Description
Object description
Second World War British Pathe Gazette newsreel item, plus a Second World War British Ministry of Information newsreel trailer using the format of a comic version of the popular BBC radio "Brain's Trust" programme to remind member of the National Fire Service of the need to know their assembly, block and sector points.
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I. "Pageant of war services". Wembley Stadium. King Haakon of Norway and Crown Prince Olav take the salute at a marchpast by Civil Defence units, women war workers and the three female service units. Pageant is in aid of Mrs Churchill's Aid to Russia and other funds. Participants, including 18th Middlesex Battalion Home Guard, form outline of a Union Jack. Ceremony closes with band playing "Land of Hope and Glory".
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II. "That Cross-Channel feeling." A rocking US Army box is used to simulate the movement of the sea during an experiment aimed at reducing the effects of sea-sickness.
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III. "Allies in Sicily." British and American troops converging on Randazzo celebrate their link-up by exchanging cigarettes. Locals provide wine, drunk by mascot duck from a tumbler.
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IV. "For those in peril." Air Sea Rescue operations. Spitfire drops a dinghy to a pilot firing a distress signal rocket who is later picked up by a Walrus. RAF ASR Launch 184 picks up the crew of a ditched Flying Fortress.
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V. "They swoop to conquer." Bostons attack a German-operated steelworks at Denain in Northern France.
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VI. Ministry of Information newsreel trailer. Seated at a large wooden desk behind a BBC microphone the panel of a comic version of the "Brains Trust" await the next question (panel consists of Edward Cooper, Douglas Young, Gavin Gordon and Stanley Holloway who is dressed as an Admiral). The Chairman of the panel poses the question "from Mr Smith of Salisbury - should a fireguard know his sector point as well as his assembly point?". One member of the panel replies in a very serious and academic manner "depends on what you mean by a fireguard - it would not apply to the fireguard before a nursery fire", Stanley Holloway recites an amusing nonsense monologue about a fire on board a boat off Zanzibar, a cat and the dog watch. The third member of the panel explains the importance of NFS members knowing the location of the various assembly points with the use of a clear diagram. The panel chairman acknowledges the magnificent exposition of his colleagues and sums up directly to the camera "whereas a cat has nine lives you have only one, so you had better know you assembly point, block point and sector point, then if your party leader needs you to call for help you know where to go to".