Description
Object description
British Army reception for local dignitaries to mark the end of Ramadan. Land Rover patrol activities ca 27 November. Delivery of gifts to schools in Umm Qasr.
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START 00:00:00 Bars.
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00:00:45 Views from high elevation of VIP reception inside Basra Palace to mark the end of Ramadan, November 2003; soldiers and people of various nationalities (Arabic and European) mingle.
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00:03:11 Places are set in large dining hall adjacent as the reception continues on the other side of a partition.
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00:04:50 Close-ups of the elaborate ceiling decorations in the palace.
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00:05:44 Piper "Massie" stands ready to play as guests prepare for dinner
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00:06:20 Greeting by senior officer (through interpreter) to guests, including the governor.
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00:14:53 Piper plays as guests go in to dinner.
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00:16:47 Formal dinner views.
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00:17:18 General views of soldier on top cover of WMIK Land Rover on patrol. He loads his SA80 gun with a new magazine. Desert road stretches out in front
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00:18:36 Iraqi citizens sit by roadside near convoy of vehicles; atmosphere is informal, and some wave at the camera.
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00:18:58 Group sat on the road behind an army truck with British soldiers; again, they wave at the camera and smile. Extended scenes of military vehicles (including WMIK Land Rovers) parked by the roadside; an ambulance is also seen. Shots are quite static. Twilight begins to descend and headlights are illuminated Iraqi civilians cheer at one point.
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00:27:14 View from moving convoy (100 Pioneer Squadron) driving out through the fortified entrance to British base at Umm Qasr port delivering gifts to local children. Convoy on the road.
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00:31:08 Exterior of local school building in Umm Qasr; truck is reversed to the gate of the small compound "Welcome" sign. Inside, Captain Andy Sturt (head of 45 Signal Squadron's "Tiger Team") talks to head teacher through interpreter.
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00:32:36 Boxes with gifts for children are unloaded from the truck. Local man playfully strokes the bald head of one of the soldiers. Other soldiers keep watch outside, and shake hands with children.
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00:33:39 Inside the yard of the compound, small children play on a swing, one of the gifts delivered. They smile and pose for the camera.
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00:35:53 Interview with soldier; he describes the situation. (It turns out that there are two schools in the area - after visiting this school they will be visiting the other one across the road to ensure that all the children are catered for.)
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00:36:36 Close-ups of school building and of truck. Boxes of shoes are carried in. Children line up to receive packages. They wave happily for the camera.
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00:42:35 Interview with Sergeant Major Stephen Wardlaw of 100 Pioneer Squadron about the donations.
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00:45:44 Captain Sturt and head teacher talk through interpreter. Further scenes of gift distribution and of children.
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00:50:33 Boxes (labelled "Tiger Team") are delivered to second Umm Qasr school for distribution. Street and school scenes. Children assemble in hall to receive gifts.
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00:54:33 Convoy drives away after distribution; children chase the vehicles.
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00:55:30 Debrief.
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00:56:07 Further interview with Sergeant Major Stephen Wardlaw about the situation in the port of Umm Qasr.
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END 00:59:13
Physical description
Mini-DV