INDIAN TANKS OF THE SCINDE HORSE PATROL DAMASCUS [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: INDIAN TANKS OF THE SCINDE HORSE PATROL DAMASCUS [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: JIN 78
  • Other titles: INDIAN ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Indian Sherman tanks of 14th Prince of Wales' Own Scinde Horse patrol the streets of Damascus, capital of Syria, to keep order amid rising tension among the local population following French shelling of the city.
  • Description: Outside Damascus University a line of parked Sherman medium tanks with their Indian crews. Low-angle medium close-up of the Indian officer in command of this tank patrol. The crews mount their vehicles. A driver climbs into his hatch and a tank commander climbs up into the turret. Medium close-up as the havildar tank commander adjusts his headset; he wears the cap badge of the Scinde Horse. The column of tanks, six strong, moves off. Tanks pass camera as they move away from the University. Footage from the turret of a moving tank as another Sherman draws alongside; it appears to be moving at speed. Column of tanks in line. Tanks pass the Syrian Parliament; local Syrian gendarmes stand guard outside the gates (a woman in a veil crosses shot foreground as the camera pans right-to-left). Static shot directly opposite the Parliament with tanks crossing; camera tilts up the face of the damaged building. Another shot tank passing the Parliament. Low-angle medium close-up of the commander of the Syrian gendarmes; he wears a dressing on his neck after being wounded in the French assault on the building. The line of gendarmes standing guard; they have Enfield rifles but French helmets. A high shot looking down on tanks and civilians on foot passing beneath; camera pans to a building destroyed by French shelling. Another similar shot; there are tramlines in the road surface. Camera follows a Sherman as it passes below. Shermans passing below; the camera angle is rather queasy. Destroyed buildings. A tank rolls slowly into shot; in the background civilians and a damaged mosque with dome and minaret. More tanks pass; the local people watch without any obvious emotion. A tank commander adjusts his .50-calibre machine gun; in the background a building that has been hit by shellfire and burnt out. Rear-quarter close-up of tank commander with his hand on the grip of his .50-calibre machine gun; local people in the street below. Looking down from the turret of the tank at a small crowd of local people, waving with a mixed degree of enthusiasm. A variety of clothing is evident, from keffiyehs and fezes to topis and shirts and jackets. Some of the members of the crowd make ‘victory’ salutes. At a railway station a destroyed hospital train with its Red Cross markings clearly visible. A tank drives up and parks next to the destroyed train (the Red Cross markings seem to have moved since the last shot). The tank, facing camera, traverses its turret to the right (left of frame). A high view from a building on a street corner overlooking a small bridge over the Barada river; a lorry apparently carrying a band of armed Arab men passes. The lorry flies a Syrian flag and some of the men onboard are wearing keffiyeh (two men on the back of the lorry appear to be wearing berets). Looking across the bridge towards a stony hill; camera tilts towards tanks crossing the bridge. Tanks pass the Tekkiye Mosque with its low dome and two minarets. Closer shot tank passing the mosque. Nine tanks pass along a broad, tree-lined road, three abreast (seen from a leading vehicle, looking back).
  • Alternative Title: INDIAN ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: JIN 78
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-06-10
  • Production Country: India
  • Production Details: Public Relations Directorate, India (Production sponsor) Indian Public Relations Film Unit (Production company) Worth, Frank (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Indian Army, 14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Damascus, Syria (geography) Middle East 1939-1945 (theme) Indian Army 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 769 ft; Running time: 9 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    JIN 78

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