Sons of the Empire
Grinning Canadian troops arrive in England.
A major recruitment effort across Canada in the first months of WWI saw over 600,000 men and women sign up in support of the 'mother country' as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The camera captures their dramatic arrival en masse before showing us the daily routine of washing and penning letters home; their beaming smiles all the while illustrate their enthusiasm for the cause.
This is one of a number of Topical Budget newsreel items from the early part of the war which shows troops from the Empire territories - later stories featured soldiers from India and Trinidad. The final shot of soldiers holding a Union Jack, with flags from the Empire stitched (slightly crudely) around the edge, serves as yet more feelgood propaganda for the cinema audience.
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The First World War: News from the Battlefields
Rare images from the theatres of war for anxious audiences back in Blighty.
The military high command maintained a tight grip on what was permissible for audiences to see, and for the most part film cameras weren't allowed anywhere near the frontlines - partly for the safety of the film crews, but more for fear that the images they sent back could seriously damage public morale.
But such was the public demand for more information that eventually the government was forced to take notice, and in 1917 the Topical Budget newsreel was requisitioned by the War Office. Images of combat remained largely off limits, though, and instead the cameras were dispatched in search of more uplifting stories of heroism and endurance.
53 videos in this collection
1
2
Rescue Work in No Man's Land Topical Budget 332-2
3
Australian Troops at the Pyramids
4
Shower Baths in the Trenches Topical Budget 228-1
5
From Trinidad to Serve the Empire Topical Budget 230-2
6
Christmas at the Front Topical Budget 175-1
7
Funeral at the Front Topical Budget 210-2
8
Outposts of Empire: British East African Troops Entraining on an Expedition against German Territory
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Red cross Dogs Topical Budget 175-1
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Our Submarines Topical Budget 173-1
11
Gallant Defenders Topical Budget 165-2
12
German Prisoners Topical Budget 162-2
13
Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Topical Budget 164-1
14
King's Visit to Belgium Topical Budget 172-1
15
Lord Lovat's Scouts Topical Budget 164-1
16
Christmas Church Parade Topical Budget 175-1
17
Sons of the Empire Topical Budget 165-2
18
Ostend in War-Time Topical Budget 165-2
19
Our Naval Losses Topical Budget 168-1
20
The Attack on Antwerp Topical Budget 164-1
21
From the Fighting Top of a Battleship in Action
22
The British in Belgium
23
British Nurses in Serbia War Office Official Topical Budget 222-1
24
A Patrol in the Desert
25
The E13 Avenged
26
The Eyes of the Fleet: A Destroyer Flotilla Scouting
27
Russia's Great Haul
28
Fight for the Dardanelles
29
Seeing the New Year In
30
French Machine Gun in the Wooded Country of the Argonne
31
War Scenes in Italy Topical Budget 197-1
32
Lord Charles Beresford in France
33
General Haig Visits General Joffre Topical Budget 229-1
34
Italian and Greek Troops in Action: Italians Decorated by Prince of Wales
35
Lines of Communication Topical Budget 306-1
36
Wreck of L. 39 Topical Budget 292-1
37
British Airships in the East
38
With the British Troops in Macedonia
39
Scenes of the First World War
40
Waiting and Watchful Pictorial News (Official)/War Office Official Topical Budget 344-1
41
Surrender of the German Fleet
42
General Allenby's Entry into Jerusalem
43
Life at Iwerne Minster in Wartime, August 7th & 8th 1918.
44
Freed from Turkish Bondage Pictorial News (Official)/War Office Official Topical Budget 346-1
45
Artillery at Alost Topical Budget 162-2
46
The Battle of Lebbeke
47
British Naval Activities after the Great British Victory of Jutland
48
Preparing the Rations Topical Budget 167-1
49
Empire Troops
50
History of the War: Russian Front
51
History of the War: Ypres
52
Surrender of the German High Seas Fleet
53