After the abandonment of the Japanese assault on Imphal, British and Indian troops of 5th Indian Division are seen advancing south on the Tiddim Road, while Indian Engineers work to rebuild bridges and tanks and artillery provide support.

Indian troops with mules cross a folding 'scissor' bridge on a muddy road. Motor transport and Indian Engineers working on a Bailey bridge can be seen in the background. Indian Engineers at work roadbuilding with jeeps passing. A pile of scattered engineer stores. A file of Indian soldiers marching. Another file of troops; the last man has a grenade discharger fitted to his rifle. British troops of 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, seen checking Japanese shells; camera pans to pile of abandoned small arms. A pile of Japanese rifles. Crates of Japanese grenades. Captured Japanese small arms ammunition on long stripper clips for use with machine guns. Indian Engineers at work constructing a Bailey bridge (this is a reverse angle to the opening shot of this reel). A jeep passes over the scissor bridge. A motorcycle is ridden over the bridge. An Indian Engineer at work with a sledgehammer. The bridging company take a break from their work and drink tea. A small stream with the wreckage of a bridge. Brief scene of men of the West Yorks bivouacking; smoke rises from a cooking fire, one man tastes something in a pot, others sit reading or chatting. A tracked Universal carrier stops on a road; camera pans to show men and small tents pitched at the roadside. A mortarman cleans his weapon (an Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar). In the camp a pot of water boils on a fire. Artillerymen with their gun (an Ordnance QF 6-pounder anti-tank gun); camera pans to a steep hill. Men with binoculars looking at the hill; camera pans to a parked Universal carrier. Aerials suggest the carrier is a signal vehicle. Shells bursting on the ridge. A parked Universal carrier, marked with crossed keys of 2nd Division, with men stood about smoking. A Lee medium tank, probably of C Squadron 3rd Carabiniers, crosses a scissor bridge. The Lee stops on a road; probably to fire its secondary armament but no recoil or smoke is apparent. A pile of mail with a man reading a newspaper nearby. Smiling gunners seen amongst ammo boxes and tins of petrol. They are named on the dopesheet as Gunner Rimmer (1115144, of Raven Monks Lane, Formby, near Liverpool - seen smoking), Gunner Newport (987151, of Portlock Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire - seen eating) and Gunner Gutteridge (190081, of St Paul's Road, Brentford, Middlesex - seen seated) of 99th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (2nd Division). A 6-pounder is hauled out of a ditch. Sights are set; camera tilts up to show an enemy-held ridge. The gun is fired with a large group watching. The group includes a number of senior officers, such as Brigadier Bayley (Brigadier General Staff of IV Corps), Brigadier Mansergh (later commander of 5th Indian Division and XV Corps), Brigadier (Colonel on the dopesheet) Salomon, commander of 9th Indian Brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Cree (commander, 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment). Senior officers consult a map. Series of good views of the 6-pounder being fired. Observers watch the fall of shot with binoculars. Piles of Japanese ammunition boxes. A blown bridge under repair. Men of 2nd West Yorks resting at the roadside. The men get up and put on their webbing and a Bren gunner slings his weapon over his shoulder. Men and motor transport on a road; they pass a wrecked car and a deep crater full of water. Marching feet. A shallow stream with thick foliage; a number of Sikh soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment emerge from cover and carefully walk away from camera. A battalion HQ which is little more than a tarpaulin shelter and a few tables and chairs. Column of motor transport. Mule column crosses Bailey bridge. Camp at a position known as 'Duke' (counterpart to 'Duchess'). Sikhs with Japanese weapons captured during a patrol to Milestone 36; one soldier has a sword. A number of Japanese light machine guns, probably Type 11s, which have been disassembled. Wreckage of a bridge on a road at 'Duke'; in the middle distance an armoured car lies on its side. An abandoned Japanese tank in a crater. Mules seen eating from a trough. Mules led away for harnessing. A muleteer fits a mule's blinder.

Notes

A good film, well shot, depicting a wide range of military activity at a turning point of the war in this theatre.

On 8 July 1944 the Japanese Army finally abandoned its attempts to capture Imphal. There followed a period of pursuit south along the road from Imphal to Tiddim (the 'Tiddim Road') 120 miles away. 5th Division passed through 17th Division on 18 July, encountering a strongly fortified position at the Torbung defile at Milestone 33 and it is probably this position seen being shelled in this film. This position was secured by the morning of 27 July and by the end of the month 9th Brigade of 5th Division was at Milestone 42, still in contact with Japanese rearguards. Tiddim itself was occupied on 17 October.

The men of the West Yorks seen sitting at the roadside are identified on the dopesheet as 4th Battalion. However, there was no 4th Battalion and so this may be a confusion with 4th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (of 161st Brigade, 5th Division).

1st Battalion 7th Gurkha Rifles and 2nd Battalion 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles are mentioned on the dopesheet as having participated, but they are not seen in this film.

For other film showing the bombardment and capture of Kha Khunou, see related items.