Empire and Independence

In 1940, Winston Churchill said ‘If the British Empire and its Commonwealth last a thousand years, men will still say, this was their finest hour’. In fact, the Empire would barely last another quarter century. In the immediate aftermath of the War, Nationalist movements strengthened, international pressure increased and Britain’s own financial position became ever more precarious. From India in 1947, to Ghana and Malaya in 1957 and finally Hong Kong in 1997, these films illustrate the rapid, often unforeseen, moves towards Independence as the Empire dissolved within a generation.

 
 
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British In India Museum Collection: 2 'An Indian Durbar'

British In India Museum Collection: 2 'An Indian Durbar' (1926)has video enhanced entry

An Indian Durbar' (1926) Travelogue style film showing coronation of Sir Hari Singh as Maharajah of Kashmir.

Production / Donor Details: ...

Buchanan Collection: 'Ndola Diary': UNIP Public Meeting & Demonstration, Ndola 1961

Buchanan Collection: 'Ndola Diary': UNIP Public Meeting... (1961)has video enhanced entry

Item 1: Footage of a UNIP (United National Independence Party, Northern Rhodesia) public meeting held in 1961 at Twapia Township, ...

Fishwick Collection: Nigerian Independence Celebrations, 01/10/1960

Fishwick Collection: Nigerian Independence Celebrations,... (1960)has video enhanced entry

The film includes sequences in and around Gwoza including markets, a palm plantation, villages and drilling for artesian wells. The ...

 

FUTURE OF ONE MILLION AFRICANS (1950) enhanced entry

The claims made by South Africa on the protectorates of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland.

The film begins by offering a historical ...

 

GIANT IN THE SUN (1959)has video enhanced entry

A study of Northern Nigeria as it prepares for self-government.

The commentator introduces Africa as the 'continent of the future' before ...

 

GUNS AT BATASI (1964) enhanced entry

A British regiment stationed in a newly independent African state is preparing to celebrate the Queen's birthday when Colonel Deal ...

 

HONG KONG HANDOVER, JUNE 1997 (TAPE 1) (1997) enhanced entry

ARMY MOBILE NEWS TEAM SHOTLIST

(The following data has been copied, without amendment, from Army Mobile News Team computer discs.)

01-00-00-00 BARS

01-01-44-44 ...

 

INDEPENDENCE FOR FIJI (1970)has video enhanced entry

Independence in Fiji in October 1970.

Union flag flying, with words 'Independence for Fiji' superimposed. Union flag being taken down ...

 

INDIA IN CRISIS (Year 8 No 1) (1942) enhanced entry

Part one of a double issue (part two - 'India at War') dealing with India's political state while ...

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 120 (29/6/1945)

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 120 (29/6/1945) (1945)has video enhanced entry

I. "LORD WAVELL BROADCASTS PLAN TO SOLVE THE INDIAN POLITICAL DEADLOCK". The Viceroy puts forward the proposal for the formation ...

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 155 (1/3/1946)

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 155 (1/3/1946) (1946)has video enhanced entry

I. "FIGHTING FOURTH WELCOMED HOME". At Karachi, Fourth Division return home after over six years of active service in the ...

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 160 (5/4/1946)

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 160 (5/4/1946) (1946)has video enhanced entry

I. "THE CABINET MISSION ARRIVES IN INDIA". The Cabinet Mission arrive to try and break the political deadlock in India. ...

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 163 (26/4/1946)

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 163 (26/4/1946) (1946)has video enhanced entry

I. "DEWAS SENIOR CELEBRATES VICTORY ON RULER'S VICTORY" Maharajah of Dewas presides at his own Durbar accompanied by the nobles ...

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 71 (21/7/1944)

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 71 (21/7/1944) (1944)has video enhanced entry

I. "KHALSAS WINS M.U.C. GOLD CUP" The Gold Cup Final (soccer) in Madras is won by Khalsa College. The match ...

 

INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 88 (17/11/1944) (1944) enhanced entry

I. "THE EMIR OF KATSINA COMES TO INDIA TO SEE HIS WEST AFRICAN TROOPS" The Muslim Emir of Katsina (on ...

 

KURRAM MILITIA, 1946-1947 (1947) enhanced entry

Amateur film shot by Major Michael Nelson of 8th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army while seconded to the Kurram ...

 

MAHATMA GANDHI NOA KHALI MARCH (1947) enhanced entry

Rarely seen footage of Gandhi filmed by his great nephew, Kanu.

Speaks to a large crowd, possibly outside a railway station. ...

 

MERDEKA FOR MALAYA (1957) enhanced entry

Independence Day celebrations in Malaya, 31 August 1957.

Over shots of government buildings, the British voiceover introduces the film; ...

 

NAIROBI (1950)has video enhanced entry

Travelogue of everyday life in Nairobi, Kenya, concluding with the ceremony granting the town the status of a city.

A British ...

PORTRAIT OF PALESTINE

PORTRAIT OF PALESTINE (1947)has video enhanced entry

The historic past, cultural and economic present and potential future of Palestine are all portrayed as (mainly implicit) ...

 

PUNJAB BOUNDARY FORCE DURING THE PARTITION OF INDIA... (1947) enhanced entry

Amateur film shot by Captain Clifford Williams (Sikh Regiment) when a junior staff officer with the Punjab Boundary ...

 

RHODESIAN SPOTLIGHT NO. 87 (1959)has video enhanced entry

The Jamboree - Lord Roallen attends international janboree in Salisbury.

Nyasaland Back to Normal - after emergency March 1959.

Round the Federation ...

 

ROVING REPORT NO 32 (1966) enhanced entry

Views of the C-in-C Middle East, Secretary General of the South Arabian League, Acting High Commissioner and various ...

 

SEE-SAW YEARS (1964) enhanced entry

Dramatised history of Rhodesian tobacco growers from 1927-1963.

The film opens with footage of a cricket match at the Umvukwes country ...