SECTION IN THE ATTACK; CROSSING OF OBSTACLES [Allocated Title]
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- Title: SECTION IN THE ATTACK; CROSSING OF OBSTACLES [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: AYY 340/7
- Other titles: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: Men in training at the 54th Division Battle Training School at Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
- Description: 15 February. Number 5 Section, Number 8 Platoon, flopped down on the ground after having been fired on by the enemy. The section behind a mound. The section concealed in a sandpit, whilst walking round to the flank of the enemy. They assault the enemy position and climb over obstacles. They take cover in a ditch full of water. Close-up of feet in the water. The men clamber through a tunnel which runs under the road. The students running to the training area at the double. They crawl through a thick barbed wire fence, laying on their backs and lifting the wire with their hands. The men going over a double apron barbed wire fence by forming a tunnel. Men coming through the tunnel, framed by the legs of the two leading men. The men climb over a gate. Men crossing the gate obstacle with weapons. The section advances over trip wires. 16 February. Men wading through a water obstacle on the Leadership course. Men jumping in the water and wading through and climbing out the other side. The men doubling across the ground then clambering over the bank. The section leader waits until everyone has cleared one obstacle before moving on to the next. The men make their way through a wire entanglement before climbing a wall. The leading man of the section swims across the water, pulling a rope with him. Non-swimmers pull on the rope to cross. The NCO section commander peeks out the side of the wall before going over. Men crawling through mud on their stomachs under a barbed wire obstacle. Men getting to their feet with mud covering their clothes. One man helps another through. Men dropping down onto the ground and waiting for the last man to go through before the advance is continued. 17 February. Men at the start of the Leadership II course, going through a thick smokescreen provided by a smoke canister. They climb over a double apron fence. Men lay on the ground and wait for the last man to come through. The attacking force charging an enemy post, attacking dummies with bayonets. The men hesitate before a 15 foot wide trench, full of water, then they jump into it. A man entangled in dannet wire in the middle of the trench forces his way through. The men continue their advance through a sand pit filled with smoke. Men coming across country in open formation carrying their rifles. They run through a trench full of water and thick mud. A charge explodes in front of them. A man stuck in the trench is helped by others.
- Alternative Title: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: AYY 340/7
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1939-1945
- Production Date: 1943-02-15
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: War Office Film Unit (Production company) Meek, F (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, 54th Division (regiment/service)
- Keywords: Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England, UK (geography)
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
- Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 572 ft; Running time: 6 mins
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