TOPICAL BUDGET 248-2 [Main]


View at www.iwm.org.uk
  • Year: 1916
  • Runtime: 3 mins
  • Description: I. 'BALKAN REFUGEES. Turk, Bulgar and Greek refugees seeking work, are examined and photographed before receiving their pass.' Two British soldiers manhandle dishevelled refugees into line. Each man holds a chit which is checked by one of two officers sitting at a desk set up in the open air. The refugees are then photographed. To oblige the film-maker, a soldier grasps the head of one of the refugees before the photographer and twists it to face the ciné camera - the man's expression remains impassive. The soldier smiles.II. 'MESSAGES FOR THE GERMANS. French Artillery men stacking shells before dispatching them to the Germans.' LS pan over medium calibre artillery shells piled in an open air dump. Soldiers walk past each carrying a shell over his shoulder to stack them on top of the others.III. 'THE BLIND FIDDLER. Heroes who have lost their sight in the service of the Country, dance with their nurses with a courage that defies affliction.' In the open air nurses and men waltz to the music of a solo violinist. The men are in a mixture of military and civilian dress - one is still bandaged about the eyes. The dance floor becomes more crowded, with two men sometimes dancing together. Under the circumstances there is surprisingly little confusion.IV. 'EMPIRE DAY. London School Children celebrate the First Official Empire Day. Wounded Australian and Canadian soldiers watching the Ceremony.' A column of very small children is dragooned on the playground by their teachers - most are holding small Union Jacks. The children wave their flags and cadet corps salutes as wounded veterans - one on crutches - enter the school yard. Generally the veterans seem amused. Civic dignitaries follow the soldiers. 'SALUTING THE FLAG AS THEY MARCH PAST' LS as the cadets march past - they have been carefully arranged with the tallest boys on the outside and the smallest near the centre so that each rank appears as a shallow V. After the first two ranks, the boys wear school rather than military uniform. A small girl offers veterans cigars from a box. LA of Union Jack fluttering in the breeze.
    I. The British Army takes on Balkan refugees as labourers in Salonika.II. French soldiers stack shells.III. Entertainment for blinded soldiers.IV. Convalescent soldiers from Australia and Canada watch school children celebrate Empire Day.
  • Keywords: EFG1914 / World War I / British Army / French Army, [artillery] / refugees, Greek - reception / supplies, French, storage [RA] - munitions / medical, British military - long term: blind ex-servicemen / recreation, British military - dance / celebrations, British - popular: Empire Day / Greece & Salonika, Macedonia / France / World War, 1914-1918 -- France / GB, England / London, England, UK / camera / World War, 1914-1918 -- Motion pictures and the war / Children / Children and war
  • 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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