Airborne Related Videos Found On British Pathé

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by Cee, Nov 17, 2012.

  1. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Wandering through the British Pathé site recently I came across a few videos that may be of interest to members that haven't seen them before. Unfortunately they can't be embedded.

    The first are cuts from the video "We Crossed the Rhine" some of which weren't used in the finished newsreel. I was actually looking for glider liftoffs from Earls Colne on Op Varsity attended by Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder.

    Varsity Cuts - INVASION AIRCRAFT - British Pathé



    Field Marshall Montgomery presents medals at L'Ecarde Quarry, Amfreville 16th July 1944.

    Montgomery Decorates Troops 1944 - British Pathé



    A panoramic shot of Gliders on LZ taken by Sgt. Ian Grant, AFPU, June 15 1944 beginning at 1:32 . I'm not sure if the scenes immediately following are his also, some of which could be of the 1st Special Service Brigade to whom he was attached at the time.

    Troops In France 1944 - British Pathe



    Regards ... :)

    Edit: Added YouTube version.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
  2. Sussex by the Sea

    Sussex by the Sea Senior Member

    What uniform was Churchill wearing in 'We crossed the Rhine'?
     
  3. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Sussex,

    I don't know, but the PM's crossing of the Rhine was well documented. There was a good deal of concern for Churchill's safety at the time despite his carefree attitude.

    I'll add onto this thread with other lesser known Airborne videos found on British Pathé that strike my interest in the coming days and I invite you all to do likewise.

    Cheers ...
     

    Attached Files:

  4. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    What uniform was Churchill wearing in 'We crossed the Rhine'?

    Don't know really, but I do know that he often wore a Royal Sussex uniform as, I understand, he was Hon Colonel of the Cingue Ports Volunteers.

    Chris
     
    Owen likes this.
  5. Theobob

    Theobob Senior Member

    Thanks Cee,
    Another great find!
    Rob
     
  6. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    Cee

    Brilliant find!

    If the filming was from one airfield then it's Woodbridge, because of the Hamilcars. They were Serial B16. The Horsas were Serial B15 and carried 4th A/L Anti-Tank Bty RA.

    The Hamilcar in the 'out takes' clip is Chalk 271 flown by S/Sgt Denis Cason & Sgt Ray Jenkins; it carried a 716 Company RASC Bren carrier and its crew of four. Cason recalls his experience with the crew’s officer, a major:
    He had never been in a glider before. I remember he came over to us to introduce himself, and he asked me if this was my first trip.When I replied, “It’s my fourth,” his face lit up and he returned to his men.“We’re all right, lads,” I heard him say,“It’s his fourth op.”

    Steve W.
     
  7. teletypeman

    teletypeman Senior Member

    Good find Pal. I'll have to watch them at work. My home internet service is too slow to watch movies. I'll give them a view tomorrow.
    Ttyman
     
  8. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Cee

    Brilliant find!

    If the filming was from one airfield then it's Woodbridge, because of the Hamilcars. They were Serial B16. The Horsas were Serial B15 and carried 4th A/L Anti-Tank Bty RA.

    The Hamilcar in the 'out takes' clip is Chalk 271 flown by S/Sgt Denis Cason & Sgt Ray Jenkins; it carried a 716 Company RASC Bren carrier and its crew of four. Cason recalls his experience with the crew’s officer, a major:
    He had never been in a glider before. I remember he came over to us to introduce himself, and he asked me if this was my first trip.When I replied, “It’s my fourth,” his face lit up and he returned to his men.“We’re all right, lads,” I heard him say,“It’s his fourth op.”

    Steve W.

    Steve,

    Thanks for the identification and the great anecdote. Lindsay was looking at the video and suggested there was a Horsa that rolled by in one of the early morning (?) shots with a Chalk 127 on it. I'll attach an enlargement and let you decide if it's clear enough. The script itself is somewhat distinctive. The top of the 7, if that is what it is, has a definite curl.

    Interestingly there's quite a crowd on the other side of the runway to witness the take-offs.

    Regards ...
     

    Attached Files:

  9. matchbox

    matchbox Junior Member

    Bit of a pick 'n mix with the airfields. Horsa C/No 127 with RUR took off from Rivenhall towed by Stirling 8E-J ( Jig ) LK137 295 Sqn. Aircraft was subsequently hit by AA fire and crashed Kervenheim, Germany.
    The aircraft is erroneously recorded as LK136 in the squadron ORB. Another interesting omission ? in the squadron ORB is Stirling 8E-S (Sugar ) LK439 also contained in the footage.
     
  10. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    matchbox,

    I have a feeling we've down this road before as far as pick 'n mix goes ... :)

    Lindsay Aspin may never forgive me for quoting her directly but her findings via Steve Wright accord with yours.

    There were 8 Airfields used x Operation Varsity. Earls Colne, Great Dunmow, Matching, Rivenhall, Shepherds Grove, Woodbridge, Birch and Gosfield. As Horsa Chalk No.127 flew across my screen I rushed upstairs and got Steve Wright's book out! Chalk No.127 left from Rivenhall Airfield, GPR 'A' Squadron, carrying 1st RUR (combination 11 x Horsa Gliders Chalk Nos. 121-131 destined for LZU - towed up by RAF 295/570 Squadrons x Stirling aircraft).
    I am intrigued by the downing of the aircraft by AA fire.

