Summary: Cambrai after its liberation, including a visit by Field Marshal Haig and Prime Minister Clémenceau, Western Front, probably 9th October 1918.
Description: (Reel 1) Soldiers, probably 57th (West Lancashire) Division, use hoses and ladders to suppress a fire raging in one house. In the main square the streets have been cleared of rubble but all the buildings still show damage. One main building is still marked as the German "Kommandantur". Refugees, some in wagons carrying the French flag, others with handcarts, return to their homes. The railway station, both inside and out, shows considerable damage. The outside of the Kommandantur, including the entrance next to the "Citadelle". Buildings are still on fire. A slow pan down from a church tower, showing major shell damage. (Reel 2) British troops leave Cambrai Cathedral after a thanksgiving service. Priests and soldiers talk together on the steps. General Sir Henry Horne (First Army) talks candidly with General Sir Julian Byng (Third Army), neither aware of the camera. Horne and Byng talk to the officiating priest, possibly a senior church official. Prime Minister Clémenceau and Field Marshal Haig arrive in an open car, and inspect a French and British guard of honour as a band plays. Haig introduces Clémenceau to his two Army commanders (Horne has his back to the camera). Clémenceau talks to returned refugees. The party, having looked over the town, comes back down the cathedral steps and leaves by car.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Topical Film Company (Production company)
McDowell, J B (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Haig, Douglas (person)
Horne, Henry Sinclair (person)
Byng, Julian Hedworth George (person)
Clemenceau, Georges Benjamin (person)
British Army, Div 57 (regiment/service)
Keywords: destruction, French: fire (object name)
destruction, French military - area: artillery bombardment (object name)
refugees, French - return (object name)
buildings, French - commercial: railway station & [damaged] (object name)
buildings, French - religious: cathedral (object name)
buildings, French - religious: church & [damaged] (object name)
religion, Christianity - ceremonial, French (object name)
celebrations, French - liberation (object name)
01/3(4-15).9 (event)
Cambrai, Nord, France (geography)
