Title:20TH INDIAN DIVISION CROSSING THE RIVER IRRAWADDY AT MYINMU [Allocated Title]
Film Number:JFU 10
Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: One mile west of Myinmu in central Burma troops of 100th Indian Infantry Brigade, 20th Indian Division cross the river Irrawaddy.
Description: Wide shot; smoke rising on the south bank of the Irrawaddy River. Two Indian soldier pull back a small collapsible boat. Smoke and flames on the far bank. Wide shot with a boat crossing the river. Stretcher bearers carry medical supplies. Boat crossing the river. Flowers blooming near the beach. A DUKW amphibious truck (named HMA Apache) and marked with XXXIII Indian Corps insignia passes camera. The DUKW heads across the river. Indian troops at work in the foreground with rivercraft behind. Mules are led down to the water; they raise dust which envelopes the cameraman. A rubber boat is carried to the water. Mules waiting on the beach. A rubber boat is towed across the river, with mules swimming behind. More mules are swum across the river. Mules are driven into the water. A motorised pontoon boat used for towing the rubber boat. Mules driven into the water. Indian soldier (a Sikh) tilling the boat. The boat’s bow wave and wash. Close-up hand on the tiller. Approaching the beach. Stores being stacked on the beach and carried away by Gurkha troops (possibly 4th Battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles); a number of the men have white X’s on the seat of their trousers. Indian troops, possibly 14th Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles) coming up the beach. Gurkhas shifting supplies. A jeep is driven off a raft. A long line of Gurkhas; each man carries a box of ammunitions between himself and the next man on either side. On the beach; mules pass a crowd of local civilians on the beach (refugees from the fighting?). British troops carrying mortars and ammunition. A Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter bomber attacks a target in the distance. Unloading rolls of Sommerfeld track.
Alternative Title:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
SEAC Film Unit (Production company)
Hammond, R G (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Indian Army, 20th Indian Division (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 100th Indian Infantry Brigade (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 10th Gurkha Rifles, 4th Battalion (regiment/service)
Indian Army, 13th Frontier Force Rifles, 14th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Border Regiment, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
Keywords: Irrawaddy (River), Burma (geography)
Myinmu, Burma (geography)
Irrawaddy Crossing 1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event)
Burma 1942-1945 (theme)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
Indian Army 1939-1945 (theme)