WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 86 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 86 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 86
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'THE ROAD TO TUNIS.' Introductory title is superimposed over footage of anti-aircraft tracer fire cutting across a night sky. Merchant shipping at sea forms part of the Anglo-American task force involved in the invasion of Vichy-French Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch). Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Grumman Martlet fighters wearing United States livery stand parked and chocked on the flightdeck of an unidentified Royal Navy aircraft carrier. A FAA Supermarine Seafire Mk IIC fighter and a Fairey Albacore torpedo bomber aircraft (both in US markings) take off in support of Operation Torch. The commentary outlines the role of air operations in supporting the naval task force and highlights the immense logistical achievement in transporting so many men from so far. Gunners of the United States Navy (USN) gun teams fire 20mm Oerlikon and 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns at unseen enemy targets. The pilot of a FAA Grumman Martlet fighter throttles up for a "go around" circuit after a misjudged landing attempt on the flightdeck of an unidentified RN aircraft carrier. FAA pilots seated at a wardroom desk consult maps prior to an operation. Massed RN ratings, seated on the deck of a ship listen to a final briefing given by a RN Commander. The commentary stresses that the operation is undertaken by a wide variety of nations forming the United Nations task force over footage of Royal Netherlands Navy gunners manning a 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft emplacement. US infantry clean their M1 Garand .30-in rifles on the deck of an unidentified troopship. A US infantryman assembles the pistol grip and trigger mechanism of a M1A1 Thompson .45-in sub-machine gun. US and British infantrymen compare their respective service rifles, a .30-in Garand and a .303-in Enfield Mk III. Following the successful landings by the Western Task Force (Major-General Patton) at Fedala in Morocco , US infantry advance over scrubland armed with Garands and M1A1 Thompsons. US infantry guard Vichy French Moroccan goumiers captured in the initial phase of the landings. German officers captured at Fedala are displayed for the camera. Vichy- French General Auguste-Paul Noguès salutes a guard of honour taken from US infantry on his way to sign the terms of local surrender. II. 'CHRISTMAS IN TOBRUK.' The commentary highlights the role of the army postal workers and their important role in maintaining morale, especially during the Christmas season. Army postal workers hand sort mailbags in an extensive storage area which has hundreds of mailbags piled on the ground. Mailbags are loaded onto the back of a soft-skinned vehicle as the commentary points out that many of the sorters have been working eighteen hour days to ensure that the mail is delivered before Christmas morning. Elsewhere, Pathe cameraman Terry Ashwood overacts in a humorous reconstruction of Christmas morning traditions. Ashwood climbs out of a desert camp bed and opens the contents of his Christmas stocking with evident relish. Festive music plays as British infantrymen prepare a damaged house in Tobruk as a venue for their Christmas festivities. Evergreen foliage is used as wall decorations as the Christmas table is prepared. British infantrymen in good spirits, enjoy corned beef and bottles of beer as part of their Christmas meal.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 86
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-12-28
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Noguès, Auguste Paul Charles Albert (person) Ashwood, Terry (person) Royal Netherlands Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: operations, United States military - amphibious (object name) operations, United States military - preparation (object name) prisoners of war, German - custody (object name) recreation, British military - social (object name) celebrations, British - popular: Christmas Day (object name) Second World War, North African Campaign & Operation Torch & 8/11/1942 (event) Morocco & Fedala (geography) Libya & Tobruk (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 822 ft; Running time: 9 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 86

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