For info for those of you who are interested, i had long heard only rumours for many years second and third hand that this film of the 59th Nfld Heavy Regiment actually even existed! Held at the IWM in London.
Can anybody tell me the possible German units they would have been engaging?
Best,
Pete
<TABLE class=tblResultsbgColor cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Film Number:
A70 114-1
</TD><TD>
</TD><TD>Film Title: [AMMUNITION FOR THE GUNS (PART 1)] [main, allocated] </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=3></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Production Date: 3/8/1944
</TD><TD>Production Country:
GB
</TD><TD>Production Sponsor: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office
</TD><TD>Production Company:
Army Film and Photographic Unit
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>A 2nd Army RASC unit keeps a 3rd AGRA regiment supplied with ammunition.
The cameraman surveys the activity at No. 15 Beach Ammunition Dump outside Bayeux (?) where Dodge and Bedford OY lorries from various RASC units are seen collecting ammunition; among the signboards on display is one banning smoking. Stockpiles of 7.2 inch shells are seen awaiting collection and being checked for issue by RASC or RAOC shoremen. 'Redcap' motorcyclists escort a convoy of Dodge ammunition lorries belonging to No. 1665 Platoon in an unspecified RASC ammunition company to the gun lines of 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA near the Caen Fontenay-le-Pesnel road north of Cheux. Gunners unload 7.2 inch projectiles and bagged charge crates from one of the lorries. A Scammell Pioneer tractor belonging to the heavy regiment arrives at the gun lines and reverses its 7.2 inch gun howitzer into a firing emplacement. Members of the ten man detachment prepare the gun for action and prime shells for firing. The gun bombards German positions opposite 12th Corps' section; note the force of the recoil, driving the gun carriage back onto the large wheel chocks. Notes:
Note: See generally with footage showing medium and heavy Royal Artillery regiments in action in Normandy and supplies being brought ashore and stockpiled in the Army roadheads in the British sector of the beach-head, notably A70 55-2, 57-3 and 70-1. 6-15 BAD formed the nucleus of the ammunition dumps in No. 2 Army Roadhead on taking over No. 104 Beach Sub-Area's dump on June 18th 1944.
Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with A70 114-2, which contains complementary virtually identified footage, and with the items of ciné material listed above.
Documentation/associated material: for a bibliography, refer to the publications listed in A70 40-6
References: dopesheet shotsheet
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tblResultsbgColor cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Film Number:
A70 114-2
</TD><TD></TD><TD>Film Title: [AMMUNITION FOR THE GUNS (PART 2)] [main, allocated] </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=3></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Production Date: 8/8/1944
</TD><TD>Production Country:
GB
</TD><TD>Production Sponsor: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office
</TD><TD>Production Company:
Army Film and Photographic Unit
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>A 3rd AGRA heavy artillery regiment supplied with ammunition by a 2nd Army RASC ammunition company goes into action with 12th Corps.
I. The cameraman surveys the activity at No. 15 Beach Ammunition Dump outside Bayeux; among the vehicles seen arriving to dump ammunition or leaving to deliver it elsewhere are Bedford OY and Mack EH lorries. A Dodge lorry arrives to collect ammunition and is loaded with 7.2 inch projectiles by two resident strongmen. Military policemen on motorcycles escort Dodge lorries from No. 1665 Platoon in a 2nd Army RASC ammunition company to the gun lines of the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA north of Cheux.
II. Members of a 7.2 inch gun detachment prepare for action by cleaning and priming projectiles, unpacking bagged propellant charges from their crates and manhandling the gun onto its target bearing.
III. The gun team put the recoil chocks back into the Scammell Pioneer tractor, couple the gun trail to the tractor's towing hook and set off for a new gun.
IV. The 7.2 inch gun is seen in action; note the force of the recoil and the obvious function of the large wheel chocks. Notes:
Note: This footage should have been assembled in the following order: Part (1), Part (2), Part (4), Part (3). The 3rd Army Group Royal Artillery, usually affiliated to 12th Corps, consisted of 6th Field, 13th, 59th, 67th and 72nd Medium and 59th Heavy Regiments RA and an RASC artillery company. The 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA was the only non-UK unit to serve in the British Army.
Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with A70 114-1, which contains complementary, virtually identical footage, and with the items of ciné material listed in the notes section of A70 114-1
Documentation/associated material: for a bibliography, refer to the publications listed in A70 49-6.
References: dopesheet shotsheet
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=2>Production Credits:
Watkins, R V (Sergeant): cameraman
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tblResultsbgColor cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Film Number:
A70 159-3
</TD><TD></TD><TD>Film Title: [HEAVY ARTILLERY IN ACTION WITH 12TH CORPS NEAR ANTWERP (PART 1)] [main, allocated] </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=3></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Production Date: 12/9/1944
</TD><TD>Production Country:
GB
</TD><TD>Production Sponsor: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office
</TD><TD>Production Company:
Army Film and Photographic Unit
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>The 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA in action outside Antwerp in support of 53rd (Welsh) Division's operations on the Albert Canal.
A nine-man detachment from the regiment's No. 23 Battery is seen preparing a 155mm "Long Tom" gun for action in a field at Borsbeek by removing branches and camouflage netting and placing a propellant charge in the breech. Two rounds are fired; two pulls at the firing lanyard to send the second shell on its way are seen to fail in their purpose. Note the cloud of dust raised by blast as each round is fired. Notes:
Note: See with A70 159-4, 5, 6, 161-5 and refer generally to footage showing 11th Armoured Division liberating Antwerp, 53rd (Welsh) Division's advance through northern France into Belgium and its crossing of the Meuse-Escaut Canal at Lommel. The 59th Heavy Regiment RA was attached to 3rd Army Group Royal Artillery, a formation normally attached to 12th Corps.
Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with the items of ciné material listed above, notably A70 159-4 which contains almost identical, complementary footage.
Documentation/associated material: read 'Battle for Antwerp' by J L Moulton, 'The History of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War' by C N Barclay, 2nd Army HQ's 'An Account of the Operations of 2nd Army in Europe 1944-1945 : Volume 1' and L F Ellis' 'Victory in the West : Volume 1'.
References: dopesheet shotsheet
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Can anybody tell me the possible German units they would have been engaging?
Best,
Pete
<TABLE class=tblResultsbgColor cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Film Number:
A70 114-1
</TD><TD>
</TD><TD>Film Title: [AMMUNITION FOR THE GUNS (PART 1)] [main, allocated] </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=3></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Production Date: 3/8/1944 </TD><TD>Production Country:
GB
</TD><TD>Production Sponsor: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office
</TD><TD>Production Company:
Army Film and Photographic Unit
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>A 2nd Army RASC unit keeps a 3rd AGRA regiment supplied with ammunition.The cameraman surveys the activity at No. 15 Beach Ammunition Dump outside Bayeux (?) where Dodge and Bedford OY lorries from various RASC units are seen collecting ammunition; among the signboards on display is one banning smoking. Stockpiles of 7.2 inch shells are seen awaiting collection and being checked for issue by RASC or RAOC shoremen. 'Redcap' motorcyclists escort a convoy of Dodge ammunition lorries belonging to No. 1665 Platoon in an unspecified RASC ammunition company to the gun lines of 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA near the Caen Fontenay-le-Pesnel road north of Cheux. Gunners unload 7.2 inch projectiles and bagged charge crates from one of the lorries. A Scammell Pioneer tractor belonging to the heavy regiment arrives at the gun lines and reverses its 7.2 inch gun howitzer into a firing emplacement. Members of the ten man detachment prepare the gun for action and prime shells for firing. The gun bombards German positions opposite 12th Corps' section; note the force of the recoil, driving the gun carriage back onto the large wheel chocks. Notes:
Note: See generally with footage showing medium and heavy Royal Artillery regiments in action in Normandy and supplies being brought ashore and stockpiled in the Army roadheads in the British sector of the beach-head, notably A70 55-2, 57-3 and 70-1. 6-15 BAD formed the nucleus of the ammunition dumps in No. 2 Army Roadhead on taking over No. 104 Beach Sub-Area's dump on June 18th 1944.
Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with A70 114-2, which contains complementary virtually identified footage, and with the items of ciné material listed above.
