SWIMMERS IN THE CANAL DE CAEN DE LA MER [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: SWIMMERS IN THE CANAL DE CAEN DE LA MER [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: A70 121-2
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Off-duty troops belonging to 1st Corps units take advantage of the warm weather.
  • Description: At 'York I' Bridge, a Class 40 Bailey pontoon bridge spanning the Canal de Caen de la Mer at Bénouville, British army servicemen (Royal Engineers) are seen using pontoon sections as rowing boats and diving off them into the canal; note the barbed- wire boom - a device designed to protect the pontoon bridge from mines and swimmers intent on sabotage - fifty yards or so upstream. As the troops enjoy their swim, an Austin K5 3-tonner from 398th Composite Company RASC, a 6th Airborne Division unit, and a Fordson WOT6 lorry are seen crossing 'York I' Bridge.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-08-12
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor) Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company) Collins (Sergeant) (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Corps 1 (regiment/service) British Army, Div, Airborne, 6 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: transport, British military - truck: Austin 3-ton 4x4 truck (object name) engineering, military, British: Class 40 Bailey bridge 'York I (object name) swimming (object name) recreation, Allied military - casual (object name) Orne (River), France (geography) Canal de Caen A La Mer, Benouville, Calvados, France (geography) Euston Bridge, Benouville, Calvados, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Footage: 94 ft; Running time: 1 min
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Note: "York I" Bridge was built by two 1st Corps sapper units, 19th and 234th Field Companies RE - see A70 161-1 and 3 and refer generally to footage showing 8th Corps formations crossing into the Orne bridge-head for Operation "Goodwood" over the bridge at Bénouville. For ciné material showing off-duty troops relaxing, see A70 83-3, 112-1, 119-6 and 120-16, etc. Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with the items of ciné material listed above, notably A70 61-1 and 3. Documentation/associated material: for a bibliography, read L F Ellis 'Victory in the West : Volume 1' and 'The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers : Volume IX 1938-1948' by Major-General Pakenham-Walsh
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    A70 121-2

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