Title:A GAS DECONTAMINATION EXERCISE BY THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BTF 36
Other titles:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: A gas decontamination exercise by the Southern Railway, at Purley in South London. The second sequence covers the unloading of Churchill Tanks at Charing in Kent.
Description: (4 June 43 – 2 July 43) An Eastleigh decontamination exercise. Opening with a bomb damaged railway track. A 0-6-0 locomotive reverses down the track hauling freight wagons. Three separate chalkboards by the trackside; “CONCENTRATION 4/1.5.” “DANGER GAS” “CONCENTRATION 6 PM – 12.40”. A man in an anti-gas suit takes a swab sample from the tracks. Anti-gas suits are then removed and the swab is shown being burned on an outdoor stove. A mixture of scenes show men without anti-gas suits receiving tubs of ointment, and men wearing anti-gas suits decontaminating the area. A demonstration of how the men must decontaminate themselves, using a powdered bleach for their boots, and washing down anything which could be contaminated. SH250-257
(9 July 1943) Loading and unloading Infantry (MK IV?) Churchill Tanks using flat railway wagons marked “REME” (Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). A close-up shows tank tracks running across the railway wagons they have been transported on. Another tank rolls off a railway wagon followed by a Universal Carrier. More Infantry (MK IV?) Churchill Tanks being loaded onto railway wagons. Churchill Tanks being transported via railway wagon. (4 min) OH258-259
Alternative Title:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
