20TH INDIAN DIVISION TRAINING, AND CONCERT PARTY FOR INDIAN SOLDIERS [Allocated Title]

Somewhere in India, troops of 20th Indian Division train in jungle warfare, and a concert party is staged for Indian troops' entertainment.

In a forest an Indian officer, wearing the 'sword' patch of 20th Indian Division, stands by a tree with his map. A soldier kneels behind him. He gestures to the soldier who runs back through the forest. More soldiers, non-commissioned or Viceroy's commissioned officers (NCOs/VCOs), join the officer. He indicates something on his map with close-up (details not legible). His subordinates go back. One of them, a VCO, gestures and is joined by his NCOs and he points something out. An Indian soldier fires a two-inch mortar. A smokescreen spreads on the far side of a small river with shingle banks. Indian troops advance across the river at a walk before sprinting into the tall grass on the far side. The officer seen earlier crosses the river. Soldiers charging across the river (towards camera); the sun is bright and shines on the water as they splash across. Troops running away from camera through long grass and into a treeline. Troops patrolling cautiously through forest with dappled light. Two soldiers emerge from a treeline near a river; one falls as if shot and the other bolts back into the trees. The officer looks out with his binoculars. The river. An Indian soldier firing a Bren gun. Brief snatch of a shot showing soldier loading a two-inch mortar. Ambiguous shot; three British soldiers by a jeep on a track. Various shots of a concert party for Indian troops, featuring female dancers and male comics, some humorous sketches and musicians. The venue appears to be a temporary stage (decorated with a design of a crown with crossed spade and pick axe (suggesting Sappers and Miners?) and rifle) in a village and some children are present. A formation badge is seen, possibly that of HQ Lines of Communication Command (of South East Asia Command).

35mm