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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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 ...

 

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 ...

 

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 ...

 

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 ...

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, ...

 

the ROYAL HAMPSHIRES IN THE CARIBBEAN (1961) enhanced entry

An 'on the spot' report by Julian Pettifer showing the rle of the Royal Hampshire Regiment in the ...

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 ...

 

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 ...

 

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 ...

 

SELF GOVERNMENT FOR WESTERN NIGERIA (1958) enhanced entry

Celebrations, attended by the Princess Royal, to mark the introduction of self-government in Western Nigeria in November 1957.

The film opens ...

 

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; ...

 

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 ...

 

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 ...

 

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. ...

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 ...

 

TOWARDS TRUE DEMOCRACY (1947) enhanced entry

Government film about the opening of the Nigerian legislative council.

(Reels One and Three only viewed). The introduction provides ...

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 ...

 

WORLD PICTORIAL NEWS NO 259 ((?) 22/4/1946) (1946) enhanced entry

I. 'TRANSJORDAN TREATY SIGNED.' Emir Abdullah of Transjordan arrives in Britain by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Avro York airliner ...

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 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 ...

 

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 ...

 

TRUTH WILL OUT (1930) enhanced entry

DRAMA-DOCUMENTARY. An Indian villager supports a Congress riot, is arrested, tried, sentenced and reprieved. Anti-Congress propaganda film made by R.H.G. ...

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: ...