British and Indian troops on the Mesopotamian Front, April 1918.

(Reel 1) A poor quality scene showing a company of Burma Sappers building a trestle bridge over the River Diyala on 16 April. Punjabis (of 14th Indian Division ?) making chapatis, also on 16th April. An Indian Lewis machine-gunner using his gun in an anti-aircraft role from a trench, a second using a fixed anti-aircraft mount and a third firing out over no man's land. (The shotsheet describes the machine-gunners as Sikhs of Patalia, Ferozopore and Ludiana, and Jats of the Hissar and Bikanir districts.) Punjabi soldiers from Hazara in a trench using rifle grenades. Two 18-pounder field guns with an observation post in the desert. A kite balloon of 23rd Kite Balloon Company, guarded by a 13-pounder Mk IV anti-aircraft gun, about to ascend. Indian batteries of 4.5-inch howitzers and a 6-inch howitzer. Soldiers of the Gurkha Rifles moving past an RFA park. A temporary ferry platform transporting a limber and some mules across the River Diyala on 22 April. 2nd Battalion, the Norfolk Regiment, of 14th Division, crossing the river at Masina on the same day. A 60-pounder being hauled across at the same place on 26 April. (Reel 2) Soldiers, maybe of 13th Division, bathing by the Narim Kopris bridge. A convoy of Ford light cars along a desert road. Prisoners taken in the action at Tuz Khurmatli on 28 April, one being attended to by a doctor. British soldiers, apparently under fire, salvaging the engine from a crashed RE8 reconnaissance aircraft, and burning the airframe. Turkish prisoners of war in camp, and crossing a stream. A Rolls-Royce armoured car being pulled through a river. 6th Battalion, the East Lancashire Regiment, and 6th Battalion, the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) of 13th Division crossing the River Diyala with Turkish prisoners, some on camels. Troopers of the Indian Cavalry Division entering Tuz. A staged sequence of Turkish troops surrendering. Lewis machine-gunners in action with a Rolls-Royce armoured car. The final scene is of British troops in camp giving three cheers to the camera.

Notes

Title: this is taken from the shotsheet.

Production: this film has very detailed captions, and is possibly one of the post-war compilations made by Jury from official material as part of his reward for controlling wartime film production.

Summary: see also IWM 61, IWM 64, IWM 79 and IWM 80.