THE 3RD DIVISION FIGHTS ITS WAY INTO CAEN ON THE SECOND DAY OF OPERATION "CHARNWOOD" (PART 3) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: THE 3RD DIVISION FIGHTS ITS WAY INTO CAEN ON THE SECOND DAY OF OPERATION "CHARNWOOD" (PART 3) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: A70 75-4
  • Other titles:
  • Summary:
  • Description: The cameraman surveys the Schneider steelworks at Les Colombelles in use by the Germans as an OP. At Point 64, sappers from 246th Field Company RE probe for mines alongside the road leading into Caen, followed by a 15th Field Park Company RE armoured bulldozer (seen here moving past the Caen Douvres-la-Délivrande/Bieville road junction). A DR (despatch rider) motors down the Caen road; smoke from a German artillery bombardment (?) rises in the background. From their Morris II light recce car, engineers watch their comrades sweep for mines on the Caen road; in their wake, the bulldozer clears debris off the road. The cameraman surveys the devastation in Caen's northern outskirts caused by the bombing that preceded "Charnwood". Led by a Sherman ARV, Sherman tanks and a Humber scout car from 144th RAC's RHQ troop motor towards Couvre-Chef from Lebisey. Two men (AFPU personnel?) examine a derelict 21st Panzer (?) Division Pzkpfw IV Ausf G tank outside the village. Nearby, a Sherman from 144th RAC's RHQ troop has run onto a mine; smoke from 59th (Staffordshire) Division's bombardment of Couvre-Chef rises in the background. The cameraman surveys Caen (Abbaye aux Dames and Abbaye aux Hommes apparently intact) and its moon-like northern surburbs.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07-09
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company) Gross, A C (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Footage: 254 ft; Running time: 3 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Documentation/associated material: see with A70 71-3 to 5, 9, 72-3, 4, 8, 9, 73-1 to 4, 74-2, 3, 75-2, 3, 4, 76-1, 3, 77-2 to 4, 6, 8, for footage showing 3rd Division in action during Charnwood. The village of Couvre-Chef, although reported to be deserted by reconnaissance detachments from 144th RAC, was nevertheless given the usual pre-assault bombardment; evidently, 59th Division HQ did not boast 144th (RAC's recce reports). Remarks: good footage. best seen with the items of ciné material listed above, notably A70 75-2, 3 and 5 which contain similar, complementary footage.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    A70 75-4

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