CONSTRUCTION SCENES IN INDIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, ALDERSHOT IN 1947 AND HMS CUMBERLAND IN 1956 [Allocated title]
Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections.
Click here to find out more.
- Title: CONSTRUCTION SCENES IN INDIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, ALDERSHOT IN 1947 AND HMS CUMBERLAND IN 1956 [Allocated title]
- Film Number: MGH 6910
- Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY R DUNN MPS [Alternative Title]
- Summary: Amateur film with titles shot by a Royal Engineer officer (Captain R Dunn ?) who served with the 14th Army in India during the period 1942-1944 (far removed from any combat areas), and later at Aldershot (1947) and as Senior Experimental Officer during pre-wetting systems trials on board HMS Cumberland as part of Britain's Anti-Atomic Tests in 1956-57.
- Description: Reel 1: XIV (Fourteenth) Army symbol "ROAD INTO BURMA, 1942-1944" (Colour) Detailed coverage of the construction by 10,000 Bengali labourers of the route through difficult terrain and across rivers between Silchar (Assam) and Lushai, east of Tiddim, passing across the Barak River via the "Eastern Army" bridge then on through Kolasib (Mizoram state), the pass at Durtlang until arriving at the village of Neiboi. Camera focuses on the beautiful landscape through which the new road passes, and occasionally on scenes of human interest: Indians in khaki playing badminton outside the cameraman's bamboo hut headquarters, villagers in Kolasib waiting to sell produce and Bengali labourers at work. Only the presence of three British Army captains suggests the military significance of the new road. Film ends with lone caption "Orchids 1", presumably this first reel is part of a longer film. (ca 400 ft, 10 mins) Reel 2: "THE EMPIRE BUILDERS - A study in oriental building construction" Film in B&W with titles contrasts slow arrival of modern building techniques (tractors and bulldozers making roads) with reliance in Punjabi villages on traditional patterns of work: Tibetan labourers building a water tank, (Colour) ox-driven irrigation wheel, outdoor brick production, Sikh carpenters working on a roof. Final scene shows a boring machine creating a well. (333 ft, ca 8 mins) Reel 3: (Colour) Tracking shot from train. (Colour) Tracking shot from car though New Delhi outskirts. B&W and colour views of Lahore. Camel train. Polo match at Roorkee. Scenes in Bikaner (Rajasthan), with the princely state red and yellow flag flying. (359 ft, 9 mins) Reel 4: FEROZEPORE. (Colour) Various scenes, including brick-making, children and gardens and unidentified crowd of Indian men seated and waiting to receive slips for some unidentified purpose (voting?) in the Punjab. Severe flooding around the town. Only sign of British presence is three British Army captains emerging from office or barracks with sign outside (almost legible) ; "4-5-41 officers who come to see CE will have their names reported to area". (509 ft, ca 13 mins) Reel 5: "WATER" (Colour) Contrast between expanse of arid land and flourishing maize field. Irrigation scenes, water being drawn by ox and camel rotating arm.. Ferozepore Weir on life jacket locates the scene. (ca 400ft , 10 mins) Reel 6: XIV (Fourteenth) Army symbol "AGRA 1942-43" (Colour) Scenes in the grounds of Lauries Hotel followed by endless shots of Taj Mahal, Tombs of Akbar the Great and Itimad-ud-Daulah, and surrounding area. Taj Mahal. Secunderabad. Only British presence is Army captain (seen before) smoking. (ca 410 ft, ca 10 mins) Reel 7: "YOL" (Young Officers Leave Camp, Himachal Pradesh state) B&W views of road markings to Dharamasala and Kangra (where cameraman appears to be based as district engineer for the British Army, possibly linked to the construction of the cantonment in April-October 1941 which housed Italian POWs from 1942). (Colour) Scenic views of surrounding mountains. Group of local Indian officials assemble for a group photo, with three British officers in centre, taken with a plate camera. Steam roller crosses bridge and a bulldozer demolishes a house. A small British blonde boy looks at the camera. Sign on building reads "Office of the Garrison Engineer Kangra Division, YOL" (ca 420 ft, ca 10 mins) Reel 8: "FATEHPUR SIKRI" Famous buildings. Only sign of British presence is Army captain (seen before) and friend drinking bottle of Dyer Meakin Breweries beer. Indian boys leap from height into a moat. (454 ft, ca 11 mins) Reel 9: Winter snowscape scenes in Aldershot, 1947. Close-up of medal display case, presumably in officers' mess. Leaflet for Programme of Sports Saturday 21 June 1947, under Colonel Kerr MC. Chelsea Pensioners (so including Boer War veterans) are among the spectators who watch display by teams of Royal Engineers building Bailey bridge, riding penny farthing in front of motor cyclists as joke interlude and motor cyclists performing acrobatic routines. At 108 ft (2 mins 30 secs) B&W coverage of technical engineering trials by caterpillar tractor moving earth, plough making ditch and a bulldozer pushing over a tree. (ca 400ft, ca 10 mins) Reel 10: Military band and horse show at Aldershot. ca 1955. (100ft, 2.5 mins) Reel 11: HMS CUMBERLAND. C.57 slowly sails past camera ship (HMS Girdle Ness based on box notation "G *****) in deep blue Mediterranean waters, then is filmed from angle with water washing off deck (possibly when used as a trials ship to test a number of anti 'A' and 'H' bomb defences, 1956-57) (100 ft, 2.5 mins)
- Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY R DUNN MPS [Alternative Title]
- Colour: Colour/B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: MGH 6910
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: NON-IWM
- Featured Period:
- Production Date: 1941
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Dunn, R (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations:
- Keywords:
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour/B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: English
- Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 11 Footage: ca 3885 ft; Running time: ca 96 mins
- HD Media:
- Link to IWM Collections page:
- Related IWM Collections Objects: