WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 46 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 46 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 46
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'AMERICA'S NEW FLYING WING.' A Northrop N9M-B flying wing (one third scale development aircraft for the projected XB-35 bomber) has its propellers hand-started and taxies for a take off from salt lake flats (Muroc ?), its tricycle undercarriage displayed to good effect. Air to air footage follows showing the aircraft's undersides as it banks away from its accompanying "chase" aircraft. The commentary points out that although it may look like a prehistoric monster, it may well be the forerunner of the aircraft of the future. II. 'INDIAN HEROES HONOURED.' At his residence in New Delhi Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, accompanied by Lady Linlithgow, presents the Victoria Cross to Captain Premindra Singh Bhagat of the Indian Engineers. The ceremony is watched by men of the Indian Army. The wife of Subedar Richpal Ram, 6th Rajput Rifles receives his posthumously awarded VC. A photograph of Ram is then displayed as the commentary states that it was fitting that Indian valour was honoured on the soil of India. Both awards were earned during fighting in the Abyssinian campaign against the Italians. The commentary stresses that Hitler entreated the Indian people to join his New Order, but they gave him their answer in cold steel and bullets. III. 'THE YANKS ARRIVE.' The commentary draws parallels between the arrival of United States forces in Britain during the first World War and their arrival at a port in Northern Ireland at the beginning of 1942. US first World War infantrymen board a destroyer (pennant number 279) on their way to fighting in Europe. The commentary points out that this is newsreel footage from twenty five years ago over scenes of the crammed upper decks of the troopship "St Mihiel". Various views of the WW1 "Doughboys" waving from the decks and disembarking at the end of their journey. The commentary states that "America hasn't been long in implementing President Roosevelt's promise that United States troops would be sent to Britain" as the footage changes back to the disembarkation of US troops (Infantry division from Iowa) at Belfast Docks in Northern Ireland in 1942. US soldiers laden with large kitbags walk down a gangplank and onto a quayside. US troops take an impromptu break for refreshments while waiting for transport to take them from the dock area. US soldiers disembark from a large troopship and are ferried to shore in a smaller shallow draught vessel. IV. 'POLISH TROOPS IN RUSSIA.' The commentary gives an introduction to the Polish brigades that are trained in Russia and operate alongside their Red Army counterparts against the Germans. Views of a Polish camp in snow covered country showing tents pitched over dugouts in the ground. A Polish sentry stands guard in the lane leading to the camp, armed with a Karabin obr 1938g 7.62mm carbine. A Polish officer leads a detachment along the lane to relieve the waiting sentry, the detachment then march off in the opposite direction. The commentary stresses that the inflexible will to win of the Soviet troops is also shared by their Polish comrades. An alert is sounded, and men of the Polish Brigade pour out of their bivouacs heavily armed with weapons that include Pulemyot Degtyarova Pekhotnii obr 1928g DP 7.62mm light machine guns, Samozaryadnaya Vintovka Tokareva obr 1940g SVT 7.62mm automatic rifles and Moisin-Nagant obr 1891 rifles. Following the alert, the troops are drawn up in ranks for inspection, they are brought to attention and are then marched away. Elsewhere a mounted Polish cavalry detachment tow Pushka obr 1939g 76.2mm field guns, which are unhitched and manhandled into snow covered gun-pits. Polish infantry assume tactical positions in the snow, scanning the horizon with binoculars for signs of the enemy. A Polish sniper views the distant horizon through telescopic sights mounted on an SVT automatic rifle. Polish troops in snow camouflage advance covered by a machine gun team armed with a Stankovy Pulemyot Maksima obr 1910 7.62mm heavy machine gun on a wheeled Sokolov carriage. Men of the Polish Brigade march from a bridge that flies the Polish National flag on its superstructure. V. 'ABYSSINIA.' Abyssinian Negus, Haile Selassie and Major-General Sir Philip Mitchell, watched by British and Abyssinian officials, sign the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement, whereby Britain pledges two years of aid to Abyssinia (January 29 1942 ?). Haile Selassie addresses camera (live) stating that, even in the twentieth century, "with a great and just cause David will still beat Goliath." There follows footage of the Emperor's earlier return to Addis Ababa, in which he is driven towards the city and stops to survey it from a vantage point on the road. The Negus, resplendent in a pith helmet, salutes the Abyssinian flag.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 46
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-03-16
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Hope, Victor Alexander John (2nd Marquess of Linlithgow) (person) Hope, Doreen Maud (Lady Linlithgow) (person) Bhagat, Premindra Singh (person) Ran, Richpal (Mrs) (person) Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia (person) Mitchell, Philip Euen (person) Indian Army (regiment/service) Polish Army, Home Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: operations, Polish military - sortie (object name) ceremonies, Indian - event-related: investiture (object name) operations, United States military - movement: ship (object name) delegations, British international - political (object name) India & New Delhi <Viceroy's Residence> (geography) GB, Northern Ireland (geography) Ethiopia & Addis Ababa (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: French & Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 904 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 46

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