GENERAL SIR MILES DEMPSEY VISITS SAIGON AND SURRENDER OF SWORDS BY FIELD MARSHAL COUNT TERAUCHI [Allocated Title]

Two-item film showing a visit to Saigon, capital of French Indo-China (Vietnam) by Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey, commander Allied Land Forces South East Asia, and Field Marshal Count Terauchi surrendering his ancestral swords to Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia.

Item 1: Dempsey steps down from an RAF Douglas Dakota transport aircraft and is greeted by Major-General Douglas Gracey (commander of 20th Indian Division) and a French officer. He inspects a guard of honour from 1st Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles and another of French colonial artillery. He gets into an open-topped staff car as a Gurkha bodyguard with Thompson submachine gun gets into the front seat. The motorcade leaves, with motorcycle outriders leading and the Dakota parked in the background. A Humber Armoured Car of 16th Light Cavalry passes. Two armoured cars cross a bridge towards camera with a lorry behind. The motorcade follows. Group walking along the docks in Saigon; parked vehicles and a berthed merchant ship can be seen behind.

Item 2: Mountbatten steps down from a Douglas Dakota, serial FL510 ('Sister Ann'), and is greeted by General Dempsey. He meets British and French officers before departing by staff car. Mountbatten descends the steps at the rear of Government House in Saigon; at the foot of the stairs stands Field Marshal Count Terauchi, the Japanese supreme commander in south east Asia, who salutes Mountbatten. Mountbatten speaking. Terauchi steps very unsteadily forwards, walking with a stick, and an aide carries a wooden case which contains one of Terauchi's swords. Terauchi presents the sword to Mountbatten and salutes. Terauchi surrenders a second sword. Terauchi walks unsteadily back to his place. Japanese officers salute. Mountbatten with attending naval officers. Wide shot; soldiers on the steps at attention. Series of close-ups showing a Sikh soldier (full beard and turban, of 8th Lahore Mountain Battery, 23rd Indian Mountain Regiment), a Rajput soldier (beret and moustache, of 16th Light Cavalry), a Punjabi soldier (bonnet and moustache, of the Indian Artillery), a Gurkha soldier (distinctive Gurkha slouch hat, clean shaven, of 3rd Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles) and a British soldier of 114th Field Regiment Royal Artillery. Indian officer wearing the patch of 20th Indian Division. Union flag flying. Series of shots showing Mountbatten talking to members of 114th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Mountbatten inspects a unit of Indian troops, and speaks to the soldier nearest the camera. Mountbatten at an airfield. Mountbatten poses with Major-General Gracey; Gracey appears to crack a joke with the Gurkha standing next to him. Mountbatten signs an autograph, possibly on a banknote.

35mm