SPECIAL DESPATCH [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: SPECIAL DESPATCH [Main Title]
  • Film Number: UKY 374
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: A fictional 'day in the life' of a Royal Corps of Signals Despatch rider.
  • Description: After introducing himself to the camera, he is seen receiving orders at 6.00 am in London to get an urgent message to a Brigadier before he embarks on a destroyer near Glasgow at 6.00 the same evening: he is given authority to break speed limits if he has to, but is asked not to if possible. Film follows him through various incidents - challenged by a sentry on a bridge with anti-tank obstacles near London - detour round a street closed because of unexploded bomb (asks a postwoman the way) - requisitions petrol from an army lorry - lunch in a village south of Carlisle - asks a boy the way in Gretna - has a puncture - asks policeman the way in Glasgow - gets to the waiting Naval cutter just before the Brigadier ("I needn't have hurried after all").
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941-11
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor) Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) Army Film Unit (Production company) Stewart, Hugh1910-12-142011-05-31 (Production individual) Carrick, Edward (Production individual) Addinsell, Richard (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Royal Corps of Signals (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: communications, British military - message: motorcycle despatch rider (object name) operations, British military - movement (object name) transport, British military - 2/3 wheel: motorcycle (object name) London, England, UK (geography) GB, Scotland & Glasgow, Lanark (geography) GB, Scotland & Gretna Green, Dumf (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 704 ft; Running time: 8 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Notes: Documentation/associated material: COI file - script, synopsis
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    UKY 374

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register