Frank Hurley's film - With the Australian forces in Palestine. Question marks

[Eran Tearosh]

All, 

I'm diving deeper into the time and work of Frank Hurley in Palestine. He was here for a few months and produced some fine photos and films. His diary is fascinating, especially when synchronized with the photos and films! 

The film With the Australian forces in Palestine ( https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188262 ) is sort of a summery of his time here and a wonderful source of documentation of lots of events. However, only a few were filmed at real-time. Some were reacted, most times far away from the original location. 

But - although the film has Hurley's name over it, some parts simply couldn't be filmed by him. These parts are authentic real-time filming, and Hurley was not in Palestine when these events took place. The most well-known event is Allenby's entrance to Jerusalem (Probably taken by an official British film-maker) on December 11th, 1917. But the film also includes quite a few interesting parts from the Megiddo Offensive, September 1918. Hurley was in London between late March and August 1918. His diary ends there. There is no mentioning I've found that indicates that he returned to Palestine for the last actions of the Great War in this theater of war (Hurley was back in Palestine during WWII).  

So, who filmed these events (Last part of the film mentioned and linked above): Chauvel's great advance with the Desert Mounted Corps from Jaffa to Damascus 19 September to 1 October 1918. The 5th LHR and French Mounted Regiment enter Nablus. The remains of the great Turkish column destroyed by British and Australian airman. Prince Feisal arrives at Damascus to meet Allenby. Bedouins escorted from Damascus and arrival of the Sheriff of Meccas Camel Corps. 

And why are these parts credited to Frank Hurley?

Eran

[domsim]

Hi Eran

 

There is a lot of material in the Imperial War Museum archives

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=palestine&pageSize=30&media-records=records-with-media&style=list&filters[periodString][First+World+War]=on&filters[mediaType][video]=ony

 

I've not looked at all of it but I guess there was a lot of 'cross-pollination' with people using what amounted to 'stock footage' produced from various sources.

 

all the best

Dom.

[domsim]

A lot of the later film seems to have come from the Jury's Imperial Picture Company-fascinating stuff-French cavalry, lots on the Indian units which is great to see.