I. LIGHT TANK EXERCISE VIEW BY GENERAL MACNAUGHTON (SIC). II. GEN MACNAUGHTON CANADIAN C.I.C TROOPS DISEMBARK (SIC) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: I. LIGHT TANK EXERCISE VIEW BY GENERAL MACNAUGHTON (SIC). II. GEN MACNAUGHTON CANADIAN C.I.C TROOPS DISEMBARK (SIC) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BDY 26
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Unedited and uncensored newsreel footage showing a joint infantry-and-tank exercise held by units serving with the 1st Division in northern France and the arrival of Major-General Andrew McNaughton, Commander-in-Chief of Canadian troops in the United Kingdom, for a brief visit to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
  • Description: Part I. Scenes filmed in bright sunlight in arable farming country in the Somme valley near the village of Hébuterne between Doullens and Bapaume showing four or five infantry tanks deployed with small detachments of infantry over a wide area. A section of six riflemen from the 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment closes up behind an A11 Matilda Mk I infantry tank as it motors at walking pace across the field. A Matilda tank approaches a low embankment marking the boundary of a field and successfully gets across it; huddled behind it is an infantry section who, seeing the camera (or on his instructions) look as if they're in action. One rifleman works the bolt of his SMLE Mk III rifle but without actually firing a round. All of them are wearing their steel helmets and are in Full Service Marching Order (FSMO); they are also dressed for the cold with balaclavas under their helmets and leather jerkins over their Battledress tunics. Widely scattered combined infantry and tank detachments advance across open fields. A small group of senior tank officers serving with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment and other cavalry units and Major-General McNaughton, commander of the 1st Canadian Division (third from the left), is seen in conversation. Riflemen keep pace in a leisurely fashion with a Matilda tank. A bumpy travelling shot past a section of infantry standing around in a field on this bright but cold winter's day. A Vickers Mk VIB light tank belonging to the 13th/18th Hussars, 1st Division's cavalry reconnaissance unit, is filmed making several attempts to crash through a hedgerow field boundary and succeeds in breaking through at the third attempt. The Vickers light tank demonstrates its agility by repeating the maneuver, but at much higher speed. It then shows off its turn of speed by racing across a field past the cameraman, does a quick skid turn and motors off in the opposite direction. Part II. Scenes filmed in poor morning light as an Irish Sea ferry (either «MV Ulster Monarch» or «MV Ulster Prince») requisitioned for use as as a troop transport comes in to dock at Cherbourg. British soldiers reinforcing the BEF line the sides of the ship aft of the main superstructure as eight officers including General McNaughton (the second person on the gangway) disembark and are met by officers from BEF General Headquarters. The Canadian commander, looking a little impatient at the delay, poses unsmiling for the camera with five other members of his staff. He and his aide-de-camp (ADC) step into a waiting Hillman staff car and sets off on his way with another staff car travelling behind him. Two Canadian (?) soldiers in steel helmets and greatcoats and in FSMO (but without weapons) descend the gangway and receive a warm welcome from the British soldiers on the quay. The two men pose for the camera on French soil. More soldiers disembark from the requisitioned Irish Sea ferry including one man seen carrying wrapped parcels in his arms. Troops waiting to land line the ship's sides watching others disembark.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: No
  • Object_Number: BDY 26
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1940-01-11
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Universal (Production company) Noble, R (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: McNaughton, Andrew George Latta (person) British Expeditionary Force (1939-1940) (regiment/service) Canadian Army, 1st Canadian Division (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Tank Regiment, 4th Battalion (regiment/service) British Army, 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) (regiment/service) British Army, North Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Hébuterne, 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) Merchant Navy 1939-1945 (theme) Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 382 ft; Running time: 4 mins 14 secs
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    BDY 26

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