Three-part film showing (1) a Royal Air Force launch resupplies an isolated outpost of 23 Wireless Unit in the sundarbans (sunderbans/sunderbunds) area of the River Ganges delta (2) a Royal Air Force parade in Delhi to mark the third anniversary of the Battle of Britain and (3) a Chinese military mission to Delhi.

Part 1, shot by R H Thomas: Aboard a motor boat; a local boat approaches. View from a motor boat moving along a river, with local people at the river bank. Passing along the river; a beached river steamer. A very simple bamboo footbridge. A larger steamer. Long lens view of a RAF outpost on the riverside with a watchtower. Another similar compound with two buildings and a tower. Dark shot of steamer approaching. The steamer; it is marked at the bow 1/36 with an RAF roundel. Airmen stepping off the steamer, one with an armful of mail. Distributing mail. Wider shot showing the steamer and simple wooden jetty. Short pan of the compound. Onboard the steamer (in the wheelhouse). RAF Ensign flying. A British airman and an Indian sergeant consult a chart. Part 2, shot by A Kerntiff: At a tented camp Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse steps out of a staff car. An RAF Ensign is hoisted; there is a grandstand in the background. Peirse inspects airmen. Peirse addressing the parade (his microphone is marked ‘Chicago Radio Co.’) RAF officers listening. Other spectators. Women of the WAC(I) listening. Indian officer. British sergeant. Line of senior RAF officers with Baldwin nearest camera. Parade. Troops shouldering and presenting arms as buglers play. Peirse on saluting base. Departing by staff car. March past. Airmen on parade. Part 3, shot by A Kerntiff: A group of Chinese officers (and a British officer wearing the capbadge of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) on an airfield. Lieutenant W A C H Dobson is introduced to Lieutenant-General Chen Chang-Lan. He inspects a guard of honour of the Foresters. Medium close-up Chen Chang-Lan (two gold triangular pips on collar). Leaving a clothing store; a sign declares ‘Is it really necessary? Can I do without? This concerns YOU!’. Looking at bales or sacks of salvage. The group tour other stores. Boots awaiting repair. The general and a colonel speaking to a lieutenant of the Sherwood Foresters. Visiting the motor transport section.

Notes

Part 3: The officer named as 'Dobson' is probably William Arthur Charles Harvey Dobson (1913-1982). He was commissioned into the Intelligence Corps on 18 August 1941, transferring to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in February 1943. He is identified as a Lieutenant-Colonel on the cameraman's dopesheet, but this would appear to be a mistake. A month after this film was shot, the London Gazette announced his award of the Order of the Cloud and Banner 5th Class by the government of China on 2 November 1943. He went on to be a renowned sinologist

Series note: The MWY series of films is believed to be part of a ‘pool’ of film received by the Government of India from various sources, including South East Asia Command, the Indian Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate, the Ministry of Information, and from Allied governments. This footage would have been considered for editing and release through the Indian Newsreel Parade; see INR series.