ROYAL ENGINEERS IMPROVISE A FERRY ACROSS THE NAN QUIN CHONG RIVER [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: ROYAL ENGINEERS IMPROVISE A FERRY ACROSS THE NAN QUIN CHONG RIVER [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: JFU 132
  • Other titles: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: 236th Field Company Royal Engineers improvise a ferry across the Namkwin Chaung river, Burma; a patrol of Royal Welch Fusiliers explores the jungle in the area of Hopin; Major-General Festing, General Officer Commanding 36th Division, visits forward areas around Hopin, Burma, accompanied by Major-General Pam of 50th Chinese Division.
  • Description: A jeep carrying four men and towing a trailer full of medical supplies pulls up. Two men examine the trailer and the contents. Supplies, including shovels and picks, are are loaded into a rubber dingy. The heavily loaded dinghy is pushed off the riverbank by two men. A jeep is towed by a system of ropes and pulleys slung across the river. A dinghy arrives at the other side of the river where men wait to unload it; there seems to be a small camp here. The dinghy is pulled by the system of ropes and is laden with supplies including a desk. Another heavily laden dinghy is pulled across by rope and pulley. A column of British soldiers of 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers walk through the jungle in the pouring rain. Mules make up part of the column and carry supplies. One man smiles and and sticks his fingers up in 'v' shape. The column walks along a rough road. They cross a bridge, which had been previously demolished by retreating Japanese soldiers, led by a Pipe Major playing the bagpipes. Close-up of the column marching. More soldiers cross the bridge. A patrol of British soldiers from D Company 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers gather for a briefing before going on patrol. They are shown a map of the local area which Major J D Williams uses to point out various objectives. Close-up of Major Williams. Close-up of the map showing Kangon and Kwingyi. A soldier cleans a Thompson M1A1 sub-machine gun; another man cleans his Lee Enfield rifle. The patrol walks through a village. While a soldier with a Thompson provides cover from behind a tree the patrol storms a house. The patrol inspects a damaged train. The rolling stock is mostly still on the tracks but the wagons show signs of extensive damage. Two patrols meet and chat. A Burmese guide leads a British patrol down a hillside. A skinny, shirtless, British soldier of Royal Corps of Signals uses a radio set. Close-up of headphones worn by the soldier. A patrol walks through a Burmese village; the locals come out to watch them pass. The patrol crosses a shallow stream and walks through the jungle. A conference between the British patrol and Burmese men takes place. They look over notes and maps. Close-up of the Burmese guide. The patrol walks through the jungle. A soldier uses a radio set that he carries on his back. The patrol stops and the radio set is used again. Close-up of the radio operator speaking into the microphone. A group shot of eight British soldiers holding a Japanese flag; another man joins them and draws a Type 94 Japanese sword from a scabbard. Close-up of the soldier drawing the sword and holding it over his head. A soldier, wearing just a towel, soaks his feet in a bucket. A rubber dinghy carrying Major-General F W Festing, General Pan Yugun and two other officers arrives at a riverbank on the Namkwin Chaung. The men get out of the dinghy and walk away. They all get into jeeps which drive away. The officers stand in the jungle and chat; they consult maps. A column of four jeeps carrying the officers and other men drive off.
  • Alternative Title: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: No
  • Object_Number: JFU 132
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-09-17
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) SEAC Film Unit (Production company) Sanders, P A (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Festing, Francis Wogan (person) Williams, J D (person) Pan Yugun (person) British Army, 36th Division (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Engineers, 236th Field Company (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Battalion (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Welch Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, D Company (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Corps of Signals (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Nan Quin Chong (River), Burma (geography) Hopin, Burma (geography) Kangon, Burma (geography) Kwingyi, Burma (geography) Operations in Northern Burma 1943-1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event) Burma 1942-1945 (theme) British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 863 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    JFU 132

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    JFU 90 (WAVELL'S TOUR - VISIT TO IMPHAL [Allocated Title])
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