AUSTRALIA MARCHES WITH BRITAIN [Main Title]

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  • Title: AUSTRALIA MARCHES WITH BRITAIN [Main Title]
  • Film Number: CAU 242
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: A documentary about Australia's contribution to the British war effort.
  • Description: START 10:00:09 The film opens with titles - "The War Effort of Australia, assuming wider proportions with every passing week, is sincerely dedicated to the People of England." Over shots of marching Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen and workers leaving a factory at the end of their working day, the commentary proclaims, "Australia marches with Britain - from her fighting men to her army in overalls!" The contribution Australia makes to the British war effort is illustrated with scenes showing the production of wheat, beef, wool, milk, butter, poultry, eggs and timber - "Land of plenty.....and of untold resources - all placed gladly, willingly, at the feet of Mother England!" The film also pays tribute to the great strides Australian industry has made since the outbreak of war in September 1939 - "the giant wheels of industry whir under the terrific impetus of conflict" - by illustrating iron and steel production, the manufacture of steel helmets and gas masks. 10:07:21 More Australian war industry scenes show the manufacture of Universal carriers, shells, torpedoes, small-arms ammunition, Bren guns, Lee-Enfield rifles, aircraft (Gypsy Moth trainers and Wirraway fighter-bombers) and small naval vessels - "Ships, aeroplanes, guns, munitions, food - every ounce that can be spared goes to the far-flung Empire!" Last shown is the contribution made by Australian all-volunteer fighting men in this war, illustrated with shots showing RAN light cruisers ar sea, RAAF aircraft and Australian soldiers preparing to go overseas. Australian soldiers and RAAF airmen are seen boarding large troopships bound for distant battlefields - "The Anzac army is on the march - a surging khaki tide comes out of the south and flows up the world!" To the strains of 'Land of Hope and Glory', the end sequence mixes through from the Australian flag to the Union Jack, over which is superimposed a cameo portrait of King George VI. The commentary rousingly concludes, "And so we send our sons, proud of our manhood. Whatever the future may bring, however hard the road, there will be no falter in the abiding faith of Australia in one united people, one all-embracing flag, one glorious Majesty! God Save the King!" END 10:15:20
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: CAU 242
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941-12
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Department of Information, Australia (Production sponsor) National Films Council, Australia (Production company) Hill, K G (Production individual) Shepherd, William (Production individual) Bathurst, Peter (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: George VI, King (person) Royal Australian Air Force (regiment/service) Royal Australian Navy (regiment/service) Australian Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Australia (geography) Home Front, Australia, Second World War (event) Australian Army 1939-1945 (theme) Australian Home Front 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1420 ft; Running time: 15mins 20 secs
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    CAU 242

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