At Veroli, in Italy's Liri Valley, troops of 8th Indian Division fraternise with Italian villagers and are visited by their divisional commander, Major-General Russell, during the advance on Rome.

In Veroli Indian troops and Italian villagers do their ‘dhobi’ (laundry). An Indian soldier and a villager wring out a garment together. Indian troops ‘fraternise cordially’; one soldier shakes hands with villagers, another soldier (a Pathan or Pashtun with thick moustache) bounces a baby in his arms; the baby doesn’t seem keen. Indian troops and villagers gathered around a jeep, which has clearly taken bullets through its windscreen. Universal carriers passing through a badly bombed street in Veroli. A Humber armoured car and a Stuart Kangaroo follow; these vehicles probably of 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers. Major-General Dudley Russell, commander 8th Indian Division, meets the commander of 6th Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles in Veroli. Russell consults a map with the battalion commander, then departs. A wounded man on a stretcher is carried into a building. Inside a bar that was formerly a fascist headquarters a Sikh jemadar washes with water from a soda fountain. Another examines an abandoned trumpet. A slightly tattered Union flag with King’s crown is flown from a balcony next to the flag of the Kingdom of Italy. Wideshot troops and villagers at laundry. Indian soldier washing himself. Indian troops (probably 1st Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry) passing through Castrocielo with spades and pick axes. They continue up a steep hillside track. Indian troops climb narrow stone steps. Men passing camera; some wear neutral expressions, others smile for the camera.

Notes

Veroli, in the Liri Valley, was cleared by 6th Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles on 2 June 1944. The dopesheet for this film is undated, but refers to General Russell visiting only a few hours after the occupation of Veroli, and so was probably shot on that day.

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.