OCCUPATION OF SINGKEP ISLAND (3/10/1945)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: JFU 361).

Synopsis

British troops of 5th Parachute Brigade round up the Japanese garrison of Singkep Island, off Sumatra south of Singapore, who are transported by sea to Singapore.

Kempeitai on parade. Pan along the line of Kempeitai. The unit is marched off under guard; some of the front rank march with a high step. Crowd of local civilians watching. Kempeitai forming up with their baggage. Medium close-up of members of the unit. They are marched off and civilians watch them go. Members of the Japanese garrison arriving at the docks with their baggage on their backs. Japanese troops sitting on the jetty with civilians behind. They board a Royal Navy motor launch of the 38th Flotilla, Coastal Forces. Japanese sat on the foredeck. View along the jetty with the stern of a launch, rocking slightly in the water, facing camera and Japanese making their way along the jetty. Reverse angle shows bows of two berthed motor launches. Footage taken at sea with the leading launch directly ahead. Another launch on the port beam. A motor launch at distance. View looking aft towards officers on the open bridge.

Notes

Dopesheet identifies the troops as being of a detachment of 2nd Parachute Battalion, 5th Parachute Brigade. However, the 5th Parachute Brigade was composed of the 7th, 12th and 13th Battalions. There was also the 22nd Independent Parachute Company, and the 2nd Forward Observation Unit (Royal Artillery) attached to the Brigade, so the men may be of one of these two units.

The Kempeitai were an Imperial Japanese Army gendarmerie with responsibilities for military policing, internal security and (often political) justice. During the war they quickly developed a reputation for brutality and were regarded by the Allies in much the same vein as the Nazis' Gestapo secret police.

Singkep Island was previously a Dutch colonial possession and is now part of Indonesia.

 

Titles

  • OCCUPATION OF SINGKEP ISLAND (3/10/1945) (Allocated)
Series Title:
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

Year:
1945
Running Time:
4 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
360 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
War Office Directorate of Public Relations
cameraman.
Abbott, J (Sergeant)
Production company
SEAC Film Unit
 

Countries

 

Production Organisations