Summary: I. Chelsea Pensioners are inspected by General Lyttelton on Foundation Day.
II. A Buckingham Palace investiture.
III. British and Italian troops man floating batteries on the Piave River.
IV. German aircraft and air crew captured by the French.
V. British troops pass a column of French refugees.
Description: I. '"BOYS" OF THE OLD BRIGADE. Chelsea veterans reviewed by General Lyttelton on Foundation Day.' Chelsea pensioners in their formal tricorn hats march out to be inspected by the Elderly General Lyttelton who is in full dress uniform. Lyttelton talks with a few of the more frail pensioners who are sitting on benches with nurses nearby. The pensioners pass in review before General Lyttelton.
II. 'KING AND BLIND KNIGHT. Touching incident at Buckingham Palace investiture.' MS pan over audience gathered in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace where the King is holding an investiture. He knights an Elderly civilian who is blind and is escorted away after the ceremony. MS of convalescent soldiers among the audience. Nurses receive decorations.
III. 'BRITISH TROOPS IN ITALY. Batteries on river Piave which severely punished Austrians.' MS from boat as it passes barges camouflaged with reeds secured alongside the river's edge. A fast motor boat RE.15 overtakes the cameracraft, its wake disturbing the tall reeds. Cameracraft passes a flat wooden raft carrying two Armstrong 76mm/40 AA - the Italian crew elevate the guns. A second lighter Foca 5, carries an Armstrong 152mm/40 naval gun. A third barge Cane 1, carries a Schneider 152mm/45 gun apparently served by a British crew - the barge has been deliberately listed to increase the range of the gun.
IV. 'CALLOUS GERMAN HOSPITAL BOMBERS. French capture Gotha with its inglorious crew.' MS pan right to left over captured Pfalz D.III parked in a cobbled square - French troops look on. MS as five German prisoners wait by railway track before boarding a train - they seem in good spirits.
V. 'HUN THREAT TO PARIS. British reinforcements crossing refugees in battle area.' British soldiers watch as refugees pass along a dirt road on farm wagons, bicycles and on foot. In Béthune (?) a refugee column waits while a British convoy - including a limbered 60-pounder gun - passes along the street in the opposite direction. The refugees move off after the British have passed .
Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor)
Topical Film Company (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Lyttelton, Neville Gerald (person)
George V, King (person)
British Army, Royal Hospital Chelsea (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Artillery (regiment/service)
Italian Royal Navy, Cane 1 (regiment/service)
Italian Royal Navy, Foca 5 (regiment/service)
British Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: ceremonies, British - display: review of Chelsea Pensioners (object name)
ceremonies, British - event-related: Foundation Day, Chelsea Hospital (object name)
ceremonies, British - state: investiture (object name)
defences, Italian - passive: camouflage (object name)
ships, Italian naval - gunship: Cane 1 (object name)
ships, Italian naval - gunship: Foca 5 (object name)
weapons, Italian - gun: 3-inch anti-aircraft (object name)
weapons, Italian - gun: 6-inch naval gun (object name)
aircraft, German - combat: Pfalz DIII & [captured] (object name)
prisoners of war, German - movement: rail (object name)
operations, British military - movement: road (object name)
refugees, French - flight (object name)
weapons, British - gun: 60-pounder gun (object name)
GB, England & London, SW <Chelsea & Royal Hospital> (geography)
GB, England & London, SW <Buckingham Palace> (geography)
Italy & Piave (River) (geography)
France (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: 287 ft; Running time: 3 mins
