20TH INDIAN DIVISION ADVANCING TOWARDS RANGOON [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: 20TH INDIAN DIVISION ADVANCING TOWARDS RANGOON [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: JFU 247
  • Other titles: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Troops of 100th Indian Infantry Brigade, 20th Indian Division, supported by tanks and aircraft, are seen advancing from Allanmyo (Myaydo) to Prome (Pye), as part of XXXIII Corps' advance on Rangoon, capital of Burma.
  • Description: Reel 1: RAF Hawker Hurricane fighter-bombers overhead. Lee medium tanks driving along a dusty road. A Lee passes with infantry crowded on its rear hull. A column of tanks and Universal carriers. Column of smoke or dust with tanks and infantry (of 14th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles) moving up. The infantry take cover in bushes as three Gurkhas, one of them wounded, walk to a dressing station towards camera. The Gurkhas likely of 4th Battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles. Frontier Force troops dispersing from vehicles into cover. Two infantrymen in cover, one with a 2-inch mortar, the other with an Enfield No.3 rifle. Drifting smoke or dust. A dead Japanese engineer with a number of land mines. Close-ups of his equipment and his face. Footage from a moving jeep entering Allanmyo; local Burmese civilians saluting (mimicking a passenger onboard the jeep?) as it passes. Light tanks with Hurricanes overhead. A VCO (Viceroy Commissioned Officer) looking through binoculars at a burning bridge at Singongyaing [Sangyaung? Dopesheet ambiguous]. Hurricane strafing. Various shots of the burning bridge. After coming under fire near Milestone 211 infantry of the Frontier Force Rifles seek cover. A Lee tank driving slowly along a road with infantry taking cover behind it. The Lee's 37mm secondary gun is trained towards the enemy. Frontier Force infantry advancing through thick cover. Portrait of an infantryman. A Japanese soldier, with a bullet wound to his leg, is treated and his wound dressed by Lieutenant-Colonel G A S Ackroyd, Royal Army Medical Corps (Officer Commanding 77 Main Dressing Station, 100th Indian Infantry Brigade). Panning shot of the village of Inbauk left smoking after bombardment by 5.5-inch and 25-pounder guns and tank attack. Infantry concealed in a ditch. Tanks in a defile by the River Irrawaddy near Milestone 206 with infantry. Rather grey footage of a Lee tank firing its 75mm main armament at Japanese river craft on the western side of the Irrawaddy. Reel 2: An RAF Republic Thunderbolt fighter-bomber attacking river craft on the Irrawaddy. A tank enveloped by smoke after a sudden explosion with two soldiers standing behind. Captain Jones, a company officer of the Frontier Force Rifles, throws a hand grenade (probably a No.36 Mills bomb) in the direction of a Japanese soldier who attacked the tank. Daimler Armoured Cars advancing near Milestone 204. A Stuart ('Honey') light tank firing on a Japanese sniper; gunsmoke and tracer flashes can be seen. Daimlers advancing. Armoured cars crossing the Nawin Chaung (river or watercourse) passing infantry of 4th Battalion 10th Gurkhas. A number of vehicles are bogged down. Lieutenant-General Sir Montagu Stopford, commander of XXXIII Corps (crossed trident and sword with wings insignia), and Major-General Gracey (commander of 20th Indian Division, with sword insignia) seen discussing progress at Nawin Chaung. They both look at a map and in the background engineers of the Bengal Sappers and Miners are at work bridging the chaung. Brigadier Rodham (commanding officer 100th Brigade) joins the generals. The Bengal Sappers and Miners at work. A sapper at work with a sledgehammer while a company of Gurkhas pass behind him. The wrecked bridge can be seen in the background. Daimler Armoured Cars cross the new pontoon bridge. An Indian tank commander stands in his turret and speaks on a radio. 3 May 1945; 4th Battalion 10th Gurkhas marching through the streets of Prome (Pye). Two very large stone Chinthes, guarding the entrance to Prome pagoda, can be seen in the background. Local civilians watch the troops march past. 400 surrendered JIFs (Japanese Indian Forces, members of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army) are marched away to be searched. JIFs' personal kit being searched. Frontier Force infantry clearing the railway station at Prome. Infantry taking up positions amongst rolling stock. Close-up of a Bren gunner. A man gives directions to two others (a non-commissioned officer?). Infantry pass through a ruined building which is pock-marked with bullet holes. Infantry hurry across a road. Close-up of a rifleman. Indian troops filing through Prome with close-ups. A flagraising ceremony at a temporary HQ in Prome; Subedar-Major (an Indian Army rank similar to a commissioned Warrant Officer in the British Army) Multan Singh raises the flag and troops salute. In front of the flagpole is a captured Japanese battalion gun and on each side Dutch medium machine guns apparently in Japanese service.
  • Alternative Title: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: JFU 247
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-04-29 1945-04-30 1945-05-01 1945-05-02 1945-05-03
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) SEAC Film Unit (Production company) Watson, W (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Stopford, Montagu George North (person) Gracey, Douglas David (person) Indian National Army (regiment/service) Indian Army, 10th Gurkha Rifles, 4th Battalion (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Army Medical Corps (regiment/service) Indian Army, Indian Engineers, King George V's Bengal Sappers and Miners Group (regiment/service) Indian Army, 20th Indian Division (regiment/service) Indian Army, 13th Frontier Force Rifles, 14th Battalion (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Allanmyo, Burma (geography) Prome, Burma (geography) Irrawaddy (River), Burma (geography) Battle of the Irrawaddy Valley 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: 2 Footage: 1707 ft; Running time: 19 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    JFU 247

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    JFU 186 (OPENING THE ROAD OVER THE SLOPES OF MOUNT POPA TO KYAUKPADAUNG [Allocated Title])
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