Field Marshal Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), arrives in Singapore for a tour of inspection, and visits a number of infantry battalions.

Wide shot showing a taxiing RAF Avro York transport aircraft at Kallang airport, Singapore. Long lens shot of Lord Mountbatten (Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command) greeting Field Marshal Brooke and introducing him to senior officers, including Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey (commander of Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA)), Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park (Allied Air Commander-in-Chief), Air Commodore Cohu (commander RAF bases Singapore), the naval chief of staff, and Brigadier McKerren, head of the British Military Administration (Malaya). Brooke takes a salute and inspects a guard of honour provided by the Royal Navy (from HMS Howe, the guard being commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Hill-Norton and Lieutenant Hampton), the British Army (guard from 12th Parachute Battalion, commanded by Major Freeguard) and Royal Air Force (guard from the RAF Regiment, commanded by Squadron Leader H Sullivan). At 5th Parachute Brigade Brooke is saluted by a quarter guard and a bugler plays a salute. The guard falls out. 7th Parachute Battalion on parade in marching order. Brooke inspects the battalion accompanied by Brigadier Poett, the brigade commander, and Lieutenant-Colonel Pine-Coffin, the battalion's commanding officer. Jeeps and trailers drawn up for inspection. Brooke inspects a detachment of men standing by one of the battalion's lorries. At a luncheon party at Government House an informal group of senior officers, led by Mountbatten and Brooke (and an unnamed Air Marshal), pass camera. Mountbatten with Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey. Mountbatten, Brooke and a Major-General wearing the patch of 7th Indian Division (Evans?). Close-up of Brooke. Close-up of Mountbatten. Wide shot of the general scene. More footage of Brooke inspecting the 7th Parachute Battalion's motor transport. Brooke gets into his staff car. Quarter guard of the 12th Parachute Battalion salutes Brooke. Brooke is shown the 12th Battalion's colour; a set of parachute wings with '12th Bn' above and 'Yorkshire' below, and battle honours on the reverse. Brooke meets the battalion's officers and warrant officers. Brooke watches men of the battalion boxing. At Singapore docks Brooke meets a Colonel Leeper and his staff, responsible for the operation of the docks. At HQ 4th Infantry Brigade Brooke is saluted by a guard before watching men drilling. Accompanied by Brigadier McCullen (the brigade commander) Brooke visits 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Close-up of Brooke talking to an officer of the battalion. Men training with a 2-inch mortar. Brooke departs by car.

Notes

Field Marshal Brooke, as CIGS since the dark days of December 1941, was an enormously influential figure at the heart of British strategic decision-making. His statue now stands on Whitehall outside the Ministry of Defence flanked by Montgomery and Slim, two commanders he brought to prominence.

Much of the footage of Brooke's arrival at Kallang is marred by a fairly severe camera judder, possibly due to the film snatching on take-up.