Children are helped into the back of a lorry. Closer shot. More children helped onto the lorry; some are only partly clad or are dressed in rags. Lorries passing. At camp two soldiers hurry across a green towards parked lorries with kids being helped down. Children passing camera. The children are issued with banana leaves for use as plates. More children are helped off a lorry. Civilian men and women pass camera. An entrance archway decorated with a badge, possibly that of the 3rd Madras Regiment; a lorry passes beneath and a signboard reads '2/3rd Madras Regiment MGB [Machine Gun Battalion]'. An infant with a banana leaf of curry and rice. Other shots of children with their food. Wide shot of the green with people running. Father Christmas ('Indian style') and two clowns (?) are saluted by buglers and a guard of honour. Father Christmas appears to inspect the guard. Father Christmas - wearing a turban - and bearers carrying baskets of presents. Father Christmas gives out presents. A jeep passing carrying the clowns in the back. Children clambering all over Father Christmas' jeep. Two upset children. Group of children. A jeep full of children is driven slowly directly towards the camera until its passengers appear to fill the frame. An officer of 4th Indian Field Regiment shows children the sight unit of an Ordnance QF 25-pounder gun. Closer shot. Children crowd around a gun. Wider shot with guns on display. A crowd watching the clowns. A light aircraft, a Taylorcraft Auster probably of RAF 656 Squadron (Air Observation Post) makes a low pass over the base. Children watching. Aircraft circling.
Notes
British Malaya had been home to a large Tamil community, many of whom worked on the country's large rubber plantations, having emigrated from Madras and the surrounding regions of India. They suffered particularly severely during the Japanese occupation, a fact suggested by the ragged state (or absense) of their clothing.
For other film of children's Christmas parties in the region, see related items.
