Scenes from Saigon, capital of French Indo-China (Vietnam), now occupied by 20th Indian Division.

Two British officers are saluted by a Japanese sentry outside the Continental Hotel. A lorry passes flying Red Cross pennants and there are many cyclists about. Street in Saigon with Japanese sentry and many European (presumably French) civilians. Treelined avenue with banner reading 'Independence or Death'. View from a building over a broad road with banner reading 'Down with Colonisation' on the opposite side. Two pedal trishaws pass, apparently carrying Japanese soldiers. Three Japanese sentries, coming off duty, walk towards the cameraman's building. Two more Japanese approach. Footage from street level; two British officers return a salute from a Japanese sentry, who sits back down after they pass. Armed Japanese troops pass a building flying Allied flags. Another shot of the 'Independence or Death' banner. Japanese sentry standing guard; European civilians crowd the pavements. Closer view of the 'Down with Colonisation' banner. British officer returns a Japanese salute. Japanese troops (?) amongst trees; one of them approaches camera.

Notes

Along with other films shot in Indo-China, this item is a useful record of a much-forgotten part of Britain's occupation of south east Asia. British Indian troops of 20th Indian Division were sent to southern Indo-China to disarm and intern Japanese personnel stationed there, recover Allied prisoners of war and internees, and maintain law and order. Before long they found themselves embroiled in violence sparked by tensions between the French population and the nationalist Viet Minh. British Indian forces were withdrawn in early 1946 and responsibility handed to the French.