Title:THE 3RD BRITISH DIVISION MAKES AN ASSAULT CROSSING OVER THE MEUSE-ESCAUT CANAL (PART 1) [Allocated Title]
Film Number:A70 163-5
Other titles:
Summary: Reinforcements are ferried across the Meuse-Escaut Canal at dawn into the 2nd RUR's sector of 9th Brigade's bridgehead at Lille St Hubert.
Description: An infantry section (2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles or 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers) carries a stormboat down to the edge of the canal, and, under the cover of a smoke-screen, paddles the boat to the north bank; four pioneers make a similar journey across the 40 yard-wide canal to establish a ferry point in the bridgehead. Other members of the RUR's assault pioneer platoon are seen unloading Class 5 close-support raft components, paddles and life-jackets from two lorries, launching a stormboat, digging a landing stage in the canal bank and assembling a close-support raft while another infantry section crosses the canal by stormboat. The rope-hauled ferry service, operated by 1st KOSB assault pioneers, is seen ferrying two jeeps and two accompanying six-pounder guns from the 2nd RUR's anti-tank platoon - manhandled with some difficulty onto and off the raft - to the north bank; Sergeant Hardy AFPU can be seen photographing this activity. On the north bank, the second six-pounder gun is hooked onto its jeep before being towed away.
Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor)
Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company)
Walter, Ernest Henry1919Family origin: Barry, Glamorgan, South Wales (Production individual)
