WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 145 [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.

  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 145 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 145
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'TRANS-JORDAN FRONTIER FORCE.' An Item relating to the expansion of the Arab Legion to Brigade strength, covering the various military and policing duties of the unit in the Transjordan. Arab Legion members hone their semaphore skills under the direction of a British Army instructor. Various views of Arab Legion armoured cars and soft-skins illustrate the Legion's ability to adapt commercial vehicle chassis for their own operational uses. The armoured cars appear to be AEC and Marmon-Herrington hybrids, while Chevrolet chassis have been adapted to become artillery portees. Members of The Arab Legion parade in honour of an unseen dignitary, standing to attention in front of their armoured vehicles and soft-skins. II. 'MIDDLE EAST INDUSTRIES.' Cement production in Egypt. Egyptian workers pour a limestone-clay mix into commercial cement manufacturing machines. Egyptians mix cement at a building site using shovels and water as the commentary outlines the importance of cement production to the war effort and everyday industrial life. Panoramic footage shows the main buildings and works of the Tura cement factory in the Mokattam Hills. Views of the quarrying area and ropeway skips follow, as the commentary outlines the cement manufacturing process at each stage in the production cycle. III. 'NEW GUINEA.' Bare chested New Guinean volunteers listen to a talk given by an Australian Army officer at a recruitment camp in the vicinity of the Markham River Valley. The commentary stresses the contributions of such men to the New Guinea campaign, and states that they are paid in cash, food and tobacco for their labours. Australian infantry congregate around parked United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft as a pair of USAAF Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters perform a low level pass over the airfield. Australian sappers work in waist deep water to construct a log bridge. A New Guinean receives instruction on the workings of an Ordnance QF 25-pounder field gun which sports the legend "Gentle Annie" on its armoured shield. Australian gun crews fire a 25-pounder as New Guineans look on. A prone New Guinean receives instruction in the use of a Bren .303-in light machine gun. New Guineans dressed in traditional tribal dress perform a ceremonial dance.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 145
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-02-14
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Transjordanian Army & Arab Legion (regiment/service) Australian Army, New Guinea labour force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: administration, Australian - overseas: New Guinea (object name) industry, Egyptian - general (object name) Egypt & Tura Cement Factory (geography) Transjordan (geography) New Guinea & Markham Valley (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 880 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 145

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register