ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 85 [Main Title]

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  • Title: ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 85 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 508-85
  • Other titles: THE WAR ANNALS 85 [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: I. French newsreel item of Ostend harbour after liberation, showing block-ships sunk in the harbour mouth, Belgium, 20th October 1918. II. French newsreel item on Courtrai after its liberation by British soldiers of II Corps, Western Front, October 1918. III. French newsreel item on the town hall and main square of Roubaix shortly after liberation by the British, Western Front, October 1918. IV. French newsreel item on Saint Amand-les-Eaux, north-east of Douai, on liberation by British VIII Corps, First Army. Western Front, October 1918. V. French newsreel item on the Canadian advance through Valenciennes, Western Front, October 1918. VI. French newsreel item on the Prince of Wales's visit to hear a Te Deum in celebration of the liberation of Durre by the Canadian Corps, Western Front, 21st October 1918.
  • Description: The canals running through the town are undamaged but the main girder bridge has been brought down. British soldiers of II Corps wait in the main square. Civilians watch while the British, of 40th Division, march in. A mounted officer, possibly Major-General Peyton the divisional commander, waits with his staff. The British parade is led by bagpipers. Children peer through windows of shops selling Allied flags. The bridges have all been collapsed into the river. The station has been wrecked. French soldiers inspect the town along with the British. (This section tinted red.) Some of the factory ruins still smoulder. The crossroads between Valenciennes and its suburb Anzin where French Deputy Durre was killed. Some of the houses are wrecked but a German cinema for the troops is still intact. In Valenciennes itself (this section is tinted mauve) men of the Canadian Corps pass the rubble of the station. A dead German lies in a doorway. Wagons of the Canadian 4th Infantry Works Company (note formation sign) move through. The Canadians inspect a dead German laid out in the street. In an office the temporary mayor, M Billiet, poses with his deputy M Damien. Escorted by the Corps commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, the Prince talks to local officials while crowds watch. The party enters the church followed by the mass of the people. After the service they emerge and Currie shows the Prince to his car.
  • Alternative Title: THE WAR ANNALS 85 [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W (part Tinted)
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: IWM 508-85
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 508-85)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1918-10-26
  • Production Country: France
  • Production Details: Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Peyton, William E (person) Billiet (M) (person) Valenciennes, Mayor of (person) Damien (person) Edward, Prince (Duke of Windsor) (person) Currie, Arthur William (person) British Army, Corps 2 (regiment/service) British Army, Div 40 (regiment/service) British Army, Army 1 (regiment/service) British Army, Corps 8 (regiment/service) French Army (regiment/service) British Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Infantry Works Coy 4 (regiment/service) Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Infantry Works Coy 4 (regiment/service) British Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force (regiment/service) Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: demolition, German - denial (object name) demolition, German - denial (object name) celebrations, French - liberation (object name) equipment, British - personal: bagpipes (object name) demolition, German - denial (object name) buildings, French - commercial: railway station & [wrecked] (object name) demolition, German - denial (object name) destruction, French military - area: artillery bombardment (object name) buildings, German - military: cinema (object name) buildings, French - commercial: railway station & [wrecked] (object name) casualties, German dead - battlefield (object name) delegations, British imperial - military (object name) religion, Christianity - ceremonial, French (object name) buildings, French - religious: church (object name) ceremonies, French - event-related: liberation (Durre) (object name) 01/3(4-15).9 (event) 01/3(4-15).9 (event) 01/3(4-15).9 (event) 01/3(4-15).9 (event) 01/3(4-15).9 (event) 01/3(4-15).9 (event) Oostende, West Flanders, Belgium (geography) Courtrai, West Flanders, Belgium (geography) Roubaix, Nord, France (geography) Saint Amand-les-Eaux, Nord, France (geography) Valenciennes, Nord, France (geography) Anzin, Nord, France (geography) Children (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W (part Tinted) Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: French Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 759 ft; Running time: 13 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 508-85

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