Reconstructed footage shows British engineers of 36th Division discovering and disarming Japanese mines near Pinwe in northern Burma.

British troops advancing along a track; the first two probe the ground with bayonets. One man investigates a patch and clears away from surface debris. Uncovering a Japanese mine, with a small wooden square on springs (a pressure switch?) over a charge. Alternative close-up showing the removal of the wooden square. Examining the mine. Carrying on along the track. A trip wire is found and traced to a charge in an earth bank at the roadside. Examining the charge with close-up for the camera.

Notes

While this film is not actuality, it provides quite a useful technical demonstration of the construction of these devices.

For more footage of operations at or near Pinwe, see related items.

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.