absence of briefing; casualties caused by hold up on British reserve line barbed wire; reception from regular troops on reaching British front line; night withdrawal; reactions to failure of attack.
Thomson, Alec (Oral history)
British private served with 3rd and 2nd Bns King’s Own Scottish Borderers in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1915; served with 3rd Bn Seaforth Highlanders in GB, 1916; served with Labour Corps on Western Front, 1917; served with Agricultural Company based at Berwick Barracks, 1917-1918. Served as special policeman in Eyemouth, 1939-1945
REEL 3 Continues: Journey out with draft to join C Coy, 2nd Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Ypres area, Belgium, 4/1915: prior embarkation leave; submarine alert. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle in St Julian sector, Ypres, 4/1915: shortage of ammunition; kit carried; reactions to German shell fire; nature of trenches; reception from regulars; dugouts; food rations; water ration and brewing tea; question of cigarette and rum rations; personal appearance; latrines; absence of lice; rats; sentry duty; covering parties; German shell fire and sniping; rest periods.
REEL 5 Continues: Story of fetching water during period of shortage in St Julian sector, 4/1915. Story of meeting soldier from Eyemouth on returning to British front line after attack at Hill 60, 12/5/1915. Period with 3rd Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Craigmiller Camp, Edinburgh, 1/1916: medical inspection and consequently excused duties; improvement in health. Recollections of period with 3rd Bn Seaforth Highlanders at Dunfermline and Bridge of Allan, 1916: kilt issued; posting to transport company; duties driving horse and cart; including grooming horses and preparing for competition; state of arm; duties on promotion to be colonel’s groom; role looking after horses during route marches; story illustrating relationship with colonel.
Ashurst, George (Oral history)
British NCO served with 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers on Western Front, 1914-1915; served with 1st Bn Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli, Egypt and on Western Front, 1915-1916; served with 16th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers on Western Front, 1916-1918
REEL 9 Continues: visit to brewery baths. Move into front line at St Julian, Ypres area, 4/1915: crossing canal bridges and communications trenches during approach to support line position; situation; scepticism on issue of flannelette to make crude gas masks. Account of gas attack, 2/5/1915: first signs; panic amongst front line troops; effects of gas and retreat without orders back through Ypres; story of civilian shot as spy in Ypres. Recollections of evacuation and treatment as gas casualty, 4/1915-5/1915: symptoms of being gassed and failure of initial salt water treatment; evacuation by ambulance via dressing station to No 12 General Hospital, Rouen hospital; fluctuating physical condition and starvation as treatment; voyage to GB, 5/1915.
Lane, Clifford James (Oral history)
British NCO served with 1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1913-1918; served with 7th and 2nd Bns Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt on Western Front, 1918
REEL 8 Continues: Recollections of Battle of Festubert, 9/5/1915-19/5/1915: view of 7th Div units before and after initial attack; German POWs; sharpening bayonets; account of unsuccessful attack supporting Irish Guards on Le Touret at 16.00, 19/5/1915. Recollections of Battle of Somme, 8/1916-10/1916, initial period in reserve; gas masks; German defences at Thiepval; capture of Schwaben Redoubt, 14/10/1916; escorting German POWs. Movements, 11/1916-6/1917: winter in Ypres area; rest period at Wormhoudt; story of soldiers drunk on spirits. Recollections attack towards St Julian, Ypres area, 31/7/1917: moving up; casualties during advance to Steenbeek; story of being wounded during attack on German pillbox; return to front line with German POW; hospitalisation.
Calvert, Horace (Oral history)
British private served with 1/6th and 2/6th Bns West Yorkshire Regt in GB, 1914-1915; served with 5th, 4th, and 2nd Bns Grenadier Guards in GB, on Western Front and in Germany, 1915-1919; present during disturbance at Harfleur Camp, Le Havre, 12/1918
REEL 6 Continues: recreations and sporting activities; relationship with other ranks, NCOs and officers; question of policy of retaining regular units in GB to combat possible civilian unrest, 1914; tactical training at Marlowe on Thames; night training at Croydon; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1915; question of volunteering for active service draft; difficulty in growing required moustache. Journey with draft to Le Havre, France, 3/1916: embarkation procedure; send off; profiteering of ship’s canteen personnel during Channel crossing. Recollections of trench warfare training at Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre, 3/1916: hand grenade training; laying sandbags; gas mask training; digging; selection procedure for different Grenadier Guards battalions. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with 2nd Coy 4th Bn Grenadier Guards in St Julian sector, Ypres area, 4/1916-7/1916: train journey; initial billet on joining unit at Poperinghe; advice on trench warfare.
REEL 7 Continues: approach to front line in St Julian sector; sentry duty and first impressions; nature and layout of trenches; barbed wire; dugouts; food rations, water supply, rum and cigarette rations; trench stores; adequacy of uniform; latrines and casualties from German snipers; absence of washing; burial of rubbish; rat problem.
Dorgan, John William ‘Jack (Oral history)
British NCO served with 7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in GB and on Western Front, 1911-1916; worked in Ashington Colliery, 1917-1918; served as instructor with Physical Training Corps at Aldershot, 1918
Over Sint-Juliaan: 2:05
REEL 10 Continues: camp in field, 25/4/1915. Account of failed attack via St Jean and Wieltje on St Julian, 26/4/1915: advancing in open formation; passing through St Jean; wounded NCO; close escape from German shell and fatally wounded casualties later commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial as having no known grave; passing through Wieltje; view of corpse of Brigadier J F Riddell; first view of trench occupied by Canadian troops; effects of German cloud tear gas attack and lack of gas masks; withdrawal to starting point; casualties; reactions to speech by General Sir John French; state of unit morale; promotion to sergeant, 28/4/1915.