Somewhere in the Arakan coastal region of Burma, possibly in the Kalapanzin or Kaladan river area, African troops (probably 81st West African Division) are seen crossing a river, while Indian Engineers construct a raft.

A jeep, with a driver and a British officer on board; an Indian military policeman gestures the jeep on through a damaged road tunnel (Maungdaw-Buthidaung road?). A sign at the tunnel entrance reads ‘XXIV Tunnel’. A folding boat at a river’s edge with African infantry on board. A boat paddling off. African troops boarding a boat and paddling away. Wide shot river with boat on far bank. A tank transport passes carrying a local narrow boat. Indian troops (engineers?) pushing a boat into the water. A tank transporter with boat onboard reverses towards camera. Indian Engineers carrying wooden planking (for pontoon/raft?). A muscular Indian Engineer, holding up one end of the planking, smiles for the camera. Various shots Indian Engineers at work on a pontoon or raft. Passing a heavy wooden beam down a riverbank. A bulldozer drives down to the water’s edge. Engineers carrying thick wooden beams. Planking the deck. A jeep reverses onto the raft. A Browning medium machine gun is put on the driver’s seat of the jeep.

Notes

No dopesheet survives for this film and consequently details are unclear.

Series note: The MWY series of films is believed to be part of a ‘pool’ of film received by the Government of India from various sources, including South East Asia Command, the Indian Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate, the Ministry of Information, and from Allied governments. This footage would have been considered for editing and release through the Indian Newsreel Parade; see INR series.