WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 175 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 175 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 175
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'BURMA.' An item introducing the activities of the Chindits in Burma and relating to the capture of the strategic Burmese market town of Mogaung by elements of the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade. A Chindit column is shown on the move on a jungle trail using a mule train to transport supplies, many of the men are unshaven and carry Lee-Enfield .303-in Mk III rifles. A Chindit crouches by the tracks of the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway, manning a Vickers .303-in water-cooled heavy machine gun mounted on a tripod. A bare-chested Chindit fires a Bren .303-in light machine gun while an observer looks through a pair of binoculars. Chindits of the British 77th Brigade link up with units of the Chinese Army in India (Stilwell) following a hard five day battle to clear Mogaung. Chindit and Chinese troops swap hats as a light hearted gesture following the link up. Royal Air Force (RAF) South East Asia Command (SEAC) Hawker Hurricane Mk IIB fighters drop bombs (250-lb ?) on Japanese positions in the jungle. A Chindit fires an M1 .30-in carbine across a water course. Elements of the 77th Brigade walk through the streets of Mogaung, passing shell damaged buildings. Footage shows Japanese corpses (most probably former members of the Japanese 53rd Division). A Chindit guard of honour presents arms (Lee-Enfield Mk III rifles) as the Union flag is raised outside a Burmese pagoda. II. 'WESTERN FRONT- THE SPEARHEAD DRIVES FORWARD.' The commentary states that Allied armour is encircling the German armies remaining in Northern France, aided greatly by the capture of good roads. A substantial British armoured force is dispersed and parked in several connecting fields. An M4 Sherman Crab Mk I tank uses its flails to clear a mine-free path along a country road. At a distance a Sherman Crab is shown detonating a buried mine with its flail. Stock shots show brief footage of United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Republic P-47 fighter aircraft in flight and RAF Bristol Beaufighter aircraft taking off (TF Mk X anti-shipping sortie ?). Camera gun footage (CGF) shows Allied interdiction attacks on German soft-skins and coastal emplacements. Operational footage shows RAF Bristol Beaufighter TF Mk X anti-shipping aircraft attacking a German merchant convoy off Heligoland. An armoured convoy of British M4 Sherman Tanks (three piece noses) drives past the camera position lead by M4 Sherman bearing the legend "Black Sod" on its hull. A British Cromwell tank drives along a hedgerow-lined road. USAAF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters (Razorbacks) are shown in flight with 500-lb bombs attached to their centrelines. CGF footage shows an Allied aircraft attacking enemy positions in a wooded area with cannon. The commentary outlines the stark alternative facing the German armies, either retreat to their homeland or risk being outflanked and annihilated.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 175
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-09-11
  • 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 cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Indian Army, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade (Chindits) (regiment/service) Chinese Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: combat, British (object name) combat, British - air strike anti-ship (object name) propaganda, British - practical (object name) destruction, French military - area (object name) operations, British military - movement (object name) operations, British military - mines: clearance (object name) Mogaung, Burma (geography) France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 754 ft; Running time: 8 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 175

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