BRITISH TROOPS ARRIVE IN BATAVIA [Allocated Title]

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

  • Title: BRITISH TROOPS ARRIVE IN BATAVIA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: JFU 385
  • Other titles: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: As the first British troops arrive in Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia), they encounter a political climate alive with nationalist agitation.
  • Description: Red and white flag of the Indonesian republic flying. Graffiti reads 'Freedom the glory of any nation'. Small pieces of paper on a wall read 'Our government is a government from the people, for the people and by the people', 'What is good for the British Labour Party is good for us too', 'Hands off Indonesia/Respect our Constitution/Down with Imperialism', 'Indonesia for Indonesians/Hospitality for anyone who respects/Our constitution'. A building plastered in slogans and graffiti, amongst them 'Merdeka' ('Freedom') and 'People of Soviet Russia/of China, India/Support Rep of Indonesia. British Labour ? ? / Quo Vadis'. ['Quo vadis' - Where are you going?] and 'Labourers of the whole world back Indonesia's fight for freedom'. Close-up of a poster showing a strident man with flag and the text 'Indonesia Merdeka'. Graffiti on building which reads 'Freedom is a human not a western ideal/The whole earth is a temple of freedom'. A tram passes camera; its carriage is marked 'Merdeka' and as it passes it reveals a hoarding which reads 'We are a free nation conceived in liberty' and 'All men are created equal'. Landing Craft Infantry (Large) (LCI(L)) 217 berthed at Batavia docks. The deck is lined with infantrymen of 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. The bow of LCI(L) 217 with another approaching. Seaforths waiting. View of the quayside. Men disembarking. Men marching away. Piper playing. Men forming up on the quayside. Close-up of a soldier in profile with view of his cap badge (stag with antlers). Men marching away with alternative angle. British military vehicles on the streets of Batavia. A British officer speaks with a Japanese military police sentry. A Japanese guard presents arms as two British staff cars pass. British (officer?) enters a large (government?) building and appears to talk with two Japanese sentries, seen in silhouette.
  • 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 385
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-09-30
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) SEAC Film Unit (Production company) MacTavish, DuncanDuncan MacTavish, service number 378125, sergeant cameraman with No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit, later promoted 2nd Lieutenant 6 September 1945 (see Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 April 1947). (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, Duke of Albany's), 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies (geography) Allied Occupation of the Netherlands East Indies, Allied Occupation of South East Asia post-August 1945 (event) Indonesian Independence, Independence Movements (event) Empire & Commonwealth (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: 370 ft; Running time: 5 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    JFU 385

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    JFU 386 (BRITISH TROOPS ARRIVE IN BATAVIA [Allocated Title]) JFU 387 (BRITISH TROOPS ARRIVE IN BATAVIA [Allocated Title]) JFU 430 (POLITICAL UNREST IN BANDOENG [Allocated Title])
Register