Title:BURNING VILLAGES AND TANK SORTIE IN SURABAYA [Allocated Title]
Film Number:JFU 447
Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: As Chinese refugees flee from fighting in Surabaya (Sourabaya/Soerabaja) in Java, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), the cameraman joins a tank sortie into the city by the 13th Lancers.
Description: In Surabaya a large pall of smoke hangs over a burning kampong or village. Two Chinese civilians approach carrying their belongings; the leading man carries a small Chinese flag to indicate he is not an Indonesian. Two more civilians with fires clearly visible behind. An RAF Thunderbolt Mk II fighter-bomber passes and disappears into the smoke. A civilian carrying a case on their head. Buildings ablaze. Very dark footage of Indian troops entering the burning village. Very dark shot of an Indian soldier against a backdrop of flames. Indian soldiers in an improvised position with a Bren gun. View of an Indian radio operator with close-up; a Thompson submachine gun leans against a wall in the background.
Footage from the turret of a moving Sherman medium tank, probably of 13th (Duke of Connaught's Own) Lancers. Alongside the cameraman is the tank's commander. As the tank drives down a road Indonesian nationalist graffiti; a sign can be read which reads: 'Nursery Peace [sic] - Don't hinder the Indonesian republic'. Later graffiti reads 'Up! Indonesian Republic' and 'Death with colonisation'. Profile of an Indian radio operator on the turret. Sherman with crew. The tank drives away from camera.
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)
Davis, Desmond (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Indian Army, 13th (Duke of Connaught's Own) Lancers (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 49th Indian Infantry Brigade (regiment/service)
Keywords: Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (geography)
Surabaya, Indonesia (geography)
Surabaya 1945, Allied Occupation of the Netherlands East Indies, Allied Occupation of South East Asia post-August 1945 (event)
India 1939-1945 (theme)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
