Everyday life in the Euphrates valley, at the Jewish settlement of Rishon le Zion, and at Hebron and Abraham's Tomb on the Palestine Front, 1917-1918.

I. The film opens with the Hindiya barrage dam across the Euphrates. The local population fish from small circular coracles, called 'sufas', while others carry pots and loads of fish, and wash the fish roes using a sieve. Others hang up the fish to dry on racks. Near Babylon, grain harvesting is taking place, with the grain being threshed and the chaff winnowed by hand. Pottery is made on a handwheel. II. This is followed by a street scene at the Jewish settlement of Rishon le Zion shortly after its capture by the British in September 1917. It is a Saturday afternoon, a brass band from the Australian Light Horse arrives and begins to play from the bandstand. III. A final scene shows the streets of Hebron, followed by a view of the entrance to the mosque of the Tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Notes

Production: the format of this film closely resembles that of IWM 78, IWM 79 and IWM 80, which comprise the series ADVANCE OF THE CRUSADERS INTO MESOPOTAMIA. It is possible that this is the first episode of the series.

Summary: see also IWM 18, IWM 61, IWM 81 and IWM 82.