Scenes of an Allied victory parade, mounted in monsoon weather in Rangoon, capital of Burma, on 15 June 1945.

A detachment of sailors of the Royal Navy moving onto the parade ground at Rangoon golf course. They are followed by units of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the French Navy and the Royal Marines. Distant views of the parade. The Royal Marine guard of honour marches into position. Allied flags flying on the rostrum. A 25-pounder gun fires as part of a 17-gun salute for the Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten. The flag of the Rangoon Port Commissioner is raised to the tune of the Burmese National Anthem. The troops give three cheers for HM the King. The crowd begins to disperse. Marines marching to the saluting base. On the streets of Rangoon civilians wait for the victory march past to begin. Many are carrying umbrellas against the heavy monsoon rains. Troops marching past.

Notes

According to the dopesheet, the flag seen being raised had apparently been captured by the Japanese in 1942. It was then, somewhat inexplicably, recaptured by American troops on Attu in the Aleutian Islands and duly returned, courtesy of the US Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall, to Mountbatten.

This parade was also covered by other cameramen and photographers of the RAF (CI/ABY series) and British Army (SE/JFU series). See related items.

This and related events also filmed in amateur colour footage by Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Outram Hodgkinson. See related items (MGH series).

The IWM's Department of Documents holds a copy of the programme for this event, along with programmes for two related Services of Thanksgiving. See related items.