Empire at War

The two defining global conflicts of the 20th century were not only fought for Britain’s Empire but by Britain’s Empire. From Indian troops on the front line in the Great War to West African troops serving in the jungles of Burma, these films document the often unseen contribution of imperial subjects to Britain’s war efforts. During World War Two, official film propaganda became an increasingly important means of disseminating information about the war to both British and colonial audiences. Armed Forces film units were established to gather film footage from the theatres of conflict, and unedited material shot by these army cameramen provides an intimate record of the Empire at war.  

 
 
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WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 161 (5/6/1944) (1944) enhanced entry

I. 'BURMA.' British Fourteenth Army M3 Stuart light tanks and soft-skinned vehicles drive along a jungle track during the fighting ...

WELFARE WITH ITS FINGER OUT (2/1944)

WELFARE WITH ITS FINGER OUT (2/1944) (1944)has video enhanced entry

Film presumably intended for distribution in RAF camp cinemas in India and Burma illustrates the work done by ...

 

AFRICA'S FIGHTING MEN (1943)has video enhanced entry

An illustration of the role of African servicemen in the Second World War. The King's African Rifles and the Royal ...

MALTA GC

MALTA GC (1943)has video enhanced entry

Film about the Axis air offensive against Malta.

British supply effort, upon which the island is dependent, is rendered ...

 

AIR FORCE AND JAPS DOWNED, BURMA, 30 JANUARY 1942 (1942) enhanced entry

Burma, 30 January 1942. American Volunteer Group (AVG), Two Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighter aircraft warming up for take-off on a ...

 

BRITISH PARAMOUNT NEWS ISSUE 1173 (1942) enhanced entry

British newsreel covering the British retreat through Burma, an exclusive report by British Paramount cameraman Maurice Ford.

Opening titles ...

 

MARCH OF TIME 8TH YEAR NO. 2 (1942) enhanced entry

The Indian contribution to the war effort.

Titles. Long lines of Indian troops advancing towards camera. A busy Indian street, ...

 

the BATTLE FOR FREEDOM (1942) enhanced entry

The world in the 3rd year of war - a mixture of caution ("Today our world faces its ...

 

UNIVERSAL NEWS (1942) enhanced entry

I. "News from Ceylon." Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, Commander-in-Chief of Ceylon, and Sir Henry Turnbull, Officer in Command, are escorted ...

WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 51 (20/4/42)

WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 51 (20/4/42) (1942)has video enhanced entry

India.

A map of India shows the provinces, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea. The commentary introduces this ...

ALERT IN THE EAST

ALERT IN THE EAST (1941)has video enhanced entry

A survey of the strategic situation of the British Empire in the Far East in the face of ...

 

ARMS FROM INDIA (1941) enhanced entry

A survey of the involvement of India's Home Front in the war effort.

An opening sequence of blackout, ARP ...

BELMONT SCHOOL GOES TO NASSAU BAHAMAS

BELMONT SCHOOL GOES TO NASSAU BAHAMAS (1941)has video enhanced entry

Amateur film shot by a local Bahamian cameraman records the life in the Bahamas of the twenty English evacuee schoolboys ...

 

CYPRUS GOES TO WAR (1941) enhanced entry

Mules on Mount Olympus. Scottish soldiers eating at Othello's Tower at Famagusta, Cyprus. Soldiers cheering. Local farmers employing traditional farming ...

 

DEFENDERS OF INDIA (1941) enhanced entry

A tribute to the Indian troops who had fought in the Libyan campaign.

Over film of Indian troops marching ...

INDIA MARCHES

INDIA MARCHES (1941)has video enhanced entry

A brief look at an Indian Army Regiment (15th Punjab).

Material includes reveill; arms drill; bayonet practice; signals training ...

 

NEWFOUNDLANDERS AT WAR (1941) enhanced entry

A picture of the contribution made to Britain's war effort by people from Newfoundland.

The film, which has throughout ...

the EMPIRE MARCHES

the EMPIRE MARCHES (1941)has video enhanced entry

A picture, early in the war, of the armed solidarity of the British Empire.

The film serves to illustrate ...

 

the HANDYMEN (1941) enhanced entry

The work and training of the (Royal Bombay) Sappers and Miners; film stresses the military importance of their ...

WAR CAME TO KENYA

WAR CAME TO KENYA (1941)has video enhanced entry

Kenya's first two years of war.

Opens with establishing shots - Mount Kenya, wild-life, black schoolchildren, white settlers; maps ...

FOOD FROM THE EMPIRE

FOOD FROM THE EMPIRE (1940)has video enhanced entry

Film showing the food contributions supplied to Britain by various colonies and dominions.

Although more land has been given ...

 

HE'S IN THE NAVY (1940) enhanced entry

Film showing what happens when a boy joins the Royal Indian Navy.

Footage of India's coastline is used as ...

 

PLANES OF HINDUSTAN (1940) enhanced entry

Documentary on life in the Indian Air Force (IAF) culminates with a plea to Indian audience for more ...

 

WARWICKSHIRE YEOMANRY IN PALESTINE (1939) enhanced entry

(Reel 1) A soldier in uniform stands in heavily frosted yard. View of white cliffs, from ship (Troopship Vienna?) leaving ...