Description
Object description
A military training film covering the journey of a box of ammunition from the drawing board to the front and the care required in transportation at all levels. It demonstrates the dangers of careless handling during transportation emphasising that the lives of fighting men depend on the proper functioning of the ammunition.
Full description
(Reel 1) Library shots of falling, burning buildings; tanks; gunners; mortars and grenades. Planning details of ammunition showing blueprints; then women filling, packing and labelling grenades with great care. Proceeds to follow a box of hand grenades marked with a white cross from the factory to the front including diagrammatic representation of the journey. Emphasises protection from weather and gentle handling to avoid wastage of resources if damaged ammunition has to be returned to the factory ie trucks, space, time, labour. Shots of a woman buying savings certificates instead of a frivolous hat in the shop opposite.
Content description
(Reel 2) Danger of stacking ammunition boxes too high, covering with a tarpaulin to protect from both rain and sun damage. Treat ammunition boxes with more care than a crate of beer. Don't smoke near a truck loaded with ammunition. Reiterates wastage of resources when mistreating ammunition backed up with shots of repair factory. Damaged ammunition is the neglect of many men in the chain of delivery not just one - remember your life depends on clean dry ammunition and Heinkels deserve the best - see they get it! Damaged rounds are compared with ordinary rounds. Parallels are drawn with buying fireworks in peacetime - dramatised sequence of dad and two children buying fireworks, going home and putting them in a bath full of water to keep them "safe". Library shots of battles. Dramatised sequence of Smith vs Schmidt on the battlefield, as Smith's grenade was treated carelessly all down the line it doesn't explode on impact and he dies as Schmidt's grenade explodes. A final poignant image of Smith's injured hand reaching into the ammunition box.
Physical description
35mm