THE ROYAL VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF FRANCE, JULY 1917 [Main Title]

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

Media files

  • Title: THE ROYAL VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF FRANCE, JULY 1917 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 198
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The visit of King George V and Queen Mary to France 3-14 July 1917.
  • Description: The King and Queen arrive in Calais to start the visit. The King inspects war trophies at Bailleul with General Sir Herbert Plumer, then goes on to watch a tank demonstration and talk with a group of French officers. The Queen watches a flamethrower demonstration at Helfaut. The King and Prince of Wales meet the King of Belgium at La Panne then go on to inspect aircraft at Bray Dunes with General Sir Henry Rawlinson. The Queen inspects aircraft with Brigadier-General Sir Hugh Trenchard, commander of the RFC, and goes on to meet briefly with Sir Douglas Haig, and later to visit an American hospital. The King visits an RNAS base. The Queen visits a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) and the Tank Corps central stores and tank park. The King and Prince arrive at Tramecourt Château and are joined by the Queen, along with the King and Queen of Belgium. On the following day they go their various ways, the King to St-Sixte Monastery (used as a CCS) and on to an aerodrome and the Gas School at Helfaut. Haig meets with the King, the Queen, and President and Madame Poincaré at Abbéville. The Queen and Prince visit the Asiatic Petrol Company factories near Rouen. The King tours Vimy Ridge and the Somme battlefield. At Albert the King knights two Corps commanders, General Currie of the Canadian Corps and General Fanshawe, and decorates a number of French officers. The King goes on to visit Australian 5th Division headquarters. The Queen visits the South African hospital at Abbéville. The King continues his tour of Vimy Ridge and the Somme area. Finally the King, Queen and Prince call in at the Duchess of Sutherland's hospital prior to leaving from Calais for Britain.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: IWM 198
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1917-09-03
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Cinema Committee (Production sponsor) Topical Film Company (Production company) Jury, William F (Production individual) McDowell, J B (Production individual) Raymond, H C (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: George V, King (person) Mary, Queen (person) Morieux (M) (person) Edward, Prince (Duke of Windsor) (person) Plumer, Herbert Charles Onslow (person) Elles, Hugh Jamieson (person) Foulkes, Charles (person) Albert I, King of Belgium (person) Rawlinson, Henry Seymour (person) Beck, John H W (person) Trenchard, Hugh Montague (person) Haig, Douglas (person) Airlie (Countess of) (person) Bacon, Reginald H S (person) Halahan, H G (person) Brewill, Arthur William (person) Tufnell, D H C (person) Casswell, Arthur Henry Seymour (person) Henchley, A R (person) Elisabeth, Queen of Belgium (person) Roberts, H C (person) Poincaré, Raymond (person) Poincare, Henriette (person) Bertie, Francis Leveson (person) Byng, Julian Hedworth George (person) Pétain, Philippe (person) Franchet d'Esperey, Louis Felix Marie Francois (person) Fanshawe, Edward Arthur (person) Currie, Arthur William (person) Birdwood, William Riddell (person) McCay, J W (person) Horne, Henry Sinclair (person) Stamfordham (Lord) (person) Keppel, Derek (person) Sutherland (Duchess of) (person) British Army, Tank Corps, Coy B (regiment/service) French Army (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Flying Corps, Squadron, 52 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Service (regiment/service) St John Ambulance (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Army Medical Corps, casualty clearing station (regiment/service) Asiatic Petroleum Company (regiment/service) Australian Army, Australian Imperial Force, 1st Division (regiment/service) Australian Army, Australian Imperial Force, 5th Division (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: delegations, British national - state (object name) delegations, British international - state (object name) delegations, British Imperial - state (object name) armour, British - tank: Tank Mark IV Male & [+] (object name) armour, British - tank: Tank Mark IV Female & [+] (object name) weapons, British - CBW: flamethrower (object name) weapons, British - CBW: smoke projector (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Royal Aircraft Establishment RE8 (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Bristol F2B Fighter (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Sopwith Camel (object name) aircraft, German - combat: Albatros & [impressed] (object name) weapons, German - gun: 150mm howitzer & [wrecked] (object name) transport, British military - rail: narrow gauge train (object name) buildings, French - religious: cathedral (object name) casualties, British graves - battlefield (object name) 01/3(4-15).7 (event) 31/3(44) (event) 12/3(261.2) (event) Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Bailleul, Somme, France (geography) Nieuwkerke, West Flanders, Belgium (geography) Albert, Somme, France (geography) Helfaut, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Bray-Dunes, Nord, France (geography) Saint Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Étaples, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Dunkerque, Nord, France (geography) Hesdin, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Tank Corps Workshop, Érin, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Tramecourt, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Saint Sixte Monestary, West Flanders, Belgium (geography) South African Hospital, Abbeville, Somme, France (geography) British Officers' Club, Abbeville, Somme, France (geography) Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France (geography) Guinchy, Somme, France (geography) Pozières, Somme, France (geography) Vimy Ridge, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Grévillers, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Butte-de-Warlencourt, Somme, France (geography) Dover, Kent, England, UK (geography) Children (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 4 Footage: 3689 ft; Running time: 62 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 198

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register