TOPICAL BUDGET 254-2 [Main Title]

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  • Title: TOPICAL BUDGET 254-2 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: NTB 254-2
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: I. Fund raising fête. II. Queen Mary opens a hospital. III. English POWs arrive in Berne. IV. E Grant Duff receives POWs (continuation of item III). V. Canadian POWs in Berne (continuation of items III and IV).
  • Description: I. 'REVELS FOR A WAR FUND: Sir Francis Lloyd inspects the guard of honour, composed of wounded men. An Alfresco fête in aid of funds to teach a trade to wounded soldiers'. Lloyd inspects the troops. Scenes at the fête: a male gymnast gives a display on the parallel bars, a fancy dress cricket match (a real free-for-all!). A plump man in drag pulls faces for the camera in close-up. II. 'QUEEN MARY OPENS HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN: Arrival of Her Majesty at the SOUTH LONDON HOSPITAL, who receives purses for the support and upkeep of the institution'. Queen Mary enters the building, where small children are led up to greet her. She stands on a dais. Later, the Queen crosses a courtyard with a small group of nurses etc. One of the nurses swings a tasselled rope hanging from a balcony; the Queen does likewise. (Nothing happens when the rope is pulled, and its significance is unclear.) A plaque on the wall a short distance away is pointed to; it is too distant to be legible. III. 'SWITZERLANDS RECEPTION OF ENGLISH PRISONERS: English prisoners of war receive a warm welcome on arriving at Berne'. A tram arrives at a station in Berne, where a cheering crowd is gathered. The British POWs get out and are greeted; one of them is carried off on a stretcher. Many of the men are wearing flowers that have been given them by the locals. A line of men marches away, through the crowd and past the camera. IV. 'BRITISH MINISTER RECEIVES THE MEN: Mr E. Grant-Duff receives the men on their arrival'. Groups of soldiers stand around. Two Indian soldiers stand close to camera; children are also present. Panning shot of men and women grouped outside a building; an officer is also present, but there seems to be no sign of Mr Grant-Duff's reception. V. 'CANADIAN PRISONERS: Wounded soldiers of the Toronto regiment, these were the first Canadians who fought in Belgium'. A group of (presumably Canadian) men and women pose for the camera. Men walk down the streets with their baggage, with the assistance of Boy Scouts. Some wounded men are carried past on stretchers.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: NTB 254-2
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (NTB 254-2)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1916-07-08
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor) Topical Film Company (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Duff, E Grant (person) Lloyd, Francis (person) Mary, Queen (person) Canadian Army, Toronto Regt (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ceremonies, British - display: inspection (object name) celebrations, British - liberation (object name) celebrations, Swiss - liberation (object name) ceremonies, British - event-related: opening of South London Hospital (object name) delegations, British national - state: Queen Mary visits South London Hospital (object name) medical, British civilian - hospital: South London Hospital for women (object name) prisoners of war, British - repatriation (object name) prisoners of war, Canadian - repatriation (object name) recreation, British military - social: fete (object name) recreation, British military - sport: cricket (in fancy dress) (object name) society, British - charity: fund raising fete (object name) transport, Swiss civilian - rail: tram (object name) GB, England (geography) GB, England & London, S <South London Hospital> (geography) Switzerland & Berne (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 300 ft; Running time: 3 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    NTB 254-2

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