SUPPLYING THE ALLIES FROM DOCKS ON THE SOUTH COAST [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: SUPPLYING THE ALLIES FROM DOCKS ON THE SOUTH COAST [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BTF 54
  • Other titles: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: A record of military cargo being shipped from docks on the South coast of England, in support the Allied offensive overseas. There is also content featuring V1 flying bomb damage to the Wimbledon flyover and evacuees in transit heading northwards on the railways.
  • Description: (4-5 July 1944) The Southampton “New Docks”, the South coast of England, American military vehicles are being prepared to be shipped overseas. Rows of trucks and other military vehicles are lined-up along the road outside the Southern Railway Docks entrance, as motorbikes are ridden into storage shed 107. Dockside, military vehicles are being hoisted aboard cargo ships by on-board cranes, primarily by black American service personnel. Vehicles include; 2 ½-ton Cargo trucks, (Willys) jeeps, and an unidentified fully-tracked cargo truck. SH343 (29 June 1944) V1 flying bomb damage to the flyover at Wimbledon, South London. Several severely damaged Southern Railway carriages line the tracks, as a large work party use shovels to try and sort through the wreckage. A small fire still burns on some of the debris. The power of the bomb blast is evident from the many blown-out windows and caved-in terraced roofs in the backdrop. (1 min 45 sec) SH344 (11 July 1944) Evacuees in transit, disembarking from buses at Carshalton (South London), are assisted by female civilians (parents or official volunteers?). Clutching at bags of luggage and wearing name tags the evacuees line the station platform, appearing to be in high spirits as they face the camera, some show the 'V' for victory sign. The evacuees lean from the carriage windows, talking to their adult companions as the train prepares to leave, an “RAF REGIMENT” soldiers also appears at one of the windows. The evacuees are enthusiastically waved off as the locomotive leaves the platform, a sequence also covers the evacuees disembarking at Victoria. (2 min 50) SH345 (13-17 July 1944) An inspection by Marine Manager, Mr HA Short, of a specialised gear that has been fitted to the “Hampton Ferry”. Mr Short is accompanied British Army officials, as a US Army 0-6-0 shunter locomotive (USA, No. 8503), is lifted from the dockside and aboard the ferry by the new gear system. A new sequence begins with bombs and ammunition being loaded into cargo vessels at Newhaven Harbour, the South coast of England. Long distance shots give a perspective of the whole “North Quay” in operation. Inside some of the cargo holds, ammunition crates are being tightly packed together. (4 min 55 sec) SH346 (11 July 1944) A more detailed record of evacuees arriving at Victoria station, on their journey north from various stations. The children, and female companions (parents or official volunteers?), file out onto the platform in good spirits. They pile their luggage up, including several prams, appearing to await further instruction. (6 min 35 sec) SH347
  • Alternative Title: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BTF 54
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (BTF 54)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07
  • 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: 680ft ; 7 min 15 sec
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BTF 54

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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