I. 'ANTHONY EDEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST.' Anthony Eden, the British Secretary of State for War arrives in Alexandria harbour on a tender to inspect the British Queen Elizabeth Class battleship HMS Warspite. The tender pulls alongside as Anthony Eden is formally welcomed on board by senior naval officers dressed in white tropical uniforms. 'In the Western Desert.' A British Westland Lysander aircraft carrying Anthony Eden lands on an improvised desert strip. Eden is helped from the aircraft's cockpit by the RAF pilot and is met by a delegation of British Army officers. A short inspection and tour of concealed desert defences follows as British infantry manhandle coils of barbed wire into position. 'In the Sudan.' Anthony Eden is accompanied by General Sir Archibald Wavell (C-in-C Middle East) as they inspect Sudanese, British and Polish troops. A military band plays as the combined contingent of troops march past. Commentary states that on his return to England Eden declared himself well satisfied with what he had seen on his Middle Eastern tour.

II. 'POLISH TROOPS IN ENGLAND.' Polish infantry march through a tented camp somewhere in the English countryside. The commentary explains that many of the soldiers escaped to England following a heroic defence of their own country against the German invader. Assembled Polish officers take an English lesson in the open air. Cut to smiling infantrymen singing Polish songs. General Sikorski (C-in-C Polish Army) reviews a parade by Polish infantry.

III. 'INSPECTION OF FREE FRENCH FORCES BY HM THE KING AND GENERAL DE GAULLE.' King George VI and General Charles de Gaulle (C-in-C Free French) inspect combined Free French naval and ground personnel on an unidentified barrack square. A march-past follows led by a military drum detachment. Cut to King George VI chatting to nurses as French sailors march through streets lined with cheering civilians. Commentary stresses that Frenchmen are rallying to the flags of freedom from all over the globe. General de Gaulle lays a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance day 1940.

IV. 'GREECE ON THE WARPATH.' Item opens with scenes of jubilant Greek civilian crowds in the streets of Athens. Greek infantry, triumphant after repelling the Italian invaders, march past General Papagos and Premier Metaxas. A large group of Greek soldiers walk down a street waving Greek national flags as young women watch them from the balcony of a large house. Shots of Greek troops in charge of a large mule train as commentary explains the success of Greek arms against the Italians and the vast amount of military equipment that has been captured. 'Funeral of the First British Airman Killed in Greece.' Greek infantry lead the official funeral procession through the streets of Athens. An RAF guard of honour armed with Lee-Enfield .303-in Mk III rifles escorts the coffin to its burial place. British officers and Greek officials look on as the RAF guard of honour fires a volley of rifle fire over the grave. 'Further RAF Reinforcements Land in Greece.' RAF ground crews armed with Lee-Enfield Mk III rifles and carrying kitbags disembark from transport ships as Greek dock workers look on.

V. 'WAR VIEWS OF THIRD TIME PRESIDENT.' Opening close up of the "Stop Hitler now" pamphlets printed by the Committee to defend America by aiding the Allies. Commentary explains that the United States has realised that her front line of defence lies on the shore of Britain. Cut to aerial views of an unidentified industrial centre showing factory and port facilities. Parked US Curtiss SBC Helldiver dive-bombers have their US Navy markings removed by hand in anticipation of receiving various Allied markings. Commentary stresses that this scene is evidence of the practical nature of US sympathy to the Allied cause. Cut to US Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress bombers overflying rugged and mountainous terrain. Item closes with United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (live) making a speech on his intended policy of securing aid to the Allies at whatever cost. "We will extend to the opponents of force the material resources of this nation." (10th June 1940.)

Notes

Series sequence: this is the first issue to bear the full WAR PICTORIAL NEWS title, previous issues having been titled WAR PICTORIAL only (they are thus to be found in alphabetical indexes after later issues as "NO" files after "NEWS NO"). "WAR" changed to "WORLD" after VJ Day. The greater part of the Museum's holding consists of a straight numerical run, occasionally broken or supplemented by WAR PICTORIAL NEWS SPECIAL EDITIONS or VARIANT issues. The ordering of this material differs between those lists arranged alphabetically by title and those arranged numerically according to catalogue numbers