Title:SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE DES BROWNE VISITS 19TH LIGHT BRIGADE IN BASRA, APRIL 2007 [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BFV 928
Other titles:COLLECTION OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS CENTRE VIDEOS [Allocated Title]
Summary: Highlights of Des Browne's visit to Basra Air Station (the COB or Contingency Operating Base) and Umm Qasr, Iraq
Description: I. At Basra Air Station, Australian and New Zealand troops play a game of "two-up" (a traditional Australian gambling game involving the tossing of coins) at night near the lines. WO2 Calum McKenzie plays the bagpipes for the troops. Des Browne joins in the game, including taking a turn as the "spinner"; money changes hands.
II. Mr Browne visits soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment at Basra, and signs the visitor's book in a makeshift tented "lounge". Close-ups of the signatures. He has a meal in a tent at the lines before visiting further troops; he inspects a photographic display of Operation Phoenix, inspects kit and meets a Mastiff crew.
II. Des Browne visits the Naval Transition Team indoors at the Iraqi Naval Base, Umm Qasr. He watches as Iraqi Navy personnel practice weapons drills and boarding drills on a "virtual ship" built for training purposes. He then has a ride in one of the Iraqi Navy's fast assault boats around Umm Qasr harbour. (Shaky and unclear sequence as the cameraman repositions.) Back on shore: Corporal Beeching (still photographer) poses informally for the camera. Des Browne arrives and meets Iraqi Navy personnel.
IV. Various shots on board a Merlin helicopter, showing the rear gunner and the desert landscape below. Corporal Beeching takes photographs. Flares are fired.
Alternative Title:COLLECTION OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS CENTRE VIDEOS [Allocated Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:No
Object_Number:BFV 928
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:2007-04-29 2007-04-30
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Defence Media Operations Centre (Production sponsor)
Platfoot, Loz (Corporal, RAF) (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Browne, Desmond Henry (person)
British Army, Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion [NEW TERM] (regiment/service)
Australian Army (regiment/service)
New Zealand Army (regiment/service)
Royal Navy (regiment/service)
Iraqi Navy (regiment/service)
Keywords: Basra International Airport, Basra, Iraq (geography)
Umm Qasr, Iraq (geography)
Operation Telic, Iraq War 2003-2009 (event)
British Army post-2000 (theme)
Iraq post-2003 (theme)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: None
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: DVCam
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Tape length: 40; Running time: 39 mins
