WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 55 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 55 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 55
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'LORD GORT, GOVERNOR OF MALTA.' Air Marshal Tedder (Air Officer Commanding, Middle East) and Sir Walter Monckton are given a tour of Malta by Sir William Dobbie shortly before his retirement. Lord Gort, the new Governor, chats with them. The commentary points out that Axis aircraft have raided Malta over two thousand times over scenes of Air Marshal Tedder meeting military and civilian personnel who have shown conspicuous gallantry during the Axis air attacks on the island. The commentary stresses that the RAF is seldom out of the sky and that the Maltese anti-aircraft barrage is the most concentrated on earth. Tedder meets members of a Hawker Hurricane fighter Squadron and is then conducted on a tour of bomb damaged buildings. Lord Gort arrives from Gibraltar on the first day of his appointment as Governor of Malta as the commentary states that Gort will be leading a people "who not only can take it, but can give it as well." II. 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit an RAF Bomber Command airfield situated in Yorkshire. King George meets RAF ground and air crews and inspects a Handley Page Halifax bomber (MKII with flame dampers ?) The Halifax is mentioned by the commentary as taking part in the 1942 "blitz" on Germany. Queen Elizabeth reviews a guard of honour drawn from members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) followed by a demonstration in the use of parachute troops dropped by an RAF Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft. King George reviews Parachute troops with early style helmets and one piece Jump smocks. Elsewhere, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill chats informally to a Colonel of the 2nd Infantry Division during a review of army manoeuvres in the winter of 1941. The Prime Minister is accompanied by his daughter Mary Churchill and the Turkish Military Attaché. A demonstration of mine clearance is given by an infantry detachment who locate the buried mines by carefully prodding the soil with bayonets. The commentary stresses the high level of physical fitness to be found in the ordinary British soldier as Churchill chats informally with an infantryman who sports a face covered by camouflage cream. Churchill examines a Commando knife with interest and is then shown the "silent killing techniques" used by the British Army, with a demonstration exercise following, using British soldiers dressed as Germans and a Universal carrier converted to look like an early production German light tank. Churchill is given a cheer by massed infantry at the conclusion of the exercises. III. 'ON THE AUSTRALIAN FRONT.' The commentary points out that for the first time the grim tide of war flows to the Australian shore. Australian coastal defence troops use range-finders in an exercise prior to traversing the guns of a coastal emplacement to fire on an unseen target. The commentary outlines the strategic problems inherent in attempting to defend seven thousand miles of coastline against an enemy who could attack at any point. Australian infantry lay barbed wire on a beach in an attempt to prevent the enemy landing. Australian troops arrive at a "Victoria railway station" in order to defend "specified areas." Many of the older troops arriving at the railway station are described by the commentary as being of "the Gallipoli breed." Australian troops carrying kitbags and Lee-Enfield .303-in Mk III rifles say farewell to wives and girl friends. Members of the Second Australian Imperial Force embark on coastal shipping and wave to quayside crowds as they slip their mooring lines on the first stage of their journey to an undisclosed location. The commentary outlines the recent introduction of conscription in Darwin following the recent bombing raids made by Japanese aircraft. Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) members lend a hand in building defensive barricades on a street in a commercial part of Darwin. The Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC, Australian Home Guard) practice marching and laying field telephone wires as the commentary stresses the practical nature of the military training received. A VDC unit assembles a 3-in mortar, taking care that the mortar's baseplate and elevating legs are completely secured against recoil. The commentary states "This nation of little over seven million people is standing to its guns" as Australian infantrymen run to slit trenches and stand ready armed with Bren light machine guns and Lee-Enfield rifles. The interior of a coastal gun emplacement is shown with loading and traversing sequences highlighted. IV. 'DUKE OF GLOUCESTER IN LYBIA.[sic ?]' The Duke of Gloucester reviews a guard of honour made up of men from the Free French Foreign Legion, resplendent in immaculate white Kepis. The Duke is given a demonstration of anti tank tactics as legionnaires fire a Canon de 47 antichar Sa mle 1937 47mm anti tank gun from a defensive position in the desert. A captured German 5cm Pak 38 anti tank gun is examined by the Duke's party while they tour areas of recent battles. The Duke of Gloucester drives past a knocked-out German PzKpfw II tank riding as passenger in a GP utility car (Jeep) bearing the formation insignia of the British First Armoured Division. The Duke, acting as King George VI's representative, inspects reconnaissance units of the First Armoured Division, equipped with Universal Carriers. Senussi tribal leaders welcome the Duke, who is treated to a display of dancing and demonstrations of the Senussi's prowess with horse and rifle.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 55
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-05-18
  • 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: Tedder, Arthur William (person) Monckton, Walter Turner (person) Dobbie, William George Shedden (person) Vereker, John Standish Surtees Prendergast (6th Viscount Gort) (person) Churchill, Mary (person) Churchill, Winston Leonard Spencer (person) Elizabeth II, Queen (person) George VI, King (person) Henry, Prince (Duke of Gloucester) (person) Royal Air Force (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Women's Auxiliary Air Force (regiment/service) Australian Army, Volunteer Defence Corps (regiment/service) Free French Forces (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ceremonies, British - customary (object name) defences, Australian - non-combatant (object name) delegations, British international - military (object name) society, Libyan - ethnic: Senussi tribe (object name) Malta (geography) Australia & Vic (geography) Australia & Darwin, NT (geography) Libya (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: 968 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 55

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