Reel 1, shot on 10 December 1944: Wide shot in hilly country with stacks of supplies dotted about. Long lens shot; British troops carrying supplies. African troops carrying supplies on their heads. [170 ft]

Reel 2, shot on 12 December 1944: Lorries cross a bridge, directed by Indian military policeman. A Sherman tank, probably 19th Lancers, firing its main gun. Closer shot. Alternative angle. British soldier (officer?) with group of African troops. Closer shot British officer with Royal West African Frontier Force epaulette; he is going through a pack of some description and passes its contents to his sergeant. He tries to get something out of a sock (?) but camera cuts. Dark shot of a Stuart light tank (these tanks all probably of the Indian Army's 45th Cavalry) on a road passing camera. One tank is called Chiria. Another tank passes named Chikor; there is a tunnel in the background (Buthidaung tunnel?) A tank named Malta with diamond on turret and XV Indian Corps insignia. ‘Megiddo’ passes. Two men in a tank turret, one with binoculars. Tank ‘Chaman’ passes. China II passes. African troops on foot. Close-up tank track and running gear. ‘Charat’ passes. ‘Chasadda’. A junk shot. ‘Chita’. A tank passes and the commander gestures. Chiria again. ‘Chamgadar’. Chikor again. Megiddo again. High shot over dump (where previous reel started?). Armed African troops with supplies on their heads. Lorries on road. African troops on the march. Marching through tall grass. British signalman (Royal Corps of Signals cap badge) on wireless with African troops passing in the background. Africans on the march, some carrying very bulky loads. Lorries. 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun (possibly 8th (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment). Shermans passing. Indian troops on the march; one holds a handkerchief to his face against the dust. [Reel marking: 'Preparations for assault on Buthidaung']

Reel 3: Jeep passing, followed by lorries. Lorries carrying pontoon boats. African signaller at work on wireless set with British troops and an Indian soldier behind. British officers conferring over a map. African signallers at work. Two British soldiers in a foxhole. Bren gun position in thick cover; the assistant changes magazine (he appears to look to the camera for his cue). A British major briefing his officers. Two Indian soldiers, one with Bren gun and one with Lee Enfield rifle; the cameraman is in front of their position. An Indian cocks his rifle for the camera; it is not loaded. Sikh Bren gun team reloads. Loading and firing a two-inch mortar; they are wearing 25th Indian Division insignia. Firing the mortar again. Indian troops in shallow trenches; a sergeant pushes his way past a rifleman. Sergeant with binoculars. [Reel marking: 'Preparation for assault'.] Cheerful Indian soldier passes; a mule behind carries spades. Mule train. Indian troops and mules. Looking down a ridge at lorries on a road going round a hairpin turn over a bridge. Universal carrier crosses wooden bridge, followed by ambulance, as a lorry passes underneath. Carrier and lorry. More lorries. Bulldozer crosses the bridge followed by troops. Sherman, as seen earlier, firing its main gun. Indian troops with mules. Bridge and lorries and ambulances; pan right. Infantry crossing the bridge (as seen earlier – reel cut?). Sherman passing with infantry riding aboard. Sherman again seen firing. Road again. Jeeps and light lorries.

Three reels of mute, unedited rushes by an American cameraman, showing preparations by African troops of 82nd West African Division, and Indian troops of 25th Indian Division, for an assault on Buthidaung with tank support, in the Arakan coastal region of Burma.

Notes

No dopesheet survives for this film and consequently some details are unclear. The dates seen on slates, and the reel markings, however, suggest that this film records the preparation for the assault on Buthidaung, in the May Hills of Burma's Arakan coastal region. The tunnel seen is the tunnel on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road. Buthidaung was cleared by the evening of 15 December 1944. The West African troops seen are probably of 2nd or 1st West African Brigade, of 82nd West African Division, which were involved in the capture of Buthidaung.

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.