In Reel 1, British troops debark from transport boats in France while New Zealanders board the train for the front. Devonshire infantry, artillery, Cavalry, and tanks advance, and Norfolk troops and Indian Lancers await orders. Irish Guards and Grenadiers advance. The Gordons spread barbed wire, and 6-inch guns are positioned. A 12-inch naval gun fires. A tank advances under fire.
In Reel 2, mules carry water to artillerymen. Trench mortars blast German barbed wire, and Fusiliers enter trenches. Cold-stream and Welsh guards take up positions and scaling ladders are prepared. South Africans raid German trenches and return with prisoners, and the Liverpool infantry advances. Supplies are issued at the front. London troops go over the top.
In Reel 3, German shells land in a village, and artillery pounds German trenches. British planes reconnoiter and antiaircraft fire drives off German planes. A 6-inch howitzer is camouflaged. Ammunition is moved by pontoons on the Scarpe River. Tanks and machine gun units move into the lines. The Royal Sussex, Durham, and North Hant units move up.
Reel 4 shows London Irish returning to a rest camp. Essex engineers repair bridges and roads. President Poincaré visits a recaptured village and the 10th Hussars arrive in Arras. Gordons celebrate the arrival of a train and Roye is entered. Captured emplacements and guns are shown. Tanks are cleaned and repaired and take up positions and British planes return.
In Reel 5, German prisoners carry wounded, who are brought to the rear.
In Reel 6, German dead are inspected in rubbled Monchy. Middlesex infantry and Indian cavalry encamp near the Somme, and an observation balloon is berthed. British planes reconnoiter and German shells land in Arras. This reel shows masses of prisoners and equipment.
Reel 7 shows roads being repaired and bridges being erected. Artillery bombards the Hindenburg Line. German trenches are occupied by Royal West Kents, and villages are liberated.
You can also watch this video in our main National Archives online catalog.
