Summary: Animated and actuality material of the Canadians in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Western Front, 9th-12th April 1917.
Description: I. Animated graphics of a map of the battle, showing the initial dispositions, divisional boundaries, and the three phases of the Canadian offensive. The animation includes a representation of the rolling barrage in front of the attack. II. Fragments of actuality film of the Canadian second line and rear areas during the battle from the second day, 10th April, onwards. This includes a brief scene of a kite observation balloon ascending, and a faked view from the observer's basket out over the trenches. Canadians of 3rd Division, including 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) move up. Mounted troops, probably 9th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, trot up a road with German prisoners being led back in the other direction. Men of the Royal Highlanders of Canada digging in. German guns and mortars captured on Vimy Ridge, chiefly 77mm field guns and mortars such as the 170mm heavy Minenwerfer and 76mm light mortar.
Production Details: Canadian War Records Office (Production sponsor)
War Office Cinema Committee (Production sponsor)
Bovill, Frederick Oscar1891-04-18Bovill joined the film industry in 1906 with Gaumont, then moved to Barker Motion Photography in 1909. He joined the army in 1914 and served with the 1st City of London Regiment, Royal Field Artillery. When he was discharged in 1916 he was made official photographer/cameraman for the Canadian War Records Office at the Western Front. Whilst his earlier work was praised his later work was greeted with criticism and he was discharged in June 1917. In November 1917 he joined the Royal Air Force as an observer. After the war worked for Goldin and Lloyd's 'Horseshoe Comedies' series and as a cameraman to the London Underground and Omnibus Control. In the Second World War he joined the PATHÉ GAZETTE and filmed in Iceland and the Far East. (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3 Division (regiment/service)
British Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Bn 42 (Royal Highlanders of Canada) (regiment/service)
Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Div 3 (regiment/service)
Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Bn 42 (Royal Highlanders of Canada) (regiment/service)
British Army, 1st Division, Cavalry, 9th Brigade (regiment/service)
Keywords: operations, Canadian military - sortie (object name)
aircraft, British - balloon: observation kite balloon (object name)
prisoners of war, German - movement (object name)
weapons, German - gun: 77mm field gun & [captured] (object name)
weapons, German - mortar: 170mm (object name)
weapons, German - mortar: 76mm (object name)
01/3(4-15).63 [1917 Vimy Ridge] (event)
Vimy Ridge, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 917 ft; Running time: 16 mins