WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 125 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 125 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 125
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'SOUTH AFRICA.' British troops take part in physical training exercises forming part of a special fitness programme at a tented encampment in South Africa. A large log is tossed between two teams of five men as a means of developing upper body strength and increasing stamina. British troops climb up suspension ropes that have been attached to a central vertical securing pole. Basuto volunteers, wearing vests, indulge in physical jerks at a South African Army training depot. British troops carrying Lee-Enfield Mk III .303-in rifles negotiate a tough obstacle course that emphasises the need for teamwork and confidence with heights. The troops climb ropes, walk along high catwalks and use ropes to bridge a tidal inlet. At a later stage of training, the British troops use grapple hooks to climb the substantial structure of an iron bridge using a dried riverbed as a starting point for their endeavours. The commentary states that it is a tough training course but that it has paid dividends during the Allied invasion of Sicily. II. 'DUCKS.' British infantry are driven ashore by DUKW 2.5-ton 6x6 amphibian vehicles at an unidentified beach forming part of the south-eastern Sicilian beachhead. United States (US) infantry use DUKW amphibious vehicles to unload supplies from a merchant ship and transport them to shore (Licata ?). The commentary highlights the versatility of such vehicles, first used in the Sicilian campaign. US DUKW amphibians move inland along dusty and rutted Sicilian roads. III. 'INDIA.' Extensive structural damage caused by flooding is evident in a village close to the Damodar River (Ganges tributary) in West Bengal. Indian villagers transport supplies along a flooded street using a small boat. Hungry looking women and children congregate around cooking fires in a temporary tented encampment. Flooding also caused widespread damage in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where Sikh troops help the local populace clear roads and damaged buildings. Bare chested Indians transport grain sacks on makeshift rafts, the grain is later sifted and measured prior to distribution to the hard-pressed local populace. IV. 'ITALIAN FLEET AT ALEXANDRIA.' Ships of the Italian Navy (Regia Navale) steam in line astern on their way to surrender at Malta following the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Italian representatives at Cassibile on 3 September 1943. The commentary states that the Italian ships are on their way to surrender at "the ancient seaport of Alexandria"(?). Panoramic views show RN Raimondo Montecuccoli and an Italia Class battleship at sea (RN Italia ?). Italian Divisional Admiral Romeo Oliva is piped aboard Admiral Andrew B Cunningham's flagship in Grand Harbour, Valletta. Oliva and Cunningham, dressed in whites, salute each other and then shake hands. V. 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' Panoramic views show fields and haystacks as the commentary introduces the theme of self-sufficiency and increased domestic food production in Britain. A woman civilian tends to a row of runner beans in the back garden of her house. Agricultural workers operate a combine harvester on King George VI's country estate at Sandringham in Norfolk. The commentary states that the royal estate's agricultural production output has been enormously stepped up since the start of hostilities with over 1,433 acres being farmed. King George VI and Princess Margaret inspect crops in a field. The King is shown on a bicycle accompanied by Princess Elizabeth. Princess Elizabeth is given a ride on a Massey Harris combine harvester as the commentary stresses the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and the County War Agricultural Committee in advising on agricultural land use for the royal estate. Queen Elizabeth chats to the children of estate workers. A woman agricultural worker drives an International tractor that pulls a bale making machine. The King and Queen accompanied by the Princesses, walk through a field of closely cut stubble.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 125
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1943-09-27
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Cunningham, Andrew Browne (person) Oliva, Romeo (person) George VI, King (person) Elizabeth, Queen (person) Elizabeth II, Queen (person) Margaret, Princess (person) South African Army, [Basuto infantry] (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: training, British (object name) training, South African (object name) transport, United States military - amphibious: DUKW (object name) destruction, Indian: flood (object name) ships, Italian naval - battleship: Vittoria Veneto & [captured] (object name) ships, Italian naval - battleship: Italia & [captured] (object name) agriculture, British - arable (object name) South Africa (geography) India & Bengal <Burdwan> (geography) India & Ajmere (geography) Egypt & Alexandria (geography) Sandringham, Norfolk, England, UK (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 902 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 125

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    MGH 170 (A MEMENTO OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FOR ADMIRAL CUNNINGHAM [Main Title])
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