This film, taken by Peter Thornton of Farsley, Leeds, was made during the Allied invasion of France following the battle at Normandy or D-Day.  Thornton was likely a member of the Royal Army Ordnance Corp.  The film includes footage of the journey from Normandy, passing through Falaise, Bernieres-Sur-Mer, and into Germany to Xanten and the Minden Gap.  There is no footage of any fighting, but the film does include footage of the soldiers blowing up German ammunition dumps and the devastation...

This film, taken by Peter Thornton of Farsley, Leeds, was made during the Allied invasion of France following the battle at Normandy or D-Day.  Thornton was likely a member of the Royal Army Ordnance Corp.  The film includes footage of the journey from Normandy, passing through Falaise, Bernieres-Sur-Mer, and into Germany to Xanten and the Minden Gap.  There is no footage of any fighting, but the film does include footage of the soldiers blowing up German ammunition dumps and the devastation caused by bombing. The film opens with the insignia of the Royal Army Ordnance Corp. Title – O.A.S. (On Active Service) Title – Reminiscences of the Allied Invasion of France and the Occupation of Germany. Title – Somewhere in England . . . packing up the Units equipment Men, all dressed in uniform, are packing up their equipment.  They are packing up a large bag, and some of them try to start a motorcycle.  Military camp buildings can be seen in the background. Title – A last visit to the local pub. A group of soldiers, standing in an arched doorway, cheers to the camera.  There is a close up of the men with their beer, and there is a sign for the pub, the “Jug and Bottle.” Title – A few weeks later . . . embarked off the Isle of Wight. Filmed from on board one of the ships, a fleet of ships can be seen out at sea.  There are views of the sea, and a Zeppelin passes overhead.   Title – 6th June, 1944.  The Invasion of Normandy. There are brief shots taken from on board the ship out at sea. Title – First signs of the Normandy coast. Footage of the coast is taken from the landing craft or boat, and some soldiers can be seen on board.  Other vessels nearby are preparing for landing. Title – We landed in the morning and got “dug in”. The soldiers make shelters with shovels and pick axes.  Inside one of the soldiers washes his hands, while outside others are also washing and cleaning their rifles.  They put on camouflage. Title – Madame Fifi joined the unit in the afternoon. There is a shot of a white rabbit. Title – The Allied Bombardment had done much damage. . . There are shots of the bomb damage including buildings with gaping holes in the roofs, a swaying chandelier, and interior shots of houses in disarray. Title – . . . but civilians soon reappeared. . .  An older man is carrying goods on his solders.  There is a young girl and boy on the sidewalk next to a fence who pose and smile for the camera.  One of the soldiers also poses and smiles for the camera accompanied by a man and woman.     Title – . . . and German prisoners came in. Prisoners of War (POWs) are marched in, single file, past tree.  Two Allied soldiers on motorcycles stand by in watch. Title – Rain held up the establishment of the bridge head. There are shots of the camp and tress in heavy wind and rain. Title – . . . but not the nightly “flak” display. Flak firing at night.  (Flak typically refers to anti-aircraft guns, derived during World War II from the German Flugabwehrkanone, for "aircraft defence cannon".) Title – Time for recreation. Soldiers play a game of horseshoes while a man is getting his hair cut, a sheet draped over him.  Another man has cut hair brushed off his neck, and the barber sharpens a razorblade on a long strip of leather.  Some of the soldiers are seated at a table while others swim in the sea.   Title – Bastille Day 14 June 1944.  The Canadian Brigade Cemetery Bernieres-Sur-Mer. Soldiers stand in lines at attention at the cemetery.  There is a ceremony taking place, and local women and children place wreaths and flowers on graves by the headstones.  After which, the locals leave the cemetery.   Title – We moved on to Falaise. The film is shot from the front of a moving vehicle as it goes along a long, straight country road lined with tall trees on either side.  They drive passed other soldiers, locals, and bombed villages devastated by the bomb damage, left in ruins.  Title – Local barter supplemented the rations. A soldier, standing in the doorway of a house, speaks to a woman who has a basket of eggs.   Title – The Falaise gap six weeks after the break-through. There are shots of destruction, severely damaged buildings and vehicles. Title – We destroyed much enemy ammunition. There is a huge explosion which sends white clouds into the sky as the ammunition dump is destroyed.   Title – The following Spring we moved up to Xanten on the Rhine. Soldiers walk out of the house and into the garden.  Here, they distribute tea to men waiting with white mugs.   Title – House-warming at Xanten. The soldiers work to repair the house, building a chimney on the outside of a boarded up house.  One of the men is on the roof near a bombed out window.   Title – Rhine mermaids. Soldiers go for a swim in the river Rhine.  Some of the footage is filmed in slow motion and includes trick photography of the men diving.   Title – Demolishing a suspect Ammunition Dump. There is a large explosion in the middle of the woods.  Trees have fallen, and a man walks near the crater created by the explosion.  Two men set another bomb and walk away before detonation.  The explosion is seen from afar and created a big smoke cloud.   Title – Sunday Afternoon trip to the Minden Gap. Soldiers pull up in an army vehicle with an open back.  Outside a café, one of the men is playing a banjo.  There is film of an army convoy as it drives along the road, passing scenery and church ruins.  There are shots of a Wittekindsberg taken from an elevated position.  This is filmed from near the statue of Wilhelm II and seen through one of the arches of the Emperor William Monument. Title – The End  Title – R.A.O.C. Units Featured 37 Port Ammunition Detachment 14 Base Ammunition Depot 302 Enemy Ammunition Depot Control The film finishes showing the insignia of the Royal Army Ordnance Corp.