WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 159 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 159 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 159
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'BURMA.' Indian Army personnel working on air supply duties load air-dropping packs with food rations. In a storage area, stacked packages await loading onto transport aircraft, as South East Asia Command (SEAC) pilots gather in the shade of a parked Douglas C-47 Dakota to consult a map. The commentary outlines the work of SEAC aircraft in supplying an "Allied Force" cut off by the Japanese on the Arakan Front (XV Indian Corps Admin Box, Sinzweya Village). Stock shots show a United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Curtiss C-46 Commando transport aircraft taking off. A SEAC Douglas C-47 Dakota takes off. Internal views taken in a C-47 cargo hold show SEAC airmen dropping supply packages out the aircraft's open side cargo door. An externally mounted camera shows supply packages dropping away from the aircraft with their parachutes deployed by static line. A USAAF Stinson L-5B ambulance/light cargo aircraft taxies to a halt and is loaded with a seriously injured soldier needing to be flown to a medical camp for immediate attention. The commentary outlines the operational role of such light aircraft in providing an ambulance taxi service for the Burma Front. A USAAF Fairchild UC-61A light utility transport aircraft takes off from a rough jungle landing strip. II. 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' An item that covers the Southern League Cup Final between Chelsea Football Club and Charlton Athletic Football Club played at Wembley Stadium in Middlesex. Both teams file onto the pitch, watched by spectators in stands that are filled to capacity. US General Dwight D Eisenhower meets the players, shaking the hands of each individual team member. The highlights of the match follow, with views of goals scored and penalties taken. After watching the match in which Charlton wins, General Eisenhower and George Allison, President of the Southern League, present the cup to Charlton's Captain, Donald Welsh. III. 'PRINCESS ELIZABETH.' The commentary introduces an item on Princess Elizabeth by describing her recent eighteenth birthday as a milestone in the British constitution due to her assumption of the dignities and responsibilities of Heir Presumptive to the Throne. Stock shots of Elizabeth's childhood follow, showing her with Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral, and with her younger sister Princess Margaret. Princess Elizabeth and Margaret ride their horses in Windsor Great Park where they are met by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth who are walking in the park. The Princesses make their horses perform for the cameras. The horses are later unsaddled by the Princesses and rewarded with bran feed. The Princesses visit some foals in a nearby enclosure accompanied by the King and Queen. The commentary stresses the theme of continuity, stating that the pattern of monarchy set by the King and his father, is evidently understood and appreciated by the next generation. Princess Elizabeth attends a parade at Windsor given in honour of her birthday by the First Battalion of the Grenadier Guards. The Princess is presented with a miniature of the King's Colour of the First Battalion. A Regimental Sergeant Major holds the colour as Queen Elizabeth inspects it watched by Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 159
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-05-22
  • 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 cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Allison, George (person) Eisenhower, Dwight David (person) George VI, King (person) Elizabeth, Queen (person) Elizabeth II, Queen (person) Margaret, Princess (person) Chelsea Football Club (regiment/service) Charlton Athletic Football Club (regiment/service) British Army, Grenadier Guards (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: recreation, British civilian - sport: football (object name) supplies, United States, movement [FA] - misc (object name) medical, United States military - movement: plane (object name) Arakan, Burma (geography) Sinzweya, Burma (geography) GB, England & London, NW <Wembley Stadium> (geography) GB, England & Windsor, Berks <Windsor Castle> (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: 720 ft; Running time: 8 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 159

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