WAR OFFICE OFFICIAL TOPICAL BUDGET 316-1 [Main]


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  • Year: 1917
  • Runtime: 3 mins
  • Description: I. MS of group posed for the camera - Amelie is a tall woman, taller than the two civic dignitaries who stand to either side. The ex-Queen inspects the Guides (they are very young - Brownies ?). A small boy in a white sailor suit presents a bouquet to the Queen, then immediately skips off - Amelie smiles broadly. The Queen seated at a small table - the small boy re-enters and embraces her, which favour she returns before he runs off again. Cut to Queen presenting a badge to a girl and inspecting a line of diminutive Guides.II. 'GORIZIA. Where the Austrians made a stubborn resistance against the Italian advance.' Pan over a damaged street front. A deserted square - a few Italian soldiers move about, one wearing a Red Cross armband. LS to an upper storey room revealed by the collapse of the front wall of a building - the wallpaper and the pictures on the wall still apparently pristine. MS of barbed-wire entanglements defending a building, and CU of an entrance fortified by sandbags and loopholes.III. 'GENERAL Pétain. The famous French General reviews the 201st Infantry Regiment who took part in the July attack in Flanders.' Rear 3/4 view of Pétain and another general officer as the Regiment passes in review. MS of the troops - they do not march in very good order. One of the soldiers is startlingly small.IV. 'HANDICAPPED WAR HEROES. Australasian legless soldiers participate in sports. Much amusement is caused by the hairdressing contest.' Five Australian soldiers demonstrate their prosthetic dexterity by lying flat on the grass - the first man down lies on his back, the rest on their stomachs, so the odd man gets back on his knees and lies down in the correct posture before all stand again. A one-legged soldier executes a jump - in fact three energetic hops ending in a controlled crouch. His finishing position is marked against that of previous contestants. Soldiers stand in a line, their trousers rolled up to show their artificial limbs. Women and young girls sit in a row while soldiers stand behind them dressing their hair - plaiting it and pinning up the braid. MS of one of the girls, her head inclined forward, her hand held up to her shoulder, the palm bent backwards. As the soldier dresses her hair he takes pins from her hand - she giggles appealingly as the work proceeds.V. 'HONOUR FOR MR. LLOYD GEORGE. The Premier receives the freedom of the city at Birkenhead.' Lloyd George poses seated with a group which includes his wife Margaret and daughter Megan. He poses standing with two men from the group (possibly the two aldermen who proposed him, G A Solly and R J Russell). Cut to LS along fenced walkway lined with police - Lloyd George walks along briskly (rather incongruously he is holding a bouquet), acknowledging the cheers of the public who wave to him from either side of the path. The rest of the party follow.
    I. 'EX-QUEEN AMELIE. The Ex-Queen of Portugal inspects and presents badges to Richmond Girl Guides, afterwards being presented with a bouquet.'II. Pictures of Gorizia after the city had fallen to the Italians.III. General Pétain inspects the 201st Infantry Regiment.IV. Australian soldiers who have had limbs amputated participate in sports.V. Lloyd George is given the freedom of Birkenhead.
  • Keywords: EFG1914 / World War I / Amelie, Queen of Portugal / Petain, Philippe / Lloyd George, David / Lloyd George, Margaret / Lloyd George, Megan / Girl Guides, Richmond District / Royal Italian Army / French Army, Infantry Regt 201 / Australian Army / delegations, Portuguese international - goodwill: ex-Queen Amelie visits Richmond Girl Guides / administration, Italian - occupation: Gorizia / ceremonies, British - event-related: freedom of the city (Lloyd George) / ceremonies, French - display: review of troops / defences, Austrian - passive: [captured] / delegations, French national - military: Petain visits French troops / destruction, Austrian military - area / equipment, Australian military - personal: artificial limbs / medical, Australian military - long term: rehabilitation of amputees / recreation, Australian military - sport / society, Australian military - hygiene: hairdressing / society, British - friendship / Richmond, Surrey, England, UK / Italy & Gorizia, Friuli / France / World War, 1914-1918 -- France / Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK
  • Provider: Imperial War Museums
  • Rights: In Copyright / Imperial War Museums
  • Production company: Topical Film Company
  • Colour: Black & White
  • Sound: Without sound

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