WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 98 [Main Title]

An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.

I. 'CANADA.' Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel march across a snow covered parade ground at an undisclosed airfield near Ottawa offering flying training under the Empire Air Training Scheme agreements. A snow-clearing vehicle uses an air-blower to clear snow covered runways prior to the commencement of flying training. A caterpillar tractor tows a blade-roller system to smooth the runway's surface, driving past a chocked de Havilland Tiger Moth training aircraft (ski undercarriage). Training scheme participants indulge in a spot of snowballing on the flight-line prior to climbing into their training aircraft. A flying instructor and his pupil climb into a Harvard, start its engine and taxi the aircraft past hangar buildings. Royal Air Force flying training graduates receive their brevets (wings) at a passing out ceremony at RCAF Uplands near the Federal Capital.

II. 'GREEK NAVY. Ratings of the Royal Hellenic Navy stand to attention prior to an inspection by a Rear-Admiral (Yponavarkhos). The commentary describes the Greek sailors as "men whose courage has never faltered and whose faith in the Allied cause has remained unshaken. A Greek Orthodox priest conducts a religious ceremony on the deck of an unidentified destroyer (Navarinon ?), attended by officers and men. The role of the Royal Hellenic Navy in providing minesweeping and convoy escort duties is highlighted over views of Greek ratings painting various parts of a ship. Greek ratings stand ready with an Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun as they scan the sky in search of enemy aircraft. Officers and men of the Royal Hellenic Navy unwind by participating in a session of traditional Greek dancing.

III. 'ATS SEWING SCHOOL.' A humorous item introducing the impromptu sewing classes given by the ladies of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) to members of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) on the banks of the Nile River. Sewing instructors and pupils pair off, the men of the RASC having more than cross-stitching on their minds.

IV. 'RUSSIA.' Russian sentries patrol in snow armed with Vintovka obr 1891/30g 7.62 rifles near a static armoured train in the Northern sector of the Russian battle front. A pipe smoking Russian officer gives a briefing in the interior of the armoured train. The armoured train moves off through scenes of snow covered steppe and ruined industrial areas. Russian infantry ride on open flat-cars armed with Karabin obr 1938g 7.62mm rifles and Pistolet Pulemyot Degtyarova obr 1934/38g 7.62mm sub-machine guns. Having reached an area of enemy activity the train stops to allow infantry to disembark. Russian infantry dressed in white camouflage smocks cross railway track and move towards open ground supported by fire from a Stankovy Pulemyot Maksima obr 1910g 7.92mm heavy machine gun. Panoramic views show German soft-skinned vehicles and PzKpfw II and III tanks abandoned during the fighting on the Stalingrad front. Four Marder III Ausf H tank destroyers (rear-mounted engine) lie knocked out in open country. Russian troops inspect an abandoned PzKpfw III tank of the German Panzerdivision 14. On closer inspection of the tank's stowage bins, a Russian infantryman finds a pair of felt overboots which he puts on, causing much amusement to his gathered comrades. Stock shot footage shows Petlyakov Pe2 bomber aircraft overflying snow-covered terrain and dropping bombs on a forested area. Russian T-34/76D tanks drive forwards supported by "tank descent" infantry armed with Pistolet Pulemyot Shpagina obr 1941g 7.62mm sub-machine guns and Samozaryadny Pistolet Tula-Tokareva obr 1930g 7.62mm automatic pistols. The commentary points out that the Soviet forces are remorselessly driving the legions of Hitler back along the very road trodden by Napoleon's defeated army over a century ago.

35mm