WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 65 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 65 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 65
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'NEWS FROM AMERICA.' The commentary introduces a "road-cum-rail train" that is able to travel on rail and road. Two United States Army officers inspect the retractable rail wheels found on the front of the vehicle at a depot somewhere in State of Michigan. The commentary outlines the vehicles adaptability and stresses its fuel saving capabilities as the "train-truck" raises its rail wheels and continues its journey by road. Elsewhere, US Army Air Corps pilots receive instruction in gliding in preparation for "the invasion fleet." A gliding trainee and instructor strap themselves into the cockpit of a 1930's glider. A Boeing Kaydet biplane (?) acts as a tractor aircraft pulling a trio of gliders into the air. The commentary states that following instruction the pilots will graduate onto 24 seater troop carrying gliders. II. 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' General Sir Alan F Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, visits United States troops of V Corps stationed in Northern Ireland. Brooke visits an automatic weapons firing range accompanied by a two star US Army General. A US "doughboy" fires a water-cooled Browning M1917 .30-in medium machine gun watched by General Brooke, who then takes the time to inspect a 37mm M3A1 anti-tank gun and talk to a weapons instructor. Brooke later enjoys a demonstration of field communications by a Signals detachment and chats informally to the crews of M3AI General Stuart light tanks. The commentary states that the visit serves to underline the co-operation and unity of purpose between the British and American forces. Elsewhere, a Russian Petlyakov Pe 8 bomber aircraft (aircraft no 66 with AM-35A engines) lands at RAF Tealing in Scotland carrying the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Vyacheslav M Molotov (20th may 1942). Molotov dressed in flying kit, inspects a guard of honour prior to boarding a train bound for London in order to sign the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of Alliance at the Foreign Office. A brief view of St James's Park is shown with a tethered barrage balloon evident. Molotov, accompanied by the Soviet Ambassador Ivan M Maisky, is met at Downing street by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The visiting dignitaries assemble on the exterior stairs leading to the garden of 10 Downing street, the party includes Molotov, Maisky, Attlee, Eden and Churchill. Later at the Foreign Office, Winston Churchill presides over the signing of the Anglo-Soviet pact by the Foreign Secretaries Eden and Molotov as Maisky looks on. The commentary describes the treaty as "A triumph of common sense." and points out that a similar treaty was signed between the Soviet Union and the United States a few weeks later. Following the signing of the treaty Molotov departs by Petlyakov bomber, bound for the United States. III. 'WESTERN DESERT.' General Claude Auchinleck (Commander-in Chief, Middle East) tours areas of his command using a quarter-ton General Purpose reconnaissance vehicle "Jeep", negotiating rough desert terrain. The commentary highlights the importance of the "supply arms" over views of a convoy of British soft-skinned vehicles driving across the desert, presumably carrying food and ammunition. Royal Corps of Signals (RCS) personnel check for breaks in field telephone lines by hand, and use crampons to work on telegraph pole terminals. The commentary outlines the important role of the RCS in opening and maintaining communications across the whole battle area despite the damage to lines by enemy action. Signallers lay field telephone wires across the desert using a large truck-mounted spool. As the laying spools run short, the signallers dismount and connect new wire to continue the process. The commentary outlines the importance of the field switchboards in passing on attack directives with secrecy. A Hawker Hurricane Mk II fighter aircraft bearing a springbok emblem on its front cowling runs up its engine prior to a sortie (service allocation no: AD 8993). Images of RCS activity is interspersed with views of M3A1 Honey light tanks driving at speed across the desert past the bodies of dead Axis troops to give the overall impression of close cooperation between the Royal Corps of Signals and advancing front line units.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 65
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-08-03
  • 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 individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Brooke, Alan Francis (person) Molotov, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Scriabin (person) Maisky, Ivan M (person) Eden, (Robert) Anthony (person) Churchill, Winston Leonard Spencer (person) Auchinleck, Claude John Eyre (person) British Army, Royal Corps of Signals (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: communications, British military - wire (object name) training, United States (object name) delegations, Russian international - political (object name) transport, United States military - R and D: "road-cum-rail" train (object name) training, United States - specialist: glider pilot (object name) Second World War & Anglo-Soviet Treaty & 26/5/1942 (event) GB, England & London, SW <Downing Street> (geography) GB, England & London, W <Hyde Park> (geography) GB, Northern Ireland (geography) Egypt & Western Desert (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: French & Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 986 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 65

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