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EMBARKATION OF BRITISH OR CANADIAN FORCES ABOARD LANDING CRAFT IN SOUTHERN FRANCE WWII 63034

996 views · Published 17 April 2018 · 6:34 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: PeriscopeFilm · 2018 · Education

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Help us identify where this film was shot and what units it shows! One person suggested it could be part of Operation Goldflake. Operation Goldflake was the administrative move of I Canadian Corps (in essence, all Canadian combatant units) and the British 5th Infantry Division from Italy to Northwestern Europe during the Second World War. British-led forces had been fighting in Italy since the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The Allied commanders decided to move the British and Canadian troops to fight in Northwestern Europe in the spring of 1945.

This restricted film, which was created for reporting purposes, shows U.S. Army personnel boarding amphibious landing craft. The scene is likely southern Italy, although it could also be southern France or even Sicily.

At :40, tanks rigged with snorkels are seen getting ready to board, while at :55 Navy or Coast Guard personnel bring supplies on board. At 1:11 a barrage balloon is rigged.  At 1:39, more tanks arrive for embarkation, while MPs stand by. At 2:00, a British or Canadian officer is seen, and at 2:17 a Sherman boards an amphibious vehicle. At 2:28 a tractor is loaded. At 3:04 mobile artillery is loaded and at 3:17 an assembled group of soldiers receives pieces of paper (orders?) At 3:36 medics are seen boarding. at 4:00, British or Canadian troops share a cup of coffee (or rum?)  At 4:18, a soldier reads a copy of a pulp magazine called " Men Only ". At 4:38, unit insignia is seen close up -- do you recognize it? At 5:13 loaves of bread and tins are stacked up. At 5:28 the amphibious loading ramps are closed and the ships begin to leave. At 5:30, a damaged USA flag flies over the vessel which we see at 6:00 is called the "2 O'Clock Jump" # 219.



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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

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