Title:THE HOME GUARD HELP TO REMOVE A LANDMINE FROM RAILWAY TRACKS AT CHARING CROSS [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BTF 83
Other titles:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: The aftermath of bomb damage to the area round London Bridge Station and the Southern Railway “General Offices”. A landmine is removed from railway tracks at Charing Cross. A civilian crowd witness German Prisoners of War coming ashore at Southampton.
Description: (30 December 1940) Air raid damage at London Bridge Station, central London. Inside a bombed out building firemen (NFS?) extinguish smouldering rubble. The exterior has incurred less damage, allowing civilians to continue walking past. Firemen extract water from a nearby hydrant (a signpost points towards the “CREAMERY RESTURANT”). The entrance of the “YMCA – FOR MEMBERS OF HM FORCES” is in the backdrop, and a group of five fireman angle a hose upward towards the wreckage. CH67
(30 December 1940) Workmen dig out rubble from under a collapsed railway bridge (No. “509”?). Underneath another bridge (“EL 54” ?) freight railway wagons have been derailed, and are undergoing welding to work free them from the tracks. More bomb damage on the bridge top level, where the track has caved in and a barrage balloon has been grounded in the backdrop. Workmen try and clear the tracks with shovels. (2 min 05 sec) CH68?
(6 January 1941) “General Offices” and the “Old GPO Yard” bombed to rubble. From ground level, a wall still surrounds the piles of debris. Panoramic views from inside the yard and looking over a railway bridge show severe blast damage in detail. (4 min 14 sec) CH69
(17 April 1941) The Home Guard, Southern Railway staff, an ARP Warden (Air Raid Precaution) and a Merchant Navy Officer (?) are on the scene of a landmine laying across the tracks at Charing Cross. Two men are in dialogue with a Merchant Navy Officer (?), presumably journalists. The Home Guardsman devise a winch system to help lift the explosive off the tracks and onto a small railway trolley. The landmine in successfully lifted onto the flat railway wagon. Once safely secured, the landmine is wheeled away down the track by the Home Guard. (6 min 03 sec) CH72
(15 May 1941) A troopship is hauled into dock at Southampton. A civilian crowd stand in the background to witness German Prisoners of War (POWs) in Wehrmacht uniforms coming ashore. British Military Police (MPs) stand guard as the POWs file off the vessel, most still carrying bags of equipment. (7 min 30 sec) CH73
Alternative Title:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
