Title:AUSTRALIANS AT VILLERS BRETONNEUX [Main Title]
Film Number:IWM 270
Other titles:
Summary: Mixed genuine material of the village of Villers-Bretonneux after its capture by Australian forces 24-25 April and Australian training exercises, Western Front, 1918.
Description: The village was captured at night, the remains are shown on the following morning, 25 April, with troops of 4th Australian Division moving through. A mortar team removes camouflage from a 9.45-inch 'flying pig' mortar, sponges it out and fires it. Two 6-inch mortars are also fired. Behind the lines men of the Transport sponge down their horses beside a stream. Soldiers of 2nd Australian Division assemble from a hayloft and fasten on their equipment, then form up and march away. An Infantry section trains with a bangalore torpedo, using it to blow a hole through wire entanglements, which the men then rush through, fanning out at once. A reserve trench being dug in the rear areas. Sappers build a wooden bridge from freshly-chopped logs which they shape on a buzz-saw in a sawmill. A distant view of smoke over a heavily wooded valley, possibly Villers-Bretonneux. Australian wounded being brought out of the fighting by German prisoners (acting as Red Cross auxiliaries) and being loaded onto horse and motor ambulances. German prisoners outside an Australian YMCA in the rear areas. More prisoners marching down a road. The GOC Australian Corps, General Sir John Monash (back to camera) addresses his troops.
Production Details: Australian War Records Section (Production sponsor)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Monash, John (person)
Australian Army, Australian Imperial Force, 2nd Division (regiment/service)
Australian Army, Australian Imperial Force, 4th Division (regiment/service)
Keywords: weapons, British - mortar: 9.45-inch & [Australian] (object name)
weapons, British - mortar: 6-inch & [Australian] (object name)
combat, Australian - mortar bombardment (object name)
training, Australian military - combat (object name)
combat [simulated], Australian (object name)
weapons, British - demolition: bangalore torpedo & [Australian] (object name)
prisoners of war, German - movement (object name)
casualties, Australian wounded - battlefield (object name)
equipment, Australian military - engineering: buzzsaw (object name)
buildings, Australian - institutional: YMCA (object name)
01/3(4-15).8 (event)
Villers-Bretonneux, Somme, France (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: None
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1089 ft; Running time: 19 mins