Documentation/associated material: for a bibliography, refer to the publications listed in A70 40-6
References: dopesheet shotsheet
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tblResultsbgColor cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Film Number:
A70 114-2
</TD><TD>
</TD><TD>Film Title: [AMMUNITION FOR THE GUNS (PART 2)] [main, allocated] </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=3></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Production Date: 8/8/1944 </TD><TD>Production Country:
GB
</TD><TD>Production Sponsor: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office
</TD><TD>Production Company:
Army Film and Photographic Unit
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>A 3rd AGRA heavy artillery regiment supplied with ammunition by a 2nd Army RASC ammunition company goes into action with 12th Corps.I. The cameraman surveys the activity at No. 15 Beach Ammunition Dump outside Bayeux; among the vehicles seen arriving to dump ammunition or leaving to deliver it elsewhere are Bedford OY and Mack EH lorries. A Dodge lorry arrives to collect ammunition and is loaded with 7.2 inch projectiles by two resident strongmen. Military policemen on motorcycles escort Dodge lorries from No. 1665 Platoon in a 2nd Army RASC ammunition company to the gun lines of the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA north of Cheux.
II. Members of a 7.2 inch gun detachment prepare for action by cleaning and priming projectiles, unpacking bagged propellant charges from their crates and manhandling the gun onto its target bearing.
III. The gun team put the recoil chocks back into the Scammell Pioneer tractor, couple the gun trail to the tractor's towing hook and set off for a new gun.
IV. The 7.2 inch gun is seen in action; note the force of the recoil and the obvious function of the large wheel chocks. Notes:
Note: This footage should have been assembled in the following order: Part (1), Part (2), Part (4), Part (3). The 3rd Army Group Royal Artillery, usually affiliated to 12th Corps, consisted of 6th Field, 13th, 59th, 67th and 72nd Medium and 59th Heavy Regiments RA and an RASC artillery company. The 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA was the only non-UK unit to serve in the British Army.
Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with A70 114-1, which contains complementary, virtually identical footage, and with the items of ciné material listed in the notes section of A70 114-1
Documentation/associated material: for a bibliography, refer to the publications listed in A70 49-6.
References: dopesheet shotsheet
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=2>Production Credits:Watkins, R V (Sergeant): cameraman
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tblResultsbgColor cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Film Number:
A70 159-3
</TD><TD>
</TD><TD>Film Title: [HEAVY ARTILLERY IN ACTION WITH 12TH CORPS NEAR ANTWERP (PART 1)] [main, allocated] </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=3></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD></TD><TD colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD>Production Date: 12/9/1944 </TD><TD>Production Country:
GB
</TD><TD>Production Sponsor: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office
</TD><TD>Production Company:
Army Film and Photographic Unit
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD background=/common/images/rule.jpg colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD colSpan=4>The 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment RA in action outside Antwerp in support of 53rd (Welsh) Division's operations on the Albert Canal.A nine-man detachment from the regiment's No. 23 Battery is seen preparing a 155mm "Long Tom" gun for action in a field at Borsbeek by removing branches and camouflage netting and placing a propellant charge in the breech. Two rounds are fired; two pulls at the firing lanyard to send the second shell on its way are seen to fail in their purpose. Note the cloud of dust raised by blast as each round is fired. Notes:
Note: See with A70 159-4, 5, 6, 161-5 and refer generally to footage showing 11th Armoured Division liberating Antwerp, 53rd (Welsh) Division's advance through northern France into Belgium and its crossing of the Meuse-Escaut Canal at Lommel. The 59th Heavy Regiment RA was attached to 3rd Army Group Royal Artillery, a formation normally attached to 12th Corps.
Remarks: Good footage. Best seen with the items of ciné material listed above, notably A70 159-4 which contains almost identical, complementary footage.
Documentation/associated material: read 'Battle for Antwerp' by J L Moulton, 'The History of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War' by C N Barclay, 2nd Army HQ's 'An Account of the Operations of 2nd Army in Europe 1944-1945 : Volume 1' and L F Ellis' 'Victory in the West : Volume 1'.
References: dopesheet shotsheet
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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