WITH OUR BOYS AT THE FRONT (second version) [Main]


View at www.iwm.org.uk
  • Year: 1918
  • Runtime: 12 mins
  • Description: The film's captions are outspoken and dramatic. "We are moving forward to Victory, and our soldiers are marching along the long road without faltering. We at home must set our teeth and have patience. What are our little hardships compared with those of the men out there ?" The film material itself has every appearance of being routine camp life and training exercises on Salisbury Plain rather than genuine Western Front material. It shows troops in a rest camp washing, officers talking, a corporal handing out mail, a man being shaved by the camp barber, a distribution of food from dixies, a pay parade, and a gasmask drill, all from various regiments. The training exercise shows soldiers entering a trench system, and resting after a "raid" with three men in German uniform, who share their food. British soldiers wearing gas capes return to their camp, and others rest beside or inside their tents. "One of our latest types of machine" is an FE2d bomber, introduced in the summer of 1916. The exercise continues with troops, described as "Guards", going over the top with no Artillery barrage and a tented camp visible behind them. Mark IV tanks move up the road as the exercise starts. Officers follow the action on a sand-tray model covered with flags. The film's message is entirely in its captions. "While they fight on and die over there, we over here live in peace. Yet there is grumbling: there are strikes! Is that right ? If the Hun won and came here our towns and villages would soon be like this:-" [film shows shell-damaged buildings] "The wily Hun, who sees Victory slipping from his grasp, is digging a fresh pit - a sham peace offer. However tempting are his offers, they are nothing but a trap. So let us tell him that WE WANT NO PLAUSIBLE POTSDAM PEACE."
    British propaganda film supposedly of the Western Front aimed at persuading the Home population to reject any German peace offer, Spring 1918.
  • Keywords: EFG1914 / World War I / British Army / training, British military - combat / operations, British military - routine / society, British military - hygiene / armour, British - tank: Tank Mark IV Male / armour, British - tank: Tank Mark IV Female / propaganda, British - inspirational / 31/3(41) / Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, 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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