Indian troops of 2nd Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment (123rd Brigade, 5th Indian Division) seen on patrol in the area of the Tiddim-Kalemyo road, Burma, and stretcher bearers bring in a casualty.

Two Indian officers of 2nd Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment conferring. One wears a steel helmet and the other a turban (Lieutenant Dhillon (?)) and both have binoculars. Staged sequence showing an infantry patrol crossing shot and descending a ridge right-to-left. The patrol climbs a slope; a soldier with a Thompson submachine gun goes prone in front of camera. A rifleman with fixed bayonet advances. Reverse angle shows a Bren gunner covering him. He approaches an abandoned Japanese bunker and pokes his rifle into the aperture before turning and gesturing to the rest. Very close shot of a rifleman lying prone with his weapon in the aim; the rest of the patrol move up in the background. The patrol advances towards camera and passes one at a time. Shot looking up at the Sikh officer seen earlier; he salutes the camera and the angle makes him appear tall. Two officers (seen at start of reel) seen conferring. Close-up of men's feet cautiously advancing. A radio antenna; tilt down to signallers operating a No. 48 wireless set. Captain J W Arthur (battalion Intelligence Officer) is saluted and presented with a Japanese rifle and helmet which he examines. A battalion HQ conference with Lieutenant-Colonel Appleby, battalion commander, presiding. Men at rest; some drink from enamel mugs and some appear to be reading newspapers. Indian mortar team cleaning their Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar. Men cleaning their small arms. Captain M K Lingane (?) and the battalion Quartermaster checking rations; during this sequence the Captain stumbles backwards and almost falls over to the Quartermaster's great amusement. Supply bundles are carried down a slope; the men's breath can be seen in clouds of vapour. A single man stands motionless in silhouette with others bustling around him; the sun is obscured by a tree and sends bright rays either side. Stretcher bearers carry a casualty on a stretcher up a steep hill. They wear the patch of XXXIII Corps (crossed trident and sword with wings). The stretcher is set down and the casualty examined by Captain T B Harrison of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Notes

While some of this film is obviously staged and some shots are probably not as effective as the cameraman would have hoped, other parts are strikingly atmospheric. The sequence from the quartermaster checking rations to the stretcher bearers is evidently shot in early morning fog with the sun still low over the hills, and can be seen reflecting off the tins of rations. Similarly the light conditions create attractive highlights as the supplies are carried down the hillside and the shot of the silhouetted man is spectacular.

Dopesheet gives the stretcher bearer unit as 5th Indian Stretcher Bearer Company, and names Captain Harrison as its commander.