I. Troops disassemble mountain gun.

I. 'MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY. Owing to their sure-footedness, mules are chiefly employed to carry the guns over the mountain passes. Loading up previous to moving off to the front.' MS of British troops disassembling a 2.75-inch Mountain Gun Mk 1 and loading the components onto mules held by Indian soldiers. They then unpack the parts and build up the gun again - at the end of the sequence they are preparing to put on a gun shield.

II. Slough Christmas cattle show.

II. 'SLOUGH XMAS CATTLE SHOW. Devon and Hereford bullocks, Hampshire sheep and Berkshire porkers being sold at the Annual Christmas Cattle Show.' MSs of cattle secured in their pen by short tethers around the neck. CU of the head of one bullock. Another is fed hay. CU of phlegmatic Aberdeen Angus, his breath clouding the air. 'THE KING'S FAT STOCK. One of the pens of sheep exhibited by the King at the Show. His Majesty was a very successful exhibitor.' MS over pen of sheep 'Fed by His Majesty the King'. A man drives more animals in and packs them tightly together in the confined space. CUs of sheep. MS over pig stalls and CU of pigs sleeping together. MS of black Royal pigs. End CU of a 'porker'.

III. Lord Mayor attends memorial service in honour of fallen old LCC schoolboys.

III. 'MEMORIAL SERVICE. The Lord Mayor attends a memorial service at St. Paul's in honour of old L.C.C. schoolboys who have fallen in the War.' In light snow, a horse-drawn coach pulls up and the Mayor in his full regalia alights and enters the Cathedral. Soldiers of a Scottish regiment file into Saint Paul's - a pipe band stands below in the street. A small crowd of onlookers has gathered.

IV. Clips showing the career of Lloyd George.

IV. 'MR. LLOYD GEORGE. The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George had an audience of the King and accepted Office as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. Mr. Lloyd George as Minister of War and Minister of Munitions.' Lloyd George, in jocular mood, presents prizes at a small fte - one soldier receives a canteen of cutlery, another a barometer - this sequence well illustrates Lloyd George's popular touch. Cut to Lloyd George being mobbed by enthusiastic crowd at Aberystwyth - see NTB 261/01. Lloyd George in relatively formal attire enters building - probably a recruiting centre - and talks with those inside.

Notes

Remarks (item I): clearly a demonstration for the camera. Topical Budget's formula whereby odds and ends of military activity are always 'previous to moving off to the front' grows rather tedious.

Summary (item IV): Lloyd George had been sworn in as Prime Minister on 8 December.