Title:NORTON'S COLUMN IN MESOPOTAMIA [Allocated Title]
Film Number:IWM 9
Other titles:
Summary: Jumbled film apparently of the raid into Kurdistan by Norton's Column of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, September 1917.
Description: A limbered 13-pounder battery followed by a vehicle column. Soldiers standing beside one of the cars in the column hold up a written notice for the camera "Norton's Column". This is probably the column commanded by Brigadier-General C E G Norton, consisting mainly of the 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade, 14th Light Armoured Motor Battery and 'S' Battery Royal Horse Artillery, conducting operations towards Mandali in September 1917. The film continues with Indian drivers loading wagons, a column of horsemen (7th Indian Cavalry Brigade ?) moving along a desert road, and Indian troops with wagons and pack mules. An 18-pounder battery crosses a small river by a bridge of boats. A "Turkish spy" (from the flashframe but apparently wearing British uniform) is brought blindfold into the camp. A column of soldiers moves off into the distance. A final scene of troops resting in a shallow scrape trench beside a Rolls-Royce armoured car.
Production Details: War Office Cinema Committee (Production sponsor)
International Film Service (Production company)
Varges, Ariel L (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
British Army, Norton's Column (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Artillery, Royal Horse Artillery, S Battery (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Artillery, Royal Horse Artillery, 14th Light Armoured Motor Battery (regiment/service)
Indian Army, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade (regiment/service)
Keywords: weapons, British - gun: 13-pounder field gun (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun (object name)
armour, British - armoured car: Rolls-Royce (object name)
operations, British military - movement: march (object name)
intelligence, military, Turkish - espionage (?) (object name)
01/3(567) (event)
Turkey & Mesopotamia (geography)
desert (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: None
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 624 ft; Running time: 11 mins
