TOPICAL BUDGET 277-2 [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.

  • Title: TOPICAL BUDGET 277-2 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: NTB 277-2
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: I. Lewis gun on AA mounting in use in Macedonia. II. Blinded soldiers are taught to become masseurs. III. Christmas turkeys. IV. Belgian soldiers enjoy a swim at a rest camp. V. Convalescent sailors play football.
  • Description: I. 'LEWIS ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN. Troops on the Macedonian front anxiously watch the effect of the machine gun fire on an enemy aeroplane.' Australian troops look up into the sky as a man fires Lewis - the gun has been attached to the top of a wooden post by a pivot AA mount. One of the men changes the magazine, but it jams and has to be changed before firing resumes. Another fresh magazine is then fitted successfully. II. 'MASSAGE BY BLIND SOLDIERS. An occupation which is particularly suitable for soldiers who have been blinded at the front. Men being taught the correct method of massage and bandaging for various complaints.' An unusually healthy and well-muscled 'patient' lies stripped to the waist on a doctor's couch as a blind man massages his chest and neck - a supervisor looks on. The masseur runs an electric vibrator along the patient's arm to stimulate the circulation - the supervisor makes an adjustment to the machine. The trainee bandages a man's hand. III. 'TURKEYS FOR CHRISTMAS. As a large percentage of the normal supply of turkeys from abroad, will not be available, those reared on the Norfolk farms will be much dearer.' Turkeys are driven through opened gate into a field. Four women sit in a row in the farmyard cheerfully plucking turkeys - in front of them on a pile of discarded feathers, a newly killed bird twitches spastically. IV. 'SWIMMING AT THE FRONT. Belgian soldiers marching to their rest camp, and enjoying a swim in a specially constructed bathing pool, at the back of the front lines.' A Belgian detachment passes diagonally right to left preceded by buglers and a small band. Cut to a small rectangular pool surrounded by wooden staging - some men swim while one, stripped to the waist, stands at the edge rinsing his face and arms. Another man has merely rolled up his sleeves and washes his hands. V. 'LADY BEATTY'S SAILOR GUESTS. Brooksby Hall, the residence of Lady Beatty has been fitted up as a Naval convalescent hospital, some of the inmates from the Jutland Battle enjoy a game of football with the Matron-Nurse Mortlock.' On a garden lawn a group of sailors play with a football - several of the participants are amputees, including two men with amputated legs, who perforce play on crutches. The game is played with spirit and the nurse, when she comes into possession of the ball, is treated with no exaggerated respect. The men on crutches prove to be remarkably able players.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: NTB 277-2
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (NTB 277-2)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1916-12-16
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor) Topical Film Company (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Mortlock (Nurse) (person) Australian Army (regiment/service) St Dunstan's School for the War Blinded (regiment/service) Belgian Army (regiment/service) Royal Navy (regiment/service) Brooksby Hall (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: combat, Australian - anti-aircraft (object name) weapons, Australian - smallarm (mounted): Lewis gun (object name) medical, British military - long term: blind ex-servicemen (object name) training, British - specialist: body massage (object name) agriculture, British - animal: turkeys (object name) recreation, Belgian military - casual: swimming (object name) medical, British military - long term: naval convalescent home (object name) recreation, British naval - sport: football (object name) Greece & Salonika area, Macedonia (geography) Norfolk, England, UK (geography) GB, England & Melton Mowbray, Leics <Brooksby Hall> (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 302 ft; Running time: 3 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    NTB 277-2

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register