IWM With the Australian Forces in Palestine

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IWM With the Australian Forces in Palestine

Object description

Australian airmen, horsemen and members of the Imperial Camel Corps on the Palestine Front, 1918.
Full description

I. The first part shows 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps in Palestine. (Reel 1) The squadron prepares for a patrol in its Martinsyde Elephants, Bristol F2B Fighters, RE8s and BE2s. The camera is in the rear gunner's position of a Bristol Fighter to film the take-off from the airfield and the flight from Jaffa to the River Jordan. (Reel 2) The flight continues over the Judaean hills to the vicinity of Jerusalem. The plane passes a Martinsyde Elephant and a BE2 in flight, and a tethered observation balloon of Number 49 Balloon Section (?). The flight continues over the Dead Sea and up the Jordan valley to Jericho (where a stockshot of the streets is included). The plane returns to its airfield and makes a spin dive down to land. Finally the planes are all wheeled to their hangars. II. The next three reels show Australian Light Horse (more likely the Australian Mounted Division than the ANZAC Mounted Division) and the Australian contingents of the Imperial Camel Corps. (Reel 3) Australian troopers looking at the view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives; continuing with other troopers returning from Bethlehem to their camp near Jerusalem and watering their horses, riding down the Jerusalem road to the Jaffa Gate, walking dismounted down the Via Dolorosa, and camped among the Judaean hills. A Vickers machine gun team fires behind earth cover. ALH on the march. "The descent into the Jordan valley" of an ALH brigade marching along with Red Cross wagons in column. Flooding that has washed away a railway in the valley. (Reel 4) ICC unloading stores from camels. Surf boats unloading stores and fodder at Gaza (?). An Arab camel train and men unloading more stores at Jaffa (?). Men and camels of the ICC on the march in column. The Red Cross facilities of the ICC. (An extra shot of the British 60th (London) Division on the march.) Some combat training of the Hong Kong-Singapore Mountain Battery, attached to the ICC. (Reel 5) An ICC bivouac. Men of the ALH moving through the ruins of Gaza. The film ends with a long sequence of a brigade of ALH on the march.
Physical description

35mm

Mike