MANDALAY - ARTILLERY FIRE, AIRSTRIKES AND ANGLO-INDIAN EVACUEES (17/3/1945)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: JFU 74).

Synopsis

Soldiers of 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment move through ruined streets in Mandalay, Burma, whilst mortar batteries concentrate fire on Japanese held positions and evacuated Anglo-Indian children play in the streets.

A patrol from the Royal Berkshire Regiment marches through Mandalay. The roads are lined with buildings destroyed during British bombing and shelling. Some of the men salute the camera and smile. Mortar crews fire and a soldier talks on a radio set. Men of Queen Victoria's Own Sappers and Miners Group (Madras), Indian Engineers remove parts to build boats from the back of trucks. A watchtower is ablaze inside the walls of Fort Dufferin after heavy British shelling. Republic P-47 Thunderbolts bomb the fort walls. Anglo-Indian children who have been evacuated from the city of Mandalay play in the street. They receive tea and play with a football; some of the older girls mend the few clothes they managed to bring with them.

Notes

The mortar unit may be 33rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, which was part of 19th Indian Division, but this is not certain.

Mandalay, Burma's second city, was an objective of great importance due to its prestige value and logistical connections, and was also the site of a large Japanese supply dump.

Operations for the capture of Mandalay were extensively covered by other British Army cameramen. See related items.

 

Titles

  • MANDALAY - ARTILLERY FIRE, AIRSTRIKES AND ANGLO-INDIAN EVACUEES (17/3/1945) (Allocated)
Series Title:
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

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

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
War Office Directorate of Public Relations
cameraman
Hammond, R G (Sergeant)
Production company
SEAC Film Unit
 

Countries

 

Production Organisations