WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 40 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 40 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 40
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'AUSTRALIA.' Imperial Australian forces led by a brass band march past crowds of civilian onlookers along a street in central Melbourne. The commentary states that Australia is in the war "up to the hilt" over scenes of parading Bren gun carriers (Universal). An armoured contingent brings up the rear of the parade led by Stuart Mk I light tanks (Light tank MkII with welded turret and riveted hull). 15-cwt 4x2 Australian Pattern Chevrolet trucks tow 25-pounder field guns and their limbers. The commentary explains that the parade was held as part of a nationwide drive to speed up recruiting and to gain further support for the one hundred million pounds war loan. Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) trainees continue the parade as the crowd throw flowers and celebratory "ticker tape" in their path. A group of young women wave enthusiastically from the balcony of a nearby house. Members of the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) march past to a "special cheer" from the crowds. The commentary states that all those taking part in the parade are "united in their determination to keep things the Australian way". Film footage taken from a tall building shows the size and extent of the Melbourne military parade. II. 'FAR EAST.' The first pictures taken from Malaya of General Sir Archibald Wavell following his appointment to the position of Commander in Chief of Allied Forces, South West Pacific accompanied by his Chief of Staff Sir Henry Pownall. Elsewhere, Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighter aircraft of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) are rearmed after a sortie against the Japanese. The commentary states that the aircraft are now fighting on behalf of the Chinese as part of the lease-lend (lend-lease) policy. United States pilots relax between sorties by throwing an American football to each other as armourers load the P-40's nose mounted Browning .50-in machine guns. An alert is sounded and the pilots break off their ball game and run to their aircraft. A pilot waves for the cameraman to stand clear as his aircraft's Allison engine roars into life. The commentary states that RAF and AVG aircraft have accounted for more than forty Japanese aircraft during two recent raids over Rangoon. RAF Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber aircraft overfly a forested area at height. At sea, a Bathurst Class corvette (also used as a Fleet Class minesweeper) of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) heads for open sea to meet an inbound allied convoy. The corvette meets an O21 type submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy. A view of the crow's nest on a Bathurst Class corvette as a lookout searches for enemy aircraft using a coloured shade to facilitate scanning the sky even in strong sunlight. An aircraft is spotted and a gun crew run to their Vickers .303-in anti-aircraft machine gun. The aircraft proves to be a friendly Consolidated Catalina flying boat (nationality markings not evident) and the RAN corvette continues its duties unmolested. The convoy is eventually sighted, and on signal from the convoy leader, the corvette formates in line astern at the rear of the assembled merchantmen. III. 'SOLLUM AND HALFAYA.' Panoramic views of desert terrain around the frontier port of Sollum. British Ordnance 25-pounder field guns fire from the cover of camouflage netting, the explosions from their shells are visible on the distant horizon. British infantry man a captured Italian Fiat Revelli modello 14/35 8mm heavy machine gun on a rocky outcrop overlooking Sollum. General views of ruined buildings in Sollum. British infantry congregate around a pair of captured German sMG 34 7.92mm light machine guns (with bipods). A Free French Air Force Blenheim Mk IV bomber aircraft has 250lb bombs loaded prior to a air raid on enemy positions in Halfaya. Brief internal views of the pilot at the controls of the aircraft are shown followed by footage taken from the air of the raid in progress with bombs hitting enemy desert fortifications. The commentary outlines the history of the enemy defence of Halfaya and states that the Axis garrison decided to surrender after sixty days of siege and artillery bombardment. An Italo-German surrender committee arrive from Halfaya in a 4x4 Auto Union/Horch 40 field car. The commentary points out that General de Villiers insisted on an unconditional Axis surrender which was accepted by Major the Reverend Bach. Following surrender, wounded men are taken by stretcher to first aid posts as German and Italian prisoners of war are given food and water. The Axis prisoners are loaded onto British soft-skinned vehicles for transit to holding camps. The commentary states "with the capture of Halfaya the last invader is now gone from Egyptian soil".
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 40
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-02-02
  • 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 individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Wavell, Archibald Percival (person) Pownall, Henry Royds (person) Villiers, I P de (General) (person) Bach (Major the Reverend) (person) Royal Air Force, Free French personnel (regiment/service) United States Army Air Force, American Volunteer Group (regiment/service) Royal Netherlands Navy [Free Dutch] (regiment/service) Australian Army (regiment/service) Royal Australian Air Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ceremonies, Australian - customary (object name) ships, Dutch naval - submarine (object name) recreation, United States military - casual (object name) prisoners of war, German - custody (object name) prisoners of war, German - surrender (object name) combat [simulated], French [Free French] - air strike (object name) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (geography) Malaya (geography) Egypt & Sollum (geography) Egypt & Halfaya (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: French & Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 885 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 40

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