Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Civilians in Uniform
Leatherhead applauds and thanks its Civil Defence Service volunteers for their sterling efforts, in this fascinating film made during the last months of the Second World War.
From the collection of:
Overview
A narrative film record from war-time Leatherhead showing the organisation of local Civil Defence. Starting with a call for volunteers we see various aspects of civil defence in operation; from assembling gas-masks to rescuing air-raid casualties. Dramatised scenes, set in an actual Control Room, show how the wide range of defence activity was coordinated. The film also shows a series of valedictory parades featuring men and women from all the volunteer services.
Leatherhead was first bombed on 27th August 1940, with aerial bombardment increasing throughout early 1941 so the recruitment of local ARP volunteers became an important activity. As the conflict was nearing its end, Mr H.G. Prickett, the manager of the Crescent Cinema in Leatherhead, presented the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Committee with a proposal, in January 1945, to make a film showing the work of local Civil Defence organisations as a tribute to the town’s civilian volunteers. By March good progress had been made on the film, which now included the reconstruction of a Doodlebug attack and the efforts to rescue the, at times, rather demanding 'casualties'.
Related
Watch for free
Home Front and Home Guard - Wartime Woking Home Front and Home Guard - Wartime Woking
Amateur film 1938 10 mins Silent Location: Woking
Woking gears up for war in this remarkable film about the Home Guard and its contribution to the town.
Watch for free
Sea Fort Sea Fort
War 1940 7 mins
Surrounded by water and manned to defend the coastline, sea forts were remote outposts of Britain’s home front.
Watch for free
Ack-ack Ack-ack
Government sponsored film 1941 9 mins
‘ACK ACK’ is a profile of the soldiers who manned anti-aircraft positions on the home front during the Second World War.
Watch for free
Citizen's Army Citizen's Army
Documentary 1941 10 mins Location: London
Ordinary men from all trades and professions lead double lives to hone their soldiering skills in Britain during the Second World War.
Watch for free
Clandon Home Guard - drills and stand down Clandon Home Guard - drills and stand down
Amateur film 1942 12 mins Silent Location: Clandon Park
Dad's Army, Clandon-style, are at it again in this fascinating film about life in Surrey's Home Guard.
Watch for free
Royal Observer Corps Royal Observer Corps
Government sponsored film 1941 7 mins Location: Welwyn
Watching over the skies, a volunteer force helps identify enemy aircraft for RAF fighters to intercept over Britain’s home front.
Watch for free
Leatherhead Repertory Theatre Leatherhead Repertory Theatre
Amateur film 1969 18 mins Silent Location: Leatherhead
Leatherhead gets a new theatre in this fascinating film which records its construction - with visits from stars of stage and screen as well as a grand Royal opening.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.