WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 17 [Main Title]

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

I. 'TRIPOLI BOMBARDED.' Views of British Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship HMS Barham at anchor in harbour. Illustrious Class aircraft carrier at sea launches a Fleet Air Arm Fairey Fulmar fighter by steam catapult. Various Views of the British Eastern Mediterranean Battle Fleet at sea, including a close-up of the Destroyer HMS Hereward (H33). Cut to the interior of a naval vessel as a Royal Navy officer calculates his ship's position on a navigation chart using a compass and rule. A close-up of the chart reveals the lay out of Tripoli harbour in detail. A Royal Navy gun crew stack ammunition in anticipation of the forthcoming attack. A smiling gunner dressed in white anti-flash overalls chalks "this'll make you whistle" on a shell. A Fleet Air Arm Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft overflies the Battle Fleet. Cut to a night scene as RAF aircraft drop illumination flares over Tripoli. The guns of the attacking British fleet fire a continuous barrage at the Italian held harbour. The item closes with views of the Royal Navy attacking force returning to their home port (Alexandria).

II. 'MASSAWA.' General views of the country around Massawa. Commentary states that these are the last pictures from Eritrea, as the campaign is drawing to its victorious conclusion. Captured Italian troops shelter from the sun under a bridge. Commentary explains that Asmara is the Italian's last line of defence in Eritrea, as such, the British give them the option of surrendering without bloodshed. A British staff officer, under cover of a white flag, goes to Massawa with the offer of surrender terms. He is met at an Italian road blockade by a Carabinieri officer and a conversation follows. Negotiations are continued as a blindfolded Italian naval officer returns to the British camp to apparently decline the invitation to surrender. A British artillery bombardment of Massawa follows. Cut to Italian infantry and naval personnel surrendering. British Universal carriers and trucks enter the town watched by the local populace. British soft skinned vehicles pass damaged Fiat heavy trucks. British troops inspect abandoned Italian equipment including a twin Breda 3.7cm flak gun. Views of burnt-out Italian M 11/39 medium tanks. Item closes with the Italian naval defenders of Massawa forming columns and being marched into British captivity.

III. 'LOFOTEN.' Arethusa Class cruiser on the North Sea. Naval lookouts with binoculars scan the sky for enemy aircraft. Internal view of a ship's lower deck as British Commandos stow hammocks and then exercise. Teams of Commandos practice stripping their Bren guns and changing barrels as Norwegian sailors and infantry look on. The commentary outlines the strategic and economic importance of the Lofoten islands to the German war effort as British naval officers check navigation maps. The Allied raiding force reaches Lofoten harbour and the infantry scale the harbour walls using ladders. No German resistance is encountered. A Norwegian flag is hoisted in the village by Norwegian infantry as the local populace watch on. British Commandos guard the telephone exchange armed with Thompson .45-in sub-machine guns with drum magazines (M1928 ?). British sappers set explosive charges in a fish oil refinery, which then explodes. Barrels of fish oil are punctured and rolled into harbour as black smoke from the explosion hangs low on the horizon. German officers and Norwegian collaborators are led at gunpoint through the village to waiting LCA landing craft. Norwegian civilian speaks through loudspeaker, asking for volunteers to return to Britain with the raiding party. A series of large explosions follow. Blindfolded German officer is led to a waiting landing craft as Norwegian civilians cram its decks. LCA landing craft leave the harbour and return to the waiting Royal Navy ships. Item closes with a Royal Navy ensign fluttering in the wind.

35mm