Film showing troops of 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment off duty in Surabaya (Sourabaya/Soerabaja) and a visit by General Sir Philip Christison, Allied commander in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).

Men of the 2nd Battalion, West Yorks, examine a wrecked Japanese artillery piece, apparently knocked out by a tank and being used as part of a roadblock. A man turns a handle on the gun and the barrel slowly elevates. Another pokes a finger through a hole in the gun's shield. Men relaxing at an abandoned school being used as a billet; they sit at school desks to write letters, read newspapers etc. One man enjoys a bottle of beer. A soldier reading a copy of the 'News of the World' newspaper. Soldiers with local Chinese civilians. The civilians examine a Japanese sword, captured by men of the West Yorks from the Indonesians.

General Christison is greeted on the airstrip at Surabaya by Major-General E C Mansergh, commander of 5th Indian Division. They are joined by Wing Commander M H Constable Maxwell, commander of RAF Surabaya. Christison, Mansergh and Constable Maxwell with Brigadier A Maclean, Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of XV Corps. Christison with Brigadier L H O Pugh, commander of 49th Independent Infantry Brigade, the successor to Brigadier Mallaby. Christison with a company commander of the 4th Mahrattas (Marathas). The party departs by jeep. Christison inspects a guard provided by the 1st Battalion 15th Rajputana Rifles. Christison talking with soldiers of the West Yorks and later an officer of the 4th Mahrattas. Men of the West Yorks riding borrowed bicycles down a street in Surabaya; behind them is a sandbagged emplacement with firing slits, a reminder of the danger of the situation. Soldiers queue for food. Men eating.

Notes

The dopesheet confides that the reason for reverting to filming the West Yorks after the arrival of Christison was due to borrowed motor transport breaking down and the cameraman being unable to accompany him any further.

Context: Immediately following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Indonesian independence was declared. The Dutch, former colonial administrators of the East Indies, were unable to reoccupy the territory having only recently been liberated themselves from the Germans. Allied assistance was requested but British troops could not arrive until the end of September, leaving the Japanese occupation forces in place to keep order. In some areas, however, Japanese commanders surrendered their weapons to nationalist Indonesian groups prompting conflict between nationalists and Dutch internees. British troops of 49th Brigade entered Surabaya, parts of which were in nationalist hands, on 25 October. Quickly surrounded and outnumbered, the British arranged a truce but during the withdrawal on 30 October fighting resumed and Brigadier Mallaby was killed. In consequence the British assaulted Surabaya in strength using 5th Indian Division with armoured, naval and air support. The refusal by the Indonesians of an ultimatum issued on 9 November led to the RAF bombing the city which in turn prompted renewed fighting. Ultimately large numbers of civilians were displaced, some 2,000 British soldiers and 16,000 Indonesian soldiers killed. Though a military defeat for the nationalists, it nonetheless provided a very important political-strategic victory, demonstrating the resolve of the nationalist movement. These operations are well covered in IWM photographs referenced below. See related items.

A copy of General Christison's typescript memoir, covering his life and service 1893 - 1949, is held by the IWM's Department of Documents under the reference below. See related items.