Summary: I. Unedited film in the wake of the British forces in the Advance to Victory, possibly Villers Bretonneux, Western Front, September 1918.
II. A religious service at No 2 Aeroplane Supply Depot RAF, France, 1st September 1918.
III. British wagons passing over a bridge, temporarily repaired by the Royal Engineers, across the Somme River, Monchy-Lagache, Western Front, probably 1st September 1918.
Description: A pan over a ruined village, Villers Bretonneux (?) filmed from a church tower, showing British troops and transport moving in the streets below. Two soldiers look out through the crenellations of the tower, filmed from behind and caught in silhouette against the sky. The same damage from ground level; two Highlanders, possibly of 51st (Highland) Division, wave at the camera. French soldiers clear debris from the railway tracks.
Mechanics and other ranks, mostly still wearing RFC uniform and badges, march out on parade led by their band and form a hollow square round an FE2d night bomber. The base chaplain uses the observer's front cockpit of this pusher aircraft as his pulpit to deliver a sermon, after which the band plays a hymn and marches away.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Topical Film Company (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Div 51 (regiment/service)
French Army (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Aeroplane Supply Depot 2 (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Engineers (regiment/service)
Keywords: destruction, French military - area: artillery bombardment (object name)
religion, Christianity - military, British (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Royal Aircraft Establishment FE2d (object name)
engineering, military, British (object name)
01/3(4-15).9 (event)
01/3(4-15).9 (event)
01/3(4-15).9 (?) (event)
Villers-Bretonneux, Somme, France (geography)
Number 2 Aeroplane Supply Depot RAF, France (geography)
Somme (River), France (geography)
camera (concept)
half-light (concept)
