ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 45 [Main Title]

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  • Title: ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 45 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 508-45
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: I. French newsreel item of Moroccan troops training in their own country, January 1918. II. French newsreel item on the British extension of their front southwards to include the Saint Quentin sector, Western Front, January 1918. III. French newsreel item on Italian sappers on the Western Front, January 1918. IV. French newsreel item on Alsace in the snow, Western Front, January 1918. V. French newsreel item on the investiture of General Guillaumat as a Commander of the Legion of Honour, Western Front, January 1918.
  • Description: The men are due to serve with the French Army. They practise a river-crossing using pontoon ferries, drill and bayonet exercises on a parade ground, digging trenches in the scrub and making a mock attack from them. They load themselves and their equipment onto a narrow gauge troop train which leaves for the embarkation point for France. The first contingents of Fifth Army get out of their bus transport, probably near Péronne. They form up and march away. Other contingents march along the roads with their field kitchens, GS wagons and motor transport. The sappers, newly arrived on the Western Front, work with French Engineers on a new defensive position. They use a trench digging machine, with chain buckets, to dig a section of narrow trench. They drive stakes into the ground and wire the position between them. Chasseurs and horse transport pass through the area but the main interest is the scenery. Soldiers and civilians travel by sledge, horse, or in one case on skis. Sledges are used as snowploughs to clear the roads so that 75mm field guns can be brought up into the hills. General Leconte presents the decoration to General Guillemot, and goes on to decorate two other soldiers. The generals and their staffs ride to the ceremony and the presentation is made before a divisional parade. The ceremony is brisk, followed by a marchpast.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: IWM 508-45
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 508-45)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1918-01-19
  • Production Country: France
  • Production Details: Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Guillaumat, Louis (person) Leconte (General) (person) French Army, [colonial troops] (regiment/service) Royal Moroccan Army (regiment/service) British Army, Army 5 (regiment/service) French Army, Engineers (regiment/service) Royal Italian Army & Engineers (regiment/service) French Army, [Chasseurs] (regiment/service) French Army, [gunners] (regiment/service) French Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: training, Moroccan military - combat (object name) transport, Moroccan military - rail: narrow gauge train (object name) operations, British military - movement: road (object name) transport, British military - bus (object name) transport, British military - truck (object name) transport, British military - animal: GS wagon (object name) transport, British military - animal special: field kitchen (object name) operations, British military - movement: march (object name) engineering, military, French (object name) engineering, military, Italian (object name) equipment, French - engineering: trench digger (object name) equipment, French - personal: skis (object name) transport, French military - animal special: sledge (object name) weapons, French - gun: 75mm field gun (object name) ceremonies, French - event-related: investiture (object name) 31/3(64) (event) 01/3(4-15).8 (event) 01/3(4-15).8 (event) 01/3(4-15).8 (event) 01/3(4-15).8 (event) Morocco (geography) Péronne, Somme, France (geography) Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France (geography) France (geography) Alsace, France (geography) France (geography) winter & [+] (concept) snow (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: French
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 595 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 508-45

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