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Description: | Microfilm copy of a ts memoir (73pp), written in 1955, recording his experiences while serving with the West Kent Yeomanry, initially training in the United Kingdom at Westbere near Canterbury (August 1914 - September 1915) before embarking in September 1915 for Gallipoli (October - November 1915), where he describes the voyage out onboard HMT OLYMPIC, their landing at Cape Helles on 7 October, the conditions on the Peninsula and his award of Field Punishment No 1 for disobedience, while praising the work of Army Chaplains and the supply of rations at Gallipoli; following hospitalisation with sickness, he rejoined his unit for garrison duties in Egypt (1916 - April 1917), transferring to the 2nd Battalion Imperial Camel Corps in Egypt and Palestine (May 1917 - 1919) where he was involved in the capture of the Sana Redoubt and entry into Jerusalem (December 1917), describing the regular air attacks, the problems caused by heavy rain, the looting carried out by men of his unit, and his falling ill with malaria shortly before the end of the war and hospitalisation in Cairo. Also held on the microfilm are copies of an ms diary (22pp) listing his movements, September 1915 - February 1919; and one ms (6pp) and three ts (20pp) letters written home to his parents, referring to the desolation at Gallipoli, the proximity of the Turkish trenches and the unpleasant sensation of coming under shellfire, and living conditions in Palestine, while providing an account of the 2nd Battalion ICC's operations after they had crossed the River Jordan in March 1918.
Cataloguer APR
Catalogue date 2001-02-12 | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Benbow, A S | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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