Title:WITH THE KUT RELIEF FORCE IN MESOPOTAMIA [Main Title]
Film Number:IWM 83
Other titles:
Summary: The advance of the Kut Relief Force from Basra upriver until the fall of Kut-el-Amara, 5 December 1915 to 29 April 1916.
Description: Basra, showing 'The Strand', followed by people in the bazaar and by light canoes, 'ballams', on the river (both scenes probably acted). Genuine film of troops in barges being towed upriver by paddle steamers, passing Ezra's Tomb, half-way between Basra and Kut. Marsh Arabs follow the boat. A bows-on shot of a British river gunboat, probably Insect Class. Troops on a paddle steamer with improvised mosquito nets. An acted scene of a soldier eating while surrounded by flies. Genuine scene of Arab 'mahaila' sailboats. Indian soldiers on board a paddle steamer. The British advanced position at Fallahiya on or about 5 April, showing a Napier light lorry and an Indian converted 1915 Fiat armoured car being unloaded from a ship, along with an 18-pounder being manhandled into position. Mule wagons with Indian drivers moving up. British troops in the trenches at Abu Rumman, captured on 5 April. A hospital ship docking at Fallahiya, and some of the 1,136 sick and wounded evacuated from Kut after the surrender disembarking and being taken to a field hospital. (Note the packing case in the field hospital scene, marked "OC Flying Column Oran". This might be Ora, near Fallahiya, but there is no record of a field hospital there.)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
British Army, Kut Relief Force (regiment/service)
Indian Army, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
Indian Army, Kut Relief Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: society, Mesopotamian - ethnic (object name)
ships, Mesopotamian civilian - inland: ballam (object name)
ships, Mesopotamian civilian - inland: mahaila (object name)
operations, British military - movement: ship (object name)
buildings, Mesopotamian - historic (object name)
ships, British naval - light forces: Insect Class (?) (object name)
animals, insects (object name)
transport, British military - truck: Napier light lorry (object name)
armour, Italian - armoured car: Fiat (India Pattern, 1915) & [Indian] (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 18-pounder field gun (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - assistance: hospital ship (object name)
casualties, Indian [diseased] (object name)
medical, Indian military - hospital (object name)
01/3(567).3 (event)
Turkey & Basra, Mesopotamia (geography)
Turkey & Abu Rumman, Mesopotamia (geography)
Turkey & Qurna, Mesopotamia (geography)
Turkey & Fallahiya, Mesopotamia (geography)
Turkey & Ora, Mesopotamia (?) (geography)
desert (concept)
camera (concept)
Deprivation (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1003 ft; Running time: 17 mins
