Title:COOPERATION WITH ARTILLERY BY AOP [Allocated Title]
Film Number:AYY 512/1/4
Other titles:HARASSING FIRE FOR ENEMY [Allocated Title]
HEROIC INCIDENT AT FRANCOFONTE [Allocated Title]
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: The first use of Artillery Observation Planes in Sicily, with the artillery of the 152nd Brigade, 51st Highland Division.
Men of the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment firing at enemy positions near Catania.
Reconstruction of an incident leading to the capture of Francofonte.
Description: A battery of 25 pounders firing on the plain of Catania while a spotting plane flies overhead. The spotting plane flies across the skyline between the hills, looking for targets at the foot of Mount Etna. The plane flying low behind the hills to avoid flak, then flying towards its own lines. The plane making another run along the skyline then turning and flying over Allied positions.
Men of 1 Section, 13 Platoon, D Company of the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment (Vickers Machine Gunners) shooting early morning bursts of harassing gunfire. Mount Etna is visible in the background.
Reconstruction of an incident on 14 July in which a platoon of the 5th Seaforths came under attack from mortar and machine gun fire and were covered by machine gunners of the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment, who were recommended for decoration. The machine gunners were Private E Dixon (left) and Private P J Crowhurst (right).
Alternative Title:HARASSING FIRE FOR ENEMY [Allocated Title]
HEROIC INCIDENT AT FRANCOFONTE [Allocated Title]
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: War Office Film Unit (Production company)
French, Henry (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Dixon, E (person)
Crowhurst, Percy J (person)
British Army, 152nd Brigade (regiment/service)
British Army, 51st Division (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Artillery (regiment/service)
British Army, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 1/7th Battalion, D Company, 13th Platoon (regiment/service)
Keywords: Italy 1939-1945 (theme)
Catania, Sicily, Italy (geography)
Francofonte, Sicily, Italy (geography)
Operation Husky, Allied Invasion of Sicily 1943, Italy, Second World War (event)
