Title:ROYAL ENGINEERS IN MUSA QALA, DECEMBER 2007 (TAPE 2) [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BFV 1336
Other titles:COLLECTION OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS CENTRE (DMOC) VIDEOS [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Members of the Royal Engineers assist in the building of a district compound near Musa Qala.
Description: Vehicle park near the compound; Afghan and British vehicles. (It is raining heavily; the rain can be heard hitting the microphone. Afghan soldiers shepherd goats towards semi-derelict building; others prepare an open air meal in large cauldrons. Further views of the compound and vehicle parks. Interior of building shows the spartan conditions that the British soldiers are living in - engineers struggle to set up electricity. Exterior views of the compound under construction. Flares, smoke grenades and other ordnance behind Hesco barrier. Further views of the area showing ramshackle buildings and sparse trees. Sign "Hollis House" outside British accommodation; two soldiers relax over a hot drink as a mess tin is warmed. Inside the buildings; two soldiers try to cover an open window. Preparation of drinks in crude cups made from plastic bottles. Pile of magazines. Outside, Afghans kill the goats seen earlier and prepare them for cooking. Further scenes in "Hollis House": British and Afghan soldiers relax.
Engineering work at the compound: digger clears earth, Gurkhas prepare Hesco bastions around wooden posts. Digger fills bastions which have already been constructed. Close-up of goat's excrement: soldier (offscreen) comments "this is what we're living with". Piles of rubbish nearby. Further bastion construction.
Interview with Corporal Birendra Kambang of 69 Gurkha Field Squadron attached to 36 Engineer Regiment giving close support to the ISAF and Afghan forces. He describes the construction of the Hesco Bastion perimeter and before the building of a sangar.
Construction continues: general views of diggers and other vehicles; Afghan flag is flying. Afghan soldiers cut up meat in the back of a van.
Interview with Captain Dev Gurung of 69 Gurkha Field Squadron, discussing the construction of the perimeter fence and sangar, and describing the sourcing of engineering supplies.
Image intensifier shots showing life at night in the compound; soldiers gather around to socialise. General views of the compound and the vehicle park (no sound at the beginning of this sequence. Gurkha with laptop computer. Fire burns under cooking pots. In the compound, further engineering work is carried out.
Daylight scenes: general views of the area from high elevation (roof of one of the ramshackle buildings). Convoy of Afghan trucks drives off as local people watch.
Alternative Title:COLLECTION OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS CENTRE (DMOC) VIDEOS [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:No
Object_Number:BFV 1336
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:2001-2025
Production Date:2007-12-18
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Defence Media Operations Centre (Production company)
Scott, Alex (Corporal, RAF) (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Kambang, Birendra (person)
Gurung, Dev (person)
British Army, Royal Engineers, 69 Gurkha Field Squadron (regiment/service)
Afghan National Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: Musa Qala, Helmand, Afghanistan (geography)
British Army post-2000 (theme)
