We use cookies on this website.
By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings,
you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy
and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Title:15TH (SCOTTISH) DIVISION ADVANCES WITH 12TH CORPS' TO THE LOWER SEINE (PART 4) [Allocated Title]
Film Number:A70 140-6
Other titles:
Summary: An unsuccessful attempt is made by the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders to cross the Seine near Le Mesnil-Ande on August 27th 1944.
Description: Shells fired by 227th Brigade's supporting artillery fall on German positions in open fields around Le Mesnil-Ande; a little further downstream are the remains of a railway bridge over the river which was probably destroyed by Allied bombing before D- Day. From high ground on the south bank, a 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment Vickers machine-gun team fires on German positions across the river. A section from the Gordon Highlanders' 'D' company waits its turn to board a storm boat in among bushes on the south bank; with grim expressions, the infantrymen set off towards the river's edge. Casualties are taken away for treatment on an ambulance jeep. Tracer shot wings its way from a 40th LAA Regiment RA Bofors gun to German positions along the north bank of the Seine as dusk falls. Next day, an Austin K5 three-tonner and a 4th Brigade HQ Weasel amphibious carrier move up towards the river.
Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor)
Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company)
Gordon, J (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Bde 227 (regiment/service)
British Army, Middlesex Regiment, 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Div 15 (regiment/service)
British Army, Armoured Bde 4 (regiment/service)
British Army, Corps 12 (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Army Medical Corps (regiment/service)
Keywords: armour, United States - amphibious: M29C Weasel (object name)
weapons, British - smallarm: Vickers medium machine gun (object name)
operations, Allied military - movement: river crossing (object name)
transport, United States military - utility: jeep (object name)
combat, British - artillery bombardment (object name)
Seine (River), France (geography)
Notes: Note: See with A70 140-1, 2, 3, 141-2, 4, 143-8, 9, 145-6, 7, 10, 146-5, 6, 152-1, 2, 155-2 to 7 for footage showing 12th Corps' advance from Normandy across the Seine to northern Belgium late August - early September 1944. Refer generally to footage showing 30th Corps' assault across the Seine further upstream at Vernon, a much larger operation which also had its difficult moments.
Remarks: Good action footage. Best seen with the items of ciné material listed above, notably A70 140-1, 2 and 3 (which contains similar sequences showing the assault across the Seine).
Documentation/associated material: for a bibliography, refer to the publications listed in A70 140-1 and 2 and read 'The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) 1919-1952' by Lieutenant-Commander Kemp (RN).
