MANDALAY - FINAL ASSAULT ON FORT DUFFERIN AND CIVILIAN REFUGEES (20/3/1945)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: JFU 86).

Synopsis

The final assault on Fort Dufferin, Mandalay, Burma, from the air takes place and British troops of 19th Indian Division enter the complex after the Japanese have retreated, finding a number of civilian refugees.

Fort Dufferin wall with smoke and dust rising from it after an 'earthquake' air strike by Republic Thunderbolt fighter-bombers. Another plume of smoke and water rises after a bombing run. Two planes swoop past the camera position on Mandalay Hill on a bombing run and more smoke rises from the fort wall. A bomb hits the moat and the wall. A plane flies through the smoke which has now started to disperse. 19th Indian Division troops march along the road towards the fort. A jeep passes through the ranks of men and Burmese locals watch the men pass. Gunner P L Payne of 134th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, chats to Burmese men. A crowd of local people watch the fort entrance. A jeep drives over rough ground. A column of Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners march towards the fort carrying shovels and other equipment. 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment follow. Sappers and Miners march out of the fort after the ceremony. An injured Anglo-Indian man lies on a stretcher which is attached to jeep, he smiles and chats to the American Field Service ambulance driver. Small fires still burn amongst some traditional ox carts and a railway carriage sits nearby. Steps lead up to what is left of King Thibaw's Palace. Anglo-Indian and Burmese women and men emerge from the fort. They pull carts filled with belongings. A small Anglo-Indian boy from a family transported by the Japanese from Rangoon looks into camera. An old man, Mr C R Nicholas Isoc, lights a small cheroot. A woman carries two babies whilst two women push and pull a cart, they are followed by small children. Women and children wash themselves and utensils in filthy-looking water. Peggy Embley, a baby from an Anglo-Indian family.

Notes

Gunner P L Payne (probably of 498 Battery) was the 'first British rank' (from the dopesheet) into the fort after he observed a white flag being waved, went to investigate and found Burmese people who told him that the Japanese had left.

Dopesheet states that Mr Nicholas Isoc had been PA to the commissioner of Sagaing until his retirement in 1935. Burma's Indian, Anglo-Indian, and Anglo-Burmese population were often victimised and interned under Japanese occupation.

The American Field Service was a voluntary ambulance service formed in 1915 by Abram Piatt Andrew. It continues to exist as an international voluntary service organisation.

 

Titles

  • MANDALAY - FINAL ASSAULT ON FORT DUFFERIN AND CIVILIAN REFUGEES (20/3/1945) (Allocated)
Series Title:
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

Year:
1945
Running Time:
8 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
681ft
 

Production Credits

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

Countries

 

Production Organisations