Australian Troops at the Pyramids
Shades of epic cinema as soldiers roam around the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza.
This short film serves as a reminder that World War One was not just a matter of cold, muddy conflict on the Western Front. While some soldiers clamber among the ancient Egyptian monuments, others just stick to the shade. Simple sweeps of the camera are enough to emphasise the grandeur of the scenery; the Australian troops dwarfed by the scale of the 4500-year-old structures.
Much of Australia’s involvement in World War One centred on the Middle East. Initially there to help beef up Britain’s defence of the Suez Canal against the Turks, Australians were also involved in the abortive Gallipoli campaign of 1915 - after which forces were withdrawn to Egypt.
Tags
The First World War
From the home front to the front line: life during the 'war to end all wars' as seen through the lens of newsreel, propaganda and drama.
Films made and shown in Britain between 1914 and 1918 reflect the scale and horror of the unfolding conflict across multiple theatres of war, but also capture a nation trying to get on with everyday life. Filmmakers shot everything from local events and celebrations to short comedies that provided a much-needed dose of light relief in difficult times. Insights into the changing role of women in wartime and Britain's reliance on colonial troops can also be found.
After WWI, Armistice Day and Remembrance ceremonies were often caught on film, while British cinema produced epic dramas addressing the experiences of the Great War into the 1920s and beyond.
12 videos in this collection
1
2
The Austrian Tragedy Gaumont Graphic No. 342
3
Bully Boy
4
Christmas at the Front Topical Budget 175-1
5
"Stop the War" Demonstration in Trafalgar Square Gaumont Graphic No. 352
6
Anti-German Riots in Liverpool following the Loss of 'Lusitania'
7
From Trinidad to Serve the Empire Topical Budget 230-2
8
Keep the Home Fires Burning
9
London: Air Raid, 1917
10
Australian Troops at the Pyramids
11
Rescue Work in No Man's Land Topical Budget 332-2
12