WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 189 (18/12/1944)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: WPN 189).

Synopsis

I. 'BURMA.' British Fourteenth Army infantry patrol the jungle on the Arakan Front armed with Lee-Enfield Mk III .303-inch rifles. Indian troops lead a mule train over very rough ground. Heavy rainfall lashes a British tented encampment as troops take the opportunity to wash their uniforms in the rain. British infantry, laden with ration boxes, climb slowly up a rain-soaked hill. On arrival at the tented encampment rations are opened and a meal is cooked for later distribution to waiting troops. British infantry manhandle an Ordnance QF 25-pounder howitzer (single tail carriage) into a firing position. British infantry ford a fast flowing water course carrying Lee-Enfield No.IV .303-inch rifles. British wounded are carried by stretcher to a to a jungle first aid post (Regimental Aid Post 77 ?).

II. 'SINKING OF THE TIRPITZ.' An item combining operational stock shot footage of the three British air attacks on the German warship "KM Tirpitz". Stock shot footage shows "KM Tirpitz" shrouded by a smokescreen during the attack of September 15 1944. "KM Tirpitz", partially obscured by cloud, fires its anti-aircraft guns at the attacking Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft (October 29 1944). Operational footage shows the final air attack against the "KM Tirpitz" by now anchored in Troms" Fjord by Avro Lancaster aircraft of 9 and 617 Squadrons RAF, operating from Woodhall Spa and Bardney (November 12 1944). Footage shows the German ship receiving at least three hits from 12,000-lb bombs (capsizing not shown).

III. 'CHURCHILL IN PARIS.' British Prime Minister Winston Spencer Churchill accompanied by his wife Clementine Churchill and daughter Mary Churchill disembark from a Douglas C-47 Dakota (Skytrain) transport aircraft at an airfield near Paris to be met by French leader General Charles de Gaulle. Churchill and de Gaulle review a French Army guard of honour (United States equipped), British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden is also evident at the proceedings. A large number of French civilians are gathered on the Avenue des Champs Elyses in Paris. Churchill and de Gaulle attend a wreath-laying ceremony held at the Arc de Triomphe on Armistice Day (November 11 1944). A large scale military parade follows. The US Army Band marches past the camera position followed by French naval ratings from the complement of the "Jeanne D'Arc" who are carrying Berthier type 8mm Rifles (possibly Mousqueton mle 1892 8mm rifles).

 

Titles

  • WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 189 (18/12/1944)
 

Technical Data

Year:
1944
Running Time:
10 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
872 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
Ministry of Information, Middle East
commentary
Keating, Rex
film editor
Martin, Charles
Production company
War Pictorial News