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Title:UNLOADING SUPPLIES AT BATAVIA DOCKS [Allocated Title]
Film Number:JFU 388
Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: The American merchantman SS Canton Victory laden with foodstuffs and en route to New Guinea is diverted to Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies (Jakarta, Indonesia).
Description: Taken from the deck of the ship: a cargo net full of sacks of flour is lowered towards the dockside. A net is lifted out of the hold. A net is lowered to a barge on the water below. Other sacks are hoisted out.
Taken from the dockside: cargo nets filled with sacks of flour, other sacks and small wooden barrels are lowered onto the quay. Wide shot showing the general scene. Sacks are carried into a warehouse. High view over the dockside; more sacks and barrels are unloaded.
Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
SEAC Film Unit (Production company)
Hewit, J R (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: United States Merchant Navy, CANTON VICTORY (SS), freighter (regiment/service)
Keywords: Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies (geography)
Allied Occupation of the Netherlands East Indies, Allied Occupation of South East Asia post-August 1945 (event)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
Empire & Commonwealth (theme)
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 302 ft; Running time: 4 mins
Notes: Despite the fairly repetitive content of this film, it is well shot with a good variety of camera angles.
The SS Canton Victory was one of the 'Victory ships' which superseded the 'Liberty ships' produced to make good shipping losses during the Battle of the Atlantic. Generally these ships were 455ft long with a 62ft beam and a displacement of 15,200 tons. Some 534 were completed and 3 survive to this day as museum ships. Canton Victory was scrapped in 1989.
