HOME DEFENCES [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: HOME DEFENCES [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: AYY 38
  • Other titles: BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: An armoured train on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway in Kent.
  • Description: START 01:00:00 Unedited silent shots of an armoured train manned by a battalion from the Somerset Light Infantry (SOMLI) patrolling a stretch of the 15-inch guage railway line that runs from Hythe across the Romney Marshes to Dungeness. The crew consists of seven men, including the driver, and the armament consists of four First World War-vintage .303 Lewis Guns and two Boyes .5 inch anti-tank rifles. END 01:02:01
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (AYY 38)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1940-09-23
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Film Unit (Production company) Rignold, Harry (Lieutenant) (Production individual) Smith, Norman (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) (regiment/service) Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Miniature Railway (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Home Front, UK, Second World War (event) British Army 1939-1945 (theme) British Home Front 1939-1945 (theme) Land Warfare (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 693 ft; Running time: 2 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway line started operating on 16 July 1927 and is still functioning today. After the Second World War broke out, one of its steam locomotives named 'Hercules' was fitted with armour plate. The two wagons carrying the gun crews originally came from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria. Remarks: Whilst of dubious military utility, there was a certain amount of propaganda value in filming this particular feature of Britain's anti-invasion defences. Technical: Held on film with AYY 39.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    AYY 38

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