GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR INTERNED NEAR SOUTHAMPTON [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR INTERNED NEAR SOUTHAMPTON [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BTF 55
  • Other titles: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: A record of V1 flying bomb damage at various sites across the railway network, including the final stages of repairs being undertaken on the Charing Cross Bridge. German Prisoners of War, interned at a camp near Southampton, are also featured. Other content includes; 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns being transported and blackout guards being removed from lamps at Waterloo Station.
  • Description: (14 July 1944) The railway bridge at Peckham-Rye (South London), having been severely damaged in a V1 flying bomb raid. A section of the bridge has collapsed onto the tracks below, where workers have begun the arduous task of clearing the debris. From the bridge top level, the railway tracks curve downward as a group of civilian men peer over the edge onto the tracks below. SH348 (14-15 July 1944) Various military freight, including a Red Cross ambulance train, being loaded aboard the “TWICKENHAM FERRY”. A linkspan has been put down to bridge the gap between the loading bay and ferry. The “HAMPTON FERRY” is then shown leaving the harbour. Various types of military equipment are lined-up at Southampton Docks (South coast of England) awaiting shipment; amongst these are a wheeled tractor, wheeled water pumps (?) and a full-tracked trailer. The scene then cuts back to freight being loaded aboard the ferry, once the linkspan has been secured into place. (50 sec) SH349 (18 August 1944) Following a reoccurring theme, American locomotives are being loaded aboard the “HAMPTON FERRY”. Amongst the cargo going aboard are; “TRANSPORTATION CORPS USA” freight railway wagons. Scenes from on-board the ferry show one of the American 2-8-0 locomotives (No. 2822) being hoisted-up by an overhead crane, above the linkspan, and then rotated 180 degrees before going aboard. (2 min 20 sec) SH350 (18 August – 11 September 1944) Through the barbed wire fence of a Prisoner of War (POW) camp, set up near Gate 8 at Southampton Docks. A cluster of POWs are gathered around a marquee in the distance, tall industrial chimneys are in the far distance. Inside a train carriage, POWs are seated and a British Army Officer stands towards the rear. From a closer angle, but still outside the camp perimeter, the POWs stand at the fence looking out whilst others wash behind them. Many still ware thick layers of their Wehrmacht uniforms. A troop train, Southern 4-6-0 locomotive (No. 782), at Haywards Heath. Followed by, American flat railway wagons, being loaded aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) vessel, across a ramp outside the 101 storage shed. A Southern 4-4-0 locomotive steams past from a low angle, hauling freight and carriages. Cuts back to; the POWs being marched towards the internment camp past the pillared “SOUTHERN RAILWAY DOCKS” entrance. A close-up of signs outside the aforementioned entrance; “POW CAGE” and “ENTRANCE”. (3 min 18 sec) SH351 (5-7 September 1944) Repairs to the bomb damaged bridge at Charing Cross in progress. Approximately half-way through reconstruction, a combination of workmen and a crane manoeuvre new girders into position. A cross section of the bridge from the bank of the River Thames. (4 min 45 sec) SH352 (12 September 1944) Troops hitching 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns to the back of military trucks, before being towed away from the railway sidings at Haywards Heath. They are being returned, by rail, to sites that had endured V1 flying bomb raids. Wheels are attached for transportation by road. A Southern 0-6-0 locomotive hauls away freight wagons. (7 min) SH353 (September 1944) Workmen remove blackout guards from lamps at Waterloo Station, London. (Technical: underexposed) (8 min 38 sec) SH354
  • Alternative Title: RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BTF 55
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (BTF 55)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07 1944-08 1944-09
  • 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: 841ft ; 9 min
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BTF 55

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