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Title:OPERATION NIP-OFF: REPATRIATION OF JAPANESE SURRENDERED PERSONNEL FROM RANGOON [Allocated Title]
Film Number:JFU 646
Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: In Rangoon, capital of Burma, thousands of Japanese surrendered personnel board an American ship for repatriation, as part of Operation Nip-Off.
Description: Outside a number of tents Japanese troops receive injections from orderlies and nurses. Close-up of man receiving injection. The SS Harold D Whitehead sailing away down the Rangoon river. Signs reading 'Ahlone Strand Road', 'Japanese surrendered personnel camp Ahlone' and 'Way in/Ana ka rasta'. Japanese surrendered personnel marching out with baggage. Alternate angles. Marching feet passing camera. The Japanese are counted onto the jetty. Walking down the jetty with the Harold D Whitehead in the background. Major-General Ichida, the wartime Chief of Staff to Lieutenant-General Kimura (commander, Burma Area Army), chats with the waiting men; it is raining. The Japanese personnel are ferried to the ship in a Ramp Cargo Lighter (RCL). The RCL comes alongside a floating jetty as others climb a gangway staircase. Stepping from the RCL to the jetty. Looking up at the gangway. Climbing the gangway. Japanese personnel coming aboard; a Scots soldier stands at the top of the stairs. Looking across the deck with a nameplate reading 'Harold D Whitehead' and Japanese personnel on the deck. Japanese troops eating from mess tins. Looking down on deck. More Japanese onto the floating jetty. Men walking on deck.
Production Details: War Office Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
SEAC Film Unit (Production company)
Wilson, A (Sergeant) (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY (regiment/service)
Civilian Vessels, HAROLD D WHITEHEAD (SS) (merchant ship) (regiment/service)
Keywords: Rangoon, Burma (geography)
Repatriation of Japanese Forces, Repatriation (event)
Post-war Burma 1945-1948 (event)
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 469 ft; Running time: 6 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Following the Japanese surrender around 70,000 Japanese troops, designated Japanese Surrendered Personnel, were retained in Burma on reconstruction tasks. They lived a miserable existence and about half their number were repatriated in the period in which this film was shot. The remainder were repatriated by March 1947.
