Part 1, shot on 2 January 1944: Various shots of a snake charmer, the snakes and spectators (apparently mostly local people). [115 ft]

Part 2, shot on 5 January 1944: At the Red Fort, pan of seated official spectators and large crowd behind. Spectators including Gaje Ghale and widow of Chelu Ram. Pan troops on parade. Close-up Jemadar Gaje Ghale. Widow of Chelu Ram. Spectators. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse. Spectators and recipients. Field Marshal Wavell at the salute. Inspecting guard of honour. The widow of Chelu Ram receives her husbands medal; she is accompanied by a British brigadier and a young child. Wavell hands over the medal. Brief shot Gaje Ghale. Rams widow holds the medal for the camera. Ghale receives his medal; he wears the patch of 17th Indian Division and 5 RGR [5th Royal Gurkha Rifles] can be read on his epaulette. He salutes and shakes Wavells hand firmly. Close-up Gaje Ghale with tilt down to his medal. Pan from recipients and spectators to Wavell saluting the march past. Lady Wavell looking on. Lady Wavell speaks to Ram and the escorting brigadier. Wavell and Lady Wavell depart by car. General Auchinleck congratulates Ghale. Lady Auchinleck likewise. In a general melee of congratulation Ghale salutes an Indian officer and a Chinese officer (three stars, dark background, light border) as an American major-general, wearing the patch of China-Burma-India theatre, passes (probably Major-General Daniel Sultan).

Two-item reel, both by the same cameraman, showing (1) a snakecharmer in New Delhi and (2) a presentation ceremony at the Red Fort in which the Viceroy of India, Archibald Wavell presents Victoria Crosses to Gaje Ghale and the widow of Chhelu Ram.

Notes

Then-Havildar Gaje Ghale, 2nd Battalion 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles received his Victoria Cross for an action in May 1943 in the Chin Hills. He led his platoon along an exposed knife-edge ridge despite heavy fire and multiple wounds before assaulting and capturing a Japanese position.

Company Havildar Major Chhelu Ram, 4th Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles, received hs Victoria Cross for an action in April 1943 at Djebel Garci in Tunisia. After single-handedly silencing a German machine gun he took charge of his company after the death of the company commander.

For another VC presentation at the Red Fort, see related items.

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.