    But it's beddy times for this chappy ... night all.
     
  11. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  12. matchbox

    matchbox Junior Member

    matchbox,

    I have a feeling we've down this road before as far as pick 'n mix goes ... :)

    Lindsay Aspin may never forgive me for quoting her directly but her findings via Steve Wright accord with yours.

    I am intrigued by the downing of the aircraft by AA fire.

    But it's beddy times for this chappy ... night all.

    the long and winding road leads to .......................................you can't bit the old ones. The accident card records this Stirling as being badly damaged by enemy AA fire. The pilot, Warrant Officer Horace Albert Symmons, 27 ordered his crew to bale out whilst he retained control. Several parachutes were seen to open safely. The only fatality was WO Symmons.
     
  13. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    Steve,

    Thanks for the identification and the great anecdote. Lindsay was looking at the video and suggested there was a Horsa that rolled by in one of the early morning (?) shots with a Chalk 127 on it. I'll attach an enlargement and let you decide if it's clear enough. The script itself is somewhat distinctive. The top of the 7, if that is what it is, has a definite curl.

    Interestingly there's quite a crowd on the other side of the runway to witness the take-offs.

    Regards ...

    Lindsay's got very sharp eyes! I really struggled, but couldn't make out any Horsa CNs.

    Steve W.
     
  14. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    the long and winding road leads to .......................................you can't bit the old ones. The accident card records this Stirling as being badly damaged by enemy AA fire. The pilot, Warrant Officer Horace Albert Symmons, 27 ordered his crew to bale out whilst he retained control. Several parachutes were seen to open safely. The only fatality was WO Symmons.

    I'm guessing the aircraft was hit on the east side of the Rhine and WO Symmons managed to coax her back to the west side. So his crew would have been picked up by Allied troops.

    Steve W.
     
  15. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    the long and winding road leads to .......................................you can't bit the old ones. The accident card records this Stirling as being badly damaged by enemy AA fire. The pilot, Warrant Officer Horace Albert Symmons, 27 ordered his crew to bale out whilst he retained control. Several parachutes were seen to open safely. The only fatality was WO Symmons.

    Thanks matchbox,

    It's always great when after making an ID we can learn the details of what became of these glider/tug combos. I'm curious since you appear to have documentation and a fair amount of knowledge in this area would you have anything specific on Chalk 153 out of Earls Colne for Op Varsity.

    See here for more detail:

    Operation Varsity 24.03.45. - Earls Colne Airfield - Discovery of WW2 Letters

    I think Lindsay is almost there, but is looking for that extra bit of confirmation. On the remote chance you have something to add posting in that thread would be the better choice.

    Thanks so much ...

    And thanks Wills for your usual on the mark context material.

    Regards ...
     
  16. matchbox

    matchbox Junior Member

    unfortunately my knowledge is limited to published and limited private sources so I cannot take any credit. unfortunately again, no gen on Horsa 153. I know the motto for the GPR is " nil impossibile " but matching up chalks / serial numbers to gliders and tugs is .............................! apart from the limited " after raid reports " darkness looms. It doesn't help as well when a GP records a duff serial number to a glider flown. It can be the case where a Miles Martinet was taken to Arnhem ! Mind you , given the circumstances, quite understandable.
     
  17. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Thanks matchbox. I knew it was a long shot, still I appreciate the bits you and Steve manage to pull up to fill in the story. You lost me on Miles Martinet though?

    Regards ...
     
  18. matchbox

    matchbox Junior Member

    In the past I have come across an incorrect entry of an aircraft / glider serial number in a GP's logbook. The serial number letters have been mixed up for whatever reason , so when on checking / cross referencing the number it turns out it relates to a totally different aircraft. Hope this clears up any questions,
    anon
     
  19. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Arnhem

    Some oldies but goodies for the Arnhem chaps ... :)

    In the later part of this film we see Major-General Urquhart speaking on camera after his return to Britain. Also included are several scenes of Arnhem Paras after their escape across the Rhine as narrated by Path cameraman Ken Gordon.

    British Troops Cross German Frontiers 1944 - Pathe



    Several scenes of British Paras returning to visit Dutch friends and view locations of the battle.

    Red Devils Revisit Arnhem 1945 - Pathe



    Two unnamed men who were captured at Arnhem tell of their experience as POWs. Is the date of 1943 given here wrong or are we looking at something else entirely ...?

    Interview With British Pows - Pathe



    Regards ...

    Edit: Added YouTube version
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
  20. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Wismar

    Brithm recently posted a number of images of the 6th Airborne in Wismar at war's end on his Twitter site and I was reminded of the Pathe videos showing the official meetings between the British and Soviets at both of their respective HQs on May 7th, 1945. I believe the Soviet HQ at the time was in the village of Kritzow just outside of Wismar. It's interesting to watch the worried looking interpreters in action. Great friendliness is apparent here, but it wasn't long after the relationship became a little chilly.

    Montgomery With Russians 1945 - Wismar - British Pathe



    Montgomery With Russians 1945 - Russian HQ - British Pathe




    Rokossovsky, Montgomery,  Gen. Panfilov -.jpg

    A bit off topic but Wismar was also the setting for F.W. Murnau's classic 1922 vampire tale, Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror. The city was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 2002.

    Regards ...

    Edit: Added YouTube version
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020

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