Part 1, shot by Sergeant Hewit: View looking down on a Landing Craft Infantry (Large) (LCI(L)) with Indian troops aboard. Men looking out over a rail (of a troopship?) with other vessels nearby. Landing craft in line astern heading for Singapore. Singapore on the horizon. Indian troops climbing over the side of their troopship and clambering down to landing craft by means of cargo nets. On the dockside in Singapore LCI(L) 216 is berthed; she has a black and white checkered pattern around her bridge. Troops filing away. Footage from aboard a landing craft; a sailor on the bow of the landing craft coils a rope around his arm. Pan across the dockside. LCI(L) 271, laden with troops, crosses shot. An LCI(L) moves towards camera. Indian troops disembarking.

Part 2: Slow pans and static shots of Singapore cityscape taken from the Cathay Building.

Part 3, shot by Sergeant Abbott: From a landing craft or similar looking aft towards following vessels. A good view of a large, single-funneled troopship, with mast fore and aft. Looking forward to line of landing craft with troopships nearby. View towards Singapore. Ashore men file past a large area of rubble (presumably near the docks) with a line of parked cars in the distance. Indian troops disembark from a landing craft; a number of British sailors assist them. Men off LCI(L) 299. Local civilians waving; Chinese nationalist flags are in evidence.

Footage of 5th Indian Division's landing at Singapore in September 1945.

Notes

Singapore had been the centrepiece of British prestige and security in South East Asia and its loss in 1942 delivered a fatal blow to British imperial credibility. The commander of this Division was Eric Mansergh, and the Museum's Department of Documents holds a collection of documents relating to his service in South East Asia and elsewhere. See related items.

These operations were also extensively covered by Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Indian Army cameramen. See related items.