CITY FIRES - LONDON AND MANCHESTER [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: CITY FIRES - LONDON AND MANCHESTER [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: AYY 78
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Composite reel of black and white footage shot by AFPU cameramen recording scenes from the Blitz in London and Manchester
  • Description: I. 29-30 December 1940, London, scenes of fires and bomb damage around St Paul's Cathedral. Night time, view from the roof of St Paul's Cathedral panning down over the burning buildings below. Ground level, silhouette shot of four firemen using a firehose. More shots of the firemen. View along a blazing street, bus stop just visible through the smoke. Brief view of one of the towers of St Paul's Cathedral followed by another panning shot looking down at the burning buildings below (three of the statues on the exterior of the cathedral are seen in shot, silhouetted by the fires). Further shot looking down showing burning and collapsing buildings. Ground level shot of burning buildings panning up to a view of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral through smoke. Further shots of burning buildings and fireman at work. Dark shot along a narrow street, or alley, with flames visible in the background. Various shots of damage to St Bride's Church (Fleet Street) - flames visible through the church windows. Brief view of fireman fighting the fires in a narrow street, followed by a very brief shot looking up to St Paul's Cathedral. Bomb damage to the church of St Lawrence Jewry (Gresham Street) and fireman at work in the streets nearby. II. 2 January 1941, London, scenes of bomb damage. Day time, Fore Street, shots of members of the Pioneer Corps clearing debris, views over damaged buildings and more shots of the Pioneer Corps at work. Newgate Street, view looking down on damaged buildings and then an explosion caused by demolition of a damaged building by the Royal Engineers (who are not seen) and a very brief shot of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral visible through the dust thrown up from the demolished building. III. 11 January 1941, London, scenes of fires and bomb damage in the City of London. Night time, large group of firemen using their hoses to fight fires in blazing buildings on both sides of a street. Close shots of the firemen and their hoses. IV. 22 December 1940, Manchester, scenes of fires and bomb damage. Night time, long shot of a burning warehouse, further shots of the same warehouse and various shots of fireman fighting the blaze. Shots of fireman fighting fires in a narrow street. Fireman at work in a wider street, (two shops identifiable "Shirley's Babyland" and "Oriental Carpet Co"), the large building next to the two shops in flames, fireman at work with shots of a civilian who appears to be helping the fireman use their hoses against the fires. Brief day time shot of people crossing the road past a group of fireman. V. 24 and 25 December 1940, Manchester, scenes of bomb damage. Manchester, Piccadilly, day time, panning shot showing four firehoses in use against flames, bomb damaged buildings and the bus station. Further shots of groups of firemen using stationary hoses against the fires. Pumps in use. Soldiers stand guard as civilians walk past the area. Sustained shot of a single soldier on duty. Further panning shot over the bomb damaged and burning area. Soldier coiling up a firehose. Group of soldiers removing firehoses from the debris. Men from the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC) working on the bomb damaged buildings. Men on a ladder passing a large chain through a window opening in a badly damaged building ("Barlow Jones" noted on building). Men pulling and tying thick ropes. Brief shot of a group of men looking up to the badly damaged building. Brief shots of men pulling on ropes, moving chains and moving large pieces of masonry. Further shots of bomb damaged buildings. Man striking a match to light a fuse (?). Group of men pushing a fire pump. Long shot of two explosions at the base of a bomb damaged building. Group of soldiers marching out of view.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: AYY 78
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (AYY 78)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1940-12-22 1940-12-29 1940-12-30 1941-01-02 1941-01-11
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Film Unit (Production company) Tennyson d'Eyncourt, Walter (Captain) (Production individual) Carver, F K (Production individual) Rignold, Harry (Captain)1943-09-12Cameraman, service number 98582, killed in action during Salerno landings. See http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=938723 accessed 7 March 2011 (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: VHS Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Running time: 12 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    AYY 78

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