PLUCK WINS [Main Title]

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  • Title: PLUCK WINS [Main Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 6572
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Locally produced advertising film for the building and decorating company of J C Hammond of Gresham Road, Staines, Middlesex shows John Hammond, who lost both legs at the Battle of Loos, ascending and descending a ladder and scaffolding with agility and ingenuity, and showing his First World War medals to Miss Kathy Rhodes "the famous authoress".
  • Description:
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (MGH 6572)
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1927
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details:
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: English Title language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 150 ft; Running time: 2 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: Miss Kathlyn Rhodes was the author of two "sheikh romances" (a romance between a sheikh and a white Western woman) - The Will of Allah (1908) and The Desert Lovers (1922), now a subject of interest to scholars investigating the intersection of gender with Orientalism. (See http://www.library.utoronto.ca/moorish/illustex/JessicaTaylorSheik.htm) Battle of Loos - Sept 1915 - Among the dead on the British side were Fergus Bowes-Lyon, brother to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Consort, of George VI and "Queen Mother"), author and poet Rudyard Kipling's son, John, and the poet Charles Sorley. Several survivors wrote of their experiences. Poet Robert Graves, described the battle and succeeding days in his war memoir Goodbye to All That.[2] Author Patrick MacGill, who served as a stretcher-bearer in the London Irish and was wounded at Loos in October 1915, described the battle in his autobiographical novel The Great Push. James Norman Hall, the American author, related his experiences in the British Army in his first book, Kitchener's Mob. The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who fell in the battle and have no known grave.[3] The battle was referenced in the film Oh What a Lovely War. During the upbeat title song, sung by the chorus of officers, a scoreboard is plainly seen in the background reading "Battle Loos/ British Losses 60,000/ Total Allied Losses 250,000/ Ground Gained 0 Yards". Summary: (Genealogical note provided by Jim Hammond's granddaughter, Mrs Joan Currier, on 27 March 2008): "It is believed that this film was made as a training aid for the rehabilitation of severely injured servicemen after the First World War, around 1920. It illustrates how, with courage, ingenuity and determination, shattered lives can be rebuilt. The central character was my grandfather, James Cecil Hammond (known as Jim), Unfortunately, I never met him but here is his story based on my research. Jim was born in Ipswich Suffolk in 1890 to James and Julia Hammond. He had three younger brothers and one older sister. His father James who was a painter died in 1895 leaving his mother with 5 young children to bring up alone. His mother died in 1907. In 1901, Jim aged 10, appeared to be living in Wickham Market, Suffolk with his grandmother and uncles, whilst his mother, Julia, remained in Ispwich with her other 2 surviving sons and her daughter. One of Jim’s brothers had died in infancy of TB. Jim’s grandfather David Hammond had been in the plumbing and glazing trade in Wickham Market and when Jim was there in 1901 his three uncles had followed in the family trade and were all in plumbing, painting and decorating. I believe this was the foundation for Jim’s building career later on. By 1914 Jim had moved from Suffolk to Staines in Middlesex and his trade was painter. On 18th August 1914 Jim signed up for the army, Short Service (three years with the colours). He was assigned to the 9th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. [Photo of JH in uniform] On December 21st 1914 Jim married Alice Catlin. The marriage took place in Staines but Jim was stationed at Sandlings Camp, Hythe, Kent. He was posted to France on 1st June 1915 and was there until being severely injured at the Battle of Loos on 1st November. He returned home on 2nd November. His injuries were: - 3 scalp wounds, 3 flesh wounds round the right shoulder through the ulna and involving right elbow joints, flesh wound to right forearm. Both legs amputated just below the knee from shell wounds. This description was written up on 11 December 1915 when he was said to be progressing satisfactorily. At this time he was in “Kings Ward” 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton. [Photo of hospital ward decorated for Christmas 1915] Jim is the one on the next bed to the right of the bed with the frame Relatives mentioned at this time were his wife, Alice (living in Staines) and his sister, Millie (living in Putney). Jim was discharged from the army on 28 August 1917 with 3 years and 12 days service, as no longer physically fit for war service. At this time I believe he was under the care of Queen Mary’s hospital Roehampton but his residence was in Staines. Jim’s first son, Jack (my father) was born on 11 July 1918. At this time Jim’s occupation seems to have changed from painter to sign writer. Perhaps he had not worked out how he could do building at that stage? However, he went on to become a master builder. [Photo of JH seated in chair] With regard to the medals, he was awarded a war badge upon discharge in August 1917. I do not know what badge this was. In June 1920 he was notified that the 1914-15 Star in respect of his services would be forwarded to him under registered cover upon confirmation of his present address. [Photo of War Badge certificate] By 1926 he had applied to build a detached bungalow in Ashford and the plans were approved on 18 May 1926. His ingenuity showed through in the planning of the bungalow, which was planned to give easy wheelchair access including extra wide doorframes which he acquired from an old mansion house that was being demolished at the time. I believe he also made his own bricks. He participated in the actual building of the bungalow, and at this point other than ‘clunking up ladders on his stumps’ (as one of his relatives put it) he also had some kind of hoist on a pulley. Coins with the year of building were put in between some of the bricks. [Photo of house] The bungalow still stands today and was on the market for £215,000 in February 2002. [Photo of house for sale] Jim had a 2nd son David (but known as Peter) not sure when, but I think around 1928. Jim died, in his bungalow, of (a) Cerebral Haemorrhage (b) Chronic nephritis and arteriole sclerosis on 3rd August 1931 age 41. He was buried in Staines Cemetery. I am still trying to find out what happened to Jim’s 2 brothers and his sister. Last known address for the brothers (Ernest D Hammond aged 9) and (Harry Hammond age 7) was 3 Clay Court Crown Street Ipswich, this was in 1901. Last address of his sister (Bessie Amelia, but known as Millie) was 1 Tideswell Road, Putney this was sometime during the first world war. No surname was given on the document simply ‘Millie, sister’ so perhaps she had married and changed her surname. Date: based on film stock. [This contrasts with family belief - see above - that film "was made as a training aid for the rehabilitation of severely injured servicemen after the First World War, around 1920".
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