THE GERMAN RETREAT AND THE BATTLE OF ARRAS [Main Title]

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  • Title: THE GERMAN RETREAT AND THE BATTLE OF ARRAS [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 113
  • Other titles: THE BATTLE OF ARRAS [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: The aftermath of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and the Battle of Arras, Western Front, March-April 1917.
  • Description: (Reel 1) The opening shows the destruction near Bapaume and Péronne caused by the German retreat. Buildings have been blown up, trees cut down. A British cyclist patrol is greeted by the population of a newly liberated village. French soldiers in another liberated village, probably Roye. A British 6-inch howitzer battery near Henin is shown, along with its 21-year old commander (possibly Major A Gordon of 11th Siege Battery RGA). Batteries of 18-pounders and 9.2-inch howitzers are also in action in the Henin area. (Reel 2) South African 1st Regiment during a trench raid (their leader, Captain Rolf, was awarded the MC), taking three prisoners. Another trench raid, possibly by 9th Battalion, the Cameronians. Behind the lines near Arras 19th Hussars wait. (Reel 3) Soldiers of 10th (London Stock Exchange) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and Royal West Kents march up to the battlefield for the attack. German prisoners and wounded come back, but no fighting is shown. Men of the King's Liverpool Regiment and King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry move up. (Reel 4) In the aftermath, captured German gun positions are shown together with British howitzers moving to Monchy-le-Preux. The first train arrives at Arras station, played in by the pipe band of a battalion of Gordon Highlanders. Australians and men of 29th Division rest after the attack. On 13 April men of 29th Division are taken to rest by buses.
  • Alternative Title: THE BATTLE OF ARRAS [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: IWM 113
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1917-06-06
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Cinema Committee (Production sponsor) Topical Film Company (Production company) Jury, William F (Production individual) Malins, Geoffrey H (Production individual) McDowell, J B (Production individual) Raymond, H C (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Gordon, A (person) British Army, Div 29 (regiment/service) British Army, cyclists (regiment/service) British Army, Scottish Rifles, Cameronians, Bn 9 (?) (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Fusiliers, Bn 10 (regiment/service) British Army, King's Liverpool Regiment (regiment/service) British Army, King's Shropshire Light Infantry (regiment/service) British Army, Kent Regiment, West Royal (regiment/service) British Army, Gordon Highlanders (regiment/service) British Army, Hussars, 19 (regiment/service) British Army, Div 9 (regiment/service) British Army, South African Bde (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Artillery, RGA & Siege Bty 11 (?) (regiment/service) French Army (regiment/service) South African Army, South African Bde, Regt 1 (regiment/service) Australian Army, Australian Imperial Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun (object name) weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer (object name) weapons, British - gun: 9.2-inch howitzer (object name) buildings, French - residential (object name) defences, German - emplacement: gun positions & [captured] (object name) reconstruction, British - symbolic (object name) combat, British - trench raid (object name) combat, South African - trench raid (object name) demolition, German - denial (object name) destruction, French military - area (object name) operations, British military - sortie (object name) prisoners of war, German - surrender (object name) society, British military - friendship (object name) celebrations, French - liberation (object name) propaganda, British - inflammatory (object name) transport, British military - bus (object name) transport, British military - 2/3 wheel: bicycle (object name) transport, French civilian - rail (object name) combat, British - artillery bombardment (object name) 01/3(4-15).61 (event) 01/3(4-15).63 (event) Bapaume, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Hénin-Beaumont, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Roye, Somme, France (geography) Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Monchy-le-Preux, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Péronne, Somme, France (geography)
  • 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: 4129 ft; Running time: 68 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 113

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