WOUNDED GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: WOUNDED GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BRITAIN [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BTF 21
  • Other titles: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: A record of Ashford Works producing railway wagons for the Southern Railway. Other content includes a record of wounded German prisoners of war (POWs) being unloaded from a hospital ship. The final sequence covers a tank trap demonstration.
  • Description: (26 September 1941) Mass production of railway wagons at Ashford Works, Kent. The underframes of 16-ton steel wagons are being mounted onto wheel bases. Manufacturing work continues on the metal frames in the workshop. Brief shots of female workers at a workbench. MH152-153 (29 September 1941) The Minister of War Transport, Lord Leathers, inspects the Home Guard (County of London – “LDN 36” shoulder flash) at the Bricklayers Arms depot, South London. This is followed by a march past, led by the Home Guard's marching band. A mixed sequence of shots, ends with a fireman (NFS, National Fire Service?) inspection. Lord Leathers tour continues on to the Marshalling Yards at Hither Green (South London), Orpington (South East London) and Tonbridge (Kent). Lord Leathers meets South Railway employees, and workers carrying out track maintenance. (1 min) MH154 – 155 (4 October 1941) British Army soldiers stand guard as wounded German POWs (Prisoners of War) are stretchered off the DINARD hospital ship, after sailing had been cancelled. A crowd has gathered on the dockside, including a cameraman positioned on the roof of a motorcar (possibly from a military film unit?). More POWs disembark, some are walking wounded, most wear military uniform, including; Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht. A brief close-up shot of a nurse at the door of a carriage. Followed by shots of POWs being loaded into carriages, some take the opportunity to make a Nazi Salute at the camera. Shots of nurses aboard the hospital ship, followed by the vessels stern from the dockside perspective. Scenes from a different reel begin with a hospital train (Southern No. 2041) leaving the Newhaven Harbour Station, East Sussex. Followed by the DINARD hospital ship in dock. (4 min 32 sec) MH156-157 (9 October 1941) A final sequence opens with a tank trap demonstration by a British Infantry Mark II Tank (or Matilda II). The tank attempts to roll over anti-tank obstacles (traps) setup along railway tracks at Longhedge Junction in South London. A crowd, many of whom are service personnel, watch-on. Following this an empty freight wagon is shunted towards the traps, running-up the first angled obstacle, the wagon leaves the track and becomes impaled. (7 min 20 sec) MH158-159
  • Alternative Title: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BTF 21
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (BTF 21)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941-09 1941-10
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Southern Railway Film Unit (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 978ft ; 10 min
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BTF 21

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