Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Following the capture of Myingyan, north of Meiktila, Burma, Sherman tanks and infantry work together to flush out resistance from Japanese held villages in the surrounding area.
Description: A tank is surrounded by British soldiers; they chat. Officers hold a briefing next to a tank. Four tanks of 116th Regiment (Gordon Highlanders) Royal Armoured Corps roll down a rough road; they carry four men each from 4th Bombay Grenadiers on the back (these men are there to protect the tanks and are nicknamed "The Guiders" by the tank crews). The tanks are now at the edge of a field with the infantry prone along the edge. A pall of smoke rises in the distance and flames can be seen. An Indian soldier walks towards the burning village in the distance. More smoke fills the sky. An RAF Hawker Hurricane fighter-bomber flies through the smoke. More British troops approach the village. A dead Japanese soldier lies on the ground. Tanks and infantry are on the move across fields. The tanks fire. The village is ablaze. Smoke rises behind a tank as buildings in the village burn. An infantryman takes cover behind some thin scrub which is behind a tank. The tanks line up in a field. One tank moves across the field. Infantry walk across the field (out of focus). The infantry move through the village; many buildings are on fire. A villager walks past. More villagers walk away carrying their belongings. An hysterical woman runs through the village; she gesticulates with a praying motion to the soldiers. Villagers desperately try to rescue their belongings from burning buildings. The tanks move across the fields again. A British soldier laces his boots. Two soldiers make tea. General views of the improvised camp of three or four tanks parked next to a Buddhist temple. Empty shell casings are piled up. Tea is brought to a soldier who has just woken up from under an improvised tent of a piece of canvas tied to the side of a tank. Some of the men wash by their tanks. Shells are loaded into the tanks. The tank barrel is cleaned with a very long rod. Petrol is poured into the tank from a can. The men inspect a 70mm Battalion gun captured from the Japanese.
Alternative Title:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
SEAC Film Unit (Production company)
Higgins, K G (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Collingwood, Richard George (person)
Indian Army, 255th Indian Tank Brigade (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 7th Indian Division (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 33rd Indian Infantry Brigade (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Armoured Corps, 116th Regiment (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 4th Bombay Grenadiers (regiment/service)
Keywords: Myingyan, Burma (geography)
Irrawaddy Crossing 1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event)
Battle of Meiktila 1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event)
Burma 1942-1945 (theme)
Indian Army 1939-1945 (theme)
Armoured Warfare 1939-1945 (theme)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
