Edited film with commentary depicting the Chindits setting out on Operation Longcloth, their first raiding expedition behind Japanese lines, under the leadership of Brigadier Orde Wingate.

Titles: 'Public Relations Directorate Indian Command presents', 'INTO BURMA', 'Produced by Army Film Centre'. Pan right showing men and equipment at riverside, probably on the Chindwin. Another pan right with men, equipment and mules. A mule and handler are joined by another (an officer?) with a revolver and kukri on his belt. In a closer shot the second man examines a mule's hoof while the commentary remarks that mules require careful and patient handling. Mules are led or dragged into the water; the commentary relates that the men say they've earned one medal; 'the DCM - Died Chasing Mules'. A signaller with his radio. A corporal wearing a wool cap-comforter uses a foot pump to inflate a rubber boat. Indian (?) soldier wading into the water and others wading with a boat. Medium close-up profile of Brigadier Orde Wingate ('a regular soldier with unconventional ideas') on horseback. Soldiers about to cross the river in narrow local boats. In the jungle troops walk along a jungle path with mules. Troops carry a wooden case or ammunition box on (stretcher?) poles. Men doing personal admin in the jungle; one in the background is shaving and another can be seen scooping up water in a mess tin. Men washing by the side of a stream. A man towels his face dry and mules cross shot from left to right; they can be seen in the reflection of some water in the foreground and man rolls up his sleeves. Looking down on men chopping lengths of wood (?). A man up a tree chops down a branch with a kukri before dropping the kukri and climbing down. A Royal Air Force sergeant signaller ('in constant touch with air bases') at his wireless set. He is joined by an RAF squadron leader (presumably a liaison officer) with a sheet of paper (a message?). Closer shot tilts down to show the signaller operating a Morse key. Scene with a man having his elbow bandaged by (an Indian?) major; mules in the background. Closer shot as the medic ties off a bandage. A staff sergeant and a number of others issue pay; neat stacks of coins are arranged on a table and handed out. Camera pans along the line of waiting men; some have camouflage nets over their bush hats (both bush hats and Gurkha hats can be seen). More coins issued. Dark shot of men operating a mobile printing press. Shot of a printed page with Burmese script. Men position two loudspeakers in trees. A Burmese man described by the commentator as a prince of the Shan States speaks on a microphone. Some unclear shots of an inspection by Field Marshal Wavell. A line of men and mules pass camera in silhouette, on their way to 'harass the Jap from behind his lines, to sabotage his railways, blow up his bridges, smash his roads, raise the oppressed against him, and drive him back whence he came'.

Notes

The first Chindit expedition lasted from February to June 1943. Of the 3,000 men who set out, only 2,182 returned, of whom only 600 were fit for further service. Though the Chindits' material impact was small, and their losses heavy, the expedition was a considerable boost to morale and of great public relations value, as evidenced by the existence of this film. This force was officially 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, and was later expanded and officially designated 3rd Indian Division. While variously also known as 'Special Force' and as 'Long Range Penetration Groups', the name 'Chindits' (a corruption of 'chinthe', a mythical guardian creature) has proved most enduring.

There are difficulties in precisely dating and placing this film, as the cameraman's original documentation appears not to have survived. However, there seems no reason to believe that this footage is other than genuine, and therefore probably shows the crossing of the force's northern group at Tonhe, on the Chindwin. The date is therefore 14 February 1943, which chimes with the suggested commentary sheet's 'middle of February'. Corresponding stills for this crossing, probably taken by the same cameraman and held by the Imperial War Museum's Photograph Archive, can be seen at the references below. See related items.

The Film and Video Archive holds a memorandum by an A G Neville, who quotes a letter (written some time before 10 April 1943) from Brigadier Ivor Jehu, the Indian Army's Director of Public Relations, which states that this was shot by 'one of [his] less experienced cinephotographers' who was 'on the spot when the show started'. This cameraman may be Antony Beauchamp, per his autobiography 'Focus on Fame'. This film has considerable value, as a record of a historic moment, but we might also note the contrast between the rather pedestrian imagery and the dramatic commentary.

The memo above also states that Wingate's identity was initially to be suppressed. However he is clearly identified in the commentary of this piece, and in the commentary of the pieces below. GHQ India seems to have been well aware of the propaganda value of this expedition, and Wingate was paraded at a press conference in Delhi on 21 May 1943.

Given the propaganda value of this footage it was distributed to the civilian newsreel companies. It was used by both Gaumont British News in Issue No. 981 (item 'Secret Jungle Army in Burma') and by British Movietone News in Issue No. 730 (this edition is held by the Museum; see reference below). These were released on 31 May 1943. These details from the British Universities Newsreel Database. The Gaumont version can be seen at ITN Source at the address below.

IND 2069-2091 (corresponding stills)