THE OPENING STAGES OF OPERATION 'BLUECOAT' [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: THE OPENING STAGES OF OPERATION 'BLUECOAT' [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: A70 105-1
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The 15th (Scottish) Division advances through the 'bocage' south of Caumont.
  • Description: The 2nd Glasgow Highlanders' carrier and anti-tank platoons overtake infantrymen from the battalion's rifle companies plodding along a dusty hedge-bordered lane between Sept Vents and Hervieux (?) Heading in the opposite direction are two NCOs from 752 Grenadier Regiment; one of the prisoners is wounded and has to be helped along by his comrade. The cameraman takes in several closeups of a bespectacled driver of Universal carrier from 15th (Scottish) Division's fire-support battalion, the 1st Middlesex Regiment. The 9th Cameronians' carrier platoon makes the same journey through the bocage and one Cameronians' jeep returns from the fighting with a cargo of casualties. A 1st Lothian and Border Horse Sherman ARV moves up to recover the regiment's disabled flail tanks and allows a line of 46th Brigade infantry the right of way across a road. In the battered town of Caumont, 15th (Scottish) Division's reserve battalions (from 44th Brigade?) march through the ruins past the wreckage of a US army half-track and Caumont's scarred church tower. Tractors and 25 pounders from 181st Field Regiment, RA negotiate a tight bend in 'bocage' country.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: A70 105-1
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07-30
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor) Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company) Grant, Ian James1917-04-16Family origin: Edinburgh, Scotland (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Corps 8 (regiment/service) British Army, Highland Light Infantry, Bn 9 (Bn 2?) (regiment/service) British Army, Bde 46 (regiment/service) British Army, Middlesex Regiment, 1st Battalion (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Artillery (regiment/service) British Army, Div 15 (regiment/service) British Army, Lothians and Border Horse, 1st Battalion (regiment/service) British Army, Bde, Armoured, 30 (regiment/service) British Army, Scottish Rifles, Cameronians, Bn 9 (regiment/service) British Army, Div, Armoured, 79 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: armour, British - carrier: Universal (object name) weapons, British - gun: 25-pounder field gun (object name) transport, British military - prime mover: 17/25-pounder artillery tractor (object name) armour, United States - funnies: M4 Sherman ARV Mark I & [British] (object name) prisoners of war, German - movement (object name) weapons, British - gun [AT]: 57mm 6-pounder (object name) destruction, French military - aimed: artillery (object name) casualties, German wounded (object name) Operation Bluecoat, Mont Pinçon 1944, North West Europe, Second World War (event) Caumont, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Calvados, France (geography) Normandy, 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: 279 ft; Running time: 3 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    A70 105-1

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