DISPOSAL OF JAPANESE ORDNANCE AT SEA OFF SINGAPORE

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: JFU 629).

Synopsis

At Pulau Brani, Singapore, 56 Water Transport Company Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) dispose of Japanese ordnance, with the help of some interned Japanese prisoners of war.

View of piles of crated stores with a stationary DUKW ('Duck') amphibious truck behind. Dark shot of Japanese personnel loading a DUKW. Japanese troops use a roller runway to load the DUKW; British troops supervise. Alternative angles. View of the crates on board a DUKW. Camera pans to follow a DUKW driving right-to-left; it is marked 'DANGER EXPLOSIVES'. Second DUKW follows. A DUKW crests a slope towards camera and drives down towards the sea. View of DUKW afloat and underway. Approaching RASC Landing Craft Tank (LCT) 742. Looking up at the wheelhouse of LCT 742, marked 'RASC'. DUKWs alongside the LCT. Japanese troops transferring crates from a DUKW to the LCT. Japanese troops waiting with DUKW coming alongside. Looking down onto the deck of the LCT with stacked crates; chalked warning reads 'No Smoking'. Japanese troops use rollers to move boxes along the LCT. Crates stacked up. Troops (Malay or Indian?) turning a winch to raise the anchor. Capstan turning with Corporal Fosverry supervising. Anchor hauled up. Staff Sergeant Burwood on the bridge. Wide shot of LCT 742. Closer shot with crates of ordnance being pushed overboard. Various angles of boxes being sent overboard. Signal flags indicating 'Dangerous cargo - Keep Clear'. Two Japanese 540lb (probably 250kg) aircraft bombs are lowered onto an LCT. Four bombs lowered to LCT. Four more bombs lowered.

Notes

A good film with a coherent narrative and variety of coverage.

 

Titles

  • DISPOSAL OF JAPANESE ORDNANCE AT SEA OFF SINGAPORE (Allocated)
Series Title:
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

Year:
1946
Running Time:
8 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
689 ft
 

Production Credits

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