Description: I. "Italy blitzed!" Scenes of the production of "even bigger and more beautiful bombs" (filling 2000-lb casings with explosives) introduce aerial film of a night raid on Genoa. Flares and bombs explode over a wide area as the commentary justifies these attacks by declaring that "we are getting our own back. Assault by air will lead no Axis city undestroyed unless they cry for peace".
II. "George Cross Island, Malta." Item pays tribute to this fortress of the Mediterranean which has just been awarded the George Cross, brought to the island by the new Governor Lord Gort. Film shows the island under aerial attack and the resulting devastation in Valletta, where inhabitants remain calm and cheerful even while they sit crossing themselves in an air raid shelter. Wounded are afterwards lifted away on stretchers. The unconquerable spirit of the Maltese is matched by the valour of the British pilots who are not only defending the island but are also busily engaged in attacking Rommel's supply ships en route for Libya. Battered building displays inscription "Bomb Rome".
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:RMY 60-12
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1942
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Gaumont British (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Vereker, John Standish Surtees Prendergast (6th Viscount Gort) (person)
Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: combat, British - air raid (object name)
destruction, Italian military - area: bomb (object name)
industry, British - munitions: 2000-pound bombs (object name)
casualties, Maltese wounded (object name)
destruction, Maltese military - area: bomb (object name)
medical, Maltese civilian - movement: stretcher (object name)
society, Maltese - precautionary: air raid shelter (object name)
Italy & Genoa, Liguria (geography)
Malta & Valletta (geography)
night (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1090 ft; Running time: 12 mins
