TOPICAL BUDGET 254-2

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: NTB 254-2).

Synopsis

I. Fund raising fte.

I. 'REVELS FOR A WAR FUND: Sir Francis Lloyd inspects the guard of honour, composed of wounded men. An Alfresco fte in aid of funds to teach a trade to wounded soldiers'. Lloyd inspects the troops. Scenes at the fte: a male gymnast gives a display on the parallel bars, a fancy dress cricket match (a real free-for-all!). A plump man in drag pulls faces for the camera in close-up.

II. Queen Mary opens a hospital.

II. 'QUEEN MARY OPENS HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN: Arrival of Her Majesty at the SOUTH LONDON HOSPITAL, who receives purses for the support and upkeep of the institution'. Queen Mary enters the building, where small children are led up to greet her. She stands on a dais. Later, the Queen crosses a courtyard with a small group of nurses etc. One of the nurses swings a tasselled rope hanging from a balcony; the Queen does likewise. (Nothing happens when the rope is pulled, and its significance is unclear.) A plaque on the wall a short distance away is pointed to; it is too distant to be legible.

III. English POWs arrive in Berne.

III. 'SWITZERLANDS RECEPTION OF ENGLISH PRISONERS: English prisoners of war receive a warm welcome on arriving at Berne'. A tram arrives at a station in Berne, where a cheering crowd is gathered. The British POWs get out and are greeted; one of them is carried off on a stretcher. Many of the men are wearing flowers that have been given them by the locals. A line of men marches away, through the crowd and past the camera.

IV. E Grant Duff receives POWs (continuation of item III).

IV. 'BRITISH MINISTER RECEIVES THE MEN: Mr E. Grant-Duff receives the men on their arrival'. Groups of soldiers stand around. Two Indian soldiers stand close to camera; children are also present. Panning shot of men and women grouped outside a building; an officer is also present, but there seems to be no sign of Mr Grant-Duff's reception.

V. Canadian POWs in Berne (continuation of items III and IV).

V. 'CANADIAN PRISONERS: Wounded soldiers of the Toronto regiment, these were the first Canadians who fought in Belgium'. A group of (presumably Canadian) men and women pose for the camera. Men walk down the streets with their baggage, with the assistance of Boy Scouts. Some wounded men are carried past on stretchers.

Notes

Summary (items III, IV, V): these three Swiss items do not have the issue number on the intertitle. However, the items do appear to belong to this issue.

Summary: details of contents derived largely from work by Luke McKernan of the NFTVA, to whom much of the credit must go.

 

Titles

  • TOPICAL BUDGET 254-2
 

Technical Data

Year:
1916
Running Time:
3 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
300 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
War Office
Production company
Topical Film