WORLD PICTORIAL NEWS NO 244 [Main Title]

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

I. 'FASHIONS OF TODAY.' Fashion show displaying economy ideas, such as outfits which may be adapted for different social occasions. Female models walk along a cat-walk wearing two piece floral pattern and polka-dot swimsuits.

II. 'LAST OF THE U-BOATS.' The disposal of surrendered German U-Boats. German submarines are shown berthed at Loch Ryan in Scotland. U-2361 is towed from the loch to its final resting place in open sea (North Channel ?). HMS Southdown fires its 4-inch gun at a drifting U-boat, hitting it on its conning tower and eventually sinking it. Royal Navy (RN) personnel wire explosive charges that are used to destroy U-2361, which explodes and sinks in short order.

III. 'MIDGET CAR RACE.' Film coverage of a popular motor speedway tournament held in Sydney. International speedway star, Bill Reynolds drives a rocket-powered Midget car as large civilian crowds look on. Brief footage shows competitors engaged in a race around the speedway dirt-track, with much dust being raised as the cars corner the track.

IV. 'WE MUST REMEMBER.' A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Consolidated Catalina amphibian aircraft overflies the camera position on the last stage of its prisoner repatriation operation. RAAF seaplane tender 011-99 returns to a quayside loaded with returnee Australian soldiers, who were recently prisoners of the Japanese. Very happy returnees greet their loved ones on the quayside. Double and single deck buses carry men of the Australian 8th Division. A bus carries a banner that reads "8th Div AIF - Prisoners of War from Singapore." An Australian soldier kisses his mother prior to enjoying his first home-cooked meal since his release from a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Film footage taken just after the liberation of Changi Prison in Singapore shows emaciated Allied prisoners smoking and chatting as they lie on makeshift beds in an overcrowded dormitory. A group of bare chested and emaciated Allied prisoners play cards at a wooden table. Smiling prisoners queue for food and enjoy warm showers after liberation. Allied prisoners of war proudly show off homemade shoes and musical instruments. A former Changi prisoner shows how radio sets were concealed in table legs and in the hollow head of a broom. The commentary points out that execution was the Japanese penalty for prisoners caught with proscribed radio sets.

35mm