Summary: Unedited and uncensored newsreel rushes showing light tanks of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards, 2nd Division's mechanised cavalry reconnaissance unit, on exercise in the British Expeditionary Force's zone of operations in northern France near Bucquoy, a village half way between Arras and Albert.
Description: Part I. Views of nine small Vickers Mark VIB light tanks manned by 4th/7th Dragoon Guards' A Squadron scaling an embankment marking the boundary of a field during a squadron exercise, ending on one tank (registration number 'FME 891') as it motors up to and past the camera. The tanks deploy in an open arable field, watched by the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel L E Misa, who is wearing a 'British warm'; most of the vehicles have pennants attached to their tall W/T (wireless telegraphy or radio) aerials. Tank commanders (some wearing non-standard leather jackets) emerge from their turret hatches. Armed with a map, Misa confers with three troop officers and 'A' Squadron's commander (?), Major H R C Frink (in a pale gabardine coat), who with the help of the map he is holding in front of him points out features of the countryside in front of them. At the end of the 'O' group, members of the squadron dash back to their Vickers light tanks and scout carriers and climb into them; once back in their hatches, the tank commanders put their W/T headphones back on as they await the order to move off. A low angle view of the column of nine Vickers light tanks starting up; the leading five tanks heading off past the camera one by one.
Part II. A duplicate copy of all the footage in Part I.
Production Details: British Pathe (Production company)
Martin, C R (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Misa, Lawrence Edward (person)
British Army, 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (regiment/service)
British Expeditionary Force (1939-1940) (regiment/service)
Keywords: Bucquoy, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography)
Phoney War 1939-1940, Second World War (event)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
France and the Low Countries 1939-1940 (theme)
Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1939-1945 (theme)
