Sir John Colville arrives to take up his duties as Governor of Bombay, and the outgoing governor Sir Roger Lumley departs.

Sir John Colville (in darker single-breasted suit) walking in the gardens of Government House, Karachi, with Sir Hugh Dow, Governor of Sind (in lighter, double-breasted suit). An RAF Hudson, serial FK5xx transport aircraft taxiing. Colville steps down. Royal Air Force band playing. Colville greeted by Dr Sorley, Chief Secretary Bombay government. Colville is introduced to senior officials, identified on the dopesheet as Brigadier C E R G Alban, Commodore A R Rattray, Air Commodore F J Vincent, Captain C Naylor (Royal Navy), Lieutenant-Colonel Palk. Inspecting RAF guard of honour with Air Commodore Vincent. Walking with Lieutenant-Colonel Palk. Colville boards a car, its door held open by an Indian attendant at the salute, for the drive to the Convocation Hall at Bombay University. Car departing. High shot watching a march past. Colville’s car arriving; Sorley steps out followed by Colville. Colville meets senior officials, named on the dopesheet as the Honorable Sir John Beaumont (Chief Justice of Bombay), Rt Rev R D Acland (Bishop of Bombay), Sir Rustom Masami (Provincial Leader, National War Front), four of Colville’s advisors (H F Knight, C H Bristow, G F S Collins, I H Taunton), Major-General F V B Witts, J B Irwin (Colville’s secretary), Sir Jamshedji Duggan (Sheriff of Bombay), H E Butler (Commissioner of Police) and aides-de-camp to the King and the Viceroy. High shot overlooking Colville walking in procession along a drive lined with sailors at the present arms. Inspecting guard of honour. Entering the Convocation Hall. Prominent citizens and officials are presented. Leaving hall and boarding car for state drive to Government House Bombay. Driving through Bombay, with the road lined with sailors. The Governor’s mounted bodyguard on parade. Inspecting troops and airmen and the mounted guard. Car carrying Sir Roger Lumley and Lady Lumley departing the parade ground. Lumley at Convocation Hall meeting the line-up seen earlier (Commodore Rattray and the Raja of Bhor are also named). Inspecting guard. Entering Convocation Hall. Very dim interior footage showing Sir Roger and Lady Lumley taking their leave of prominent officials and citizens. Pan of the audience. Naval guard of honour presents arms as Lumley’s car departs the hall, which is seen in the background. Colville entering Durbar Hall at Government House. Interior Durbar Hall; the Chief Justice administers the oaths of allegiance and office. In the grounds a unit of the East Yorkshire Regiment presents arms. Band playing. Colville doffs hat. Audience. Inspecting the guard.

Notes

The dopesheet for this film does not identify a cameraman, and nor does it give the shooting date. The dopesheet bears a Bombay Military Press Censor's Office stamp which reads 9 April 1943. According to contemporary newspapers, this ceremony took place on 24 March 1943.

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.