Shell WW1 History Source Pack

Decca Gramophone & Box of Records Imperial War Museum (2014) Decca Gramophone & Box of Records, http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30087341 (Accessed on 30.11.17)

Figure 7. Decca Gramophone and Box of Records 'Trench gramophone', owned by C R Tobitt. Tobitt was commissioned into King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) in 1915 and transferred to Royal Engineers (RE) 1916, serving with 62 Field Company at Ypres, Arras, Messines, Somme, St Quentin and La Madeleine. The gramophone accompanied 62 Field Company to all these places. There was a drill for obtaining new records for the gramophone which required each Officer going on leave to the UK to bring back a record requested by the Mess or as the result of having seen a Show whilst on leave (such as Maid Of The Mountains). When the Company broke up the gramophone was 'drawn for' and won by C R Tobitt. It was sent on to his home in England as 'officer’s surplus kit'.