WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 34 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 34 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 34
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'SOUTH AFRICA. Exclusive photo report by Maurice Ford.' A short tour of the war time Union of South Africa. South African Air Force (SAAF) Avro Anson aircraft overfly a rugged part of the South African coastline. Aerial views of Durban with its very large port facilities. The Avro Anson aircraft overfly civilian merchant shipping and Passenger liners. Panoramic views of Pretoria and Government House as commentary points out that General Jan C Smuts is in residence. Elsewhere, five young men arrive at the headquarters of the Youth Training Brigade in order to enlist. They are guided to the correct induction building by a helpful sentry. New recruits are drilled on a dusty parade ground as commentary points out that there is more to soldiering than Guardsman-like precision in drill. Youth Brigade recruits mount a Vickers .303-in heavy machine gun on its tripod under the watchful gaze of a weapons instructor. Commentary states "Springboks now have wings" as SAAF Cadets receive their wings from Air Commodore Frew at a ceremony in Kimberley. SAAF aircraft overfly the presentation ceremony at height (Hawker Hart ?). Elsewhere the interior of a South African armaments factory is displayed. White women workers wearing goggles operate milling machinery as part of a production line for 3.7-in howitzers. Various views of the final assembly process as breech mechanisms are mounted on cradles and protective shields are fitted. A male factory worker fits breech blocks and checks their operating arc. Commentary points out that the Howitzers are needed as fast as they can be manufactured over scenes of 4.7-in Howitzers being towed by soft-skinned vehicles. South African artillerymen load the howitzers and fire a barrage. A patrol of Marmon-Herrington armoured cars drive along a dusty road, described by the commentary as being "fine eighty mile an hour go anywhere fighting vehicles." Scores of Marmon-Herringtons are drawn up in parade ground formation as their crews wave for the benefit of the camera. Elsewhere, smiling Cape Coloured Corps infantrymen prepare to board trains that will take them to the front. Cape Coloured Corps troops wearing Greatcoats and carrying kit bags congregate on the station platform. A troop train bearing the legend "Northwards and Victory" pulls out of the station to the cheers of the remaining CCC infantrymen. II. 'GONDAR FALLS.' Commentary explains that Italy has lost its last remaining fortress in Abyssinia over a map of the area illustrating Gondar's strategic location. Panoramic views of Gondar set in grassy hill country. Street scenes in Gondar of municipal buildings and Italian owned commercial premises. The fortress of Gondar is shown highlighting its castellated battlements and a throng of captured Italian infantry in its courtyard (Italian surrender 27/11/41). The commentary stresses the cooperation of all Imperial forces involved in the Abyssinian campaign as the Union flag flies over the ramparts of the fortress of Gondar. Marmon-Herrington armoured cars drive past assembled East African troops and reviewing officers. East African infantry march past an improvised reviewing podium (4X2 truck). III. 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrive by official car at an RAF Personnel Reception Centre to inspect the massed ranks of Commonwealth airmen involved in the Empire Air Training Scheme. Commentary explains the role of such centres and the wide range of nationalities involved in the scheme. A line of airmen show off their national shoulder patches on their uniforms, these include personnel from New Zealand, Australia, United States, Canada, South Africa, Singapore and Rhodesia. King George VI speaks to the massed ranks of airmen as the commentary states that such schemes are "Convincing proof of the solidarity of the British Commonwealth of Nations, in fact of all English speaking peoples." Queen Elizabeth chats informally with airmen. The royal party is cheered on departure by the airmen. IV. 'RUSSIA HITS BACK.' A Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft of the Soviet Air Force (Lend-Lease) lands at an undisclosed Russian airfield carrying Lord Beaverbrook (British Minister of Supply?) and Mr W Averell Harriman (US Special Representative). They are met by Soviet dignitaries and review a guard of honour. The Soviet troops march past carrying 1891 pattern Moisin-Nagant 7.62mm rifles with fixed bayonets. The commentary points out that the Russian counter-offensive is due in no small part to the tanks, guns and aeroplanes supplied by the western allies under the terms of the lend-lease negotiations. Elsewhere, Russian Cossack troops ride through wooded country, described by the commentary as being famous and feared throughout their own country. A Cossack detachment pull a 45mm PTP anti-tank gun as others practice cavalry charges across the steppe with sabres drawn. The commentary points out that the Soviets have been successful in closing down German supply lines and that the Soviet fleet still controls the Black sea. Soviet Navy cruisers Krasny Krim and Chervonaya Ukraina in operation in the Black Sea. Soviet sailors man a Maxim SPM 1910 7.62mm heavy machine gun and scan the sky for enemy aircraft. German aircraft overfly at great height (Heinkel He 111 ?) and are engaged, somewhat optimistically, by Soviet sailors firing a DShK 1938g 12.7mm heavy machine gun mounted on a wooden pole. German aircraft fly through a sky filled with dark Flak bursts. A German Junkers Ju 88 bomber aircraft dives to low level, possibly after being hit by Russian anti-aircraft fire. A destroyer of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet (pennant number 11) steams past the camera at speed. British, Soviet and United States flags fly in unison.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 34
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941-12-22
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Ford, Maurice (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Frew, Matthew (person) Smuts, Jan Christiaan (person) George VI, King (person) Elizabeth II, Queen (person) Aitken, William Maxwell, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (person) Harriman, Averell (person) Royal Air Force, Empire Air Training Scheme (regiment/service) South African Army, Cape Coloured Corps (regiment/service) South African Army, Youth Training Brigade (regiment/service) Red Army, Cossacks (regiment/service) Soviet Navy, Krasny Krim (regiment/service) Soviet Navy, Chevronaya Ukraina (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: training, South African - combat (object name) ceremonies, South African military - customary (object name) industry, South African - munitions (object name) prisoners of war, Italian - custody (object name) combat [simulated], Russian naval - anti-aircraft (object name) ships, Russian naval - cruiser: Krasny Krim (object name) ships, Russian naval - cruiser: Chevronaya Ukraina (object name) Second World War & Three Power Conference & 28/10/1941=1/10/1941 (event) South Africa & Pretoria <Government House> (geography) South Africa & Durban (geography) Ethiopia & Gondar (geography) Russia & Moscow (geography) Black Sea (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: 921 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 34

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