BATTLE DIARY - British Pathe C/U Terry Ashwood in North Africa with the 8th army. M/S Ashwood on top of moving truck filming. Various shots of the action in North Africa filmed by Ashwood. C/U Ashwood in uniform drinking from cup and smiling. Various shots in Pathe's studios as Ashwood is welcomed by Bob Danvers-Walker. They proceed to talk about Ashwood's experiences in North Africa and how he won the Africa Cross. Ashwood gets his diary out to recount some of his experiences. C/U word 'Tobruk' written in the sand. Various shots of soldiers in Tobruk swimming in the sea whilst another stands by his gun on the beach. Various shots of the desert army advancing. M/S Ashwood with camera on hill. Trucks and tanks move through barbed wire at border between Egypt and Libya. Various shots of them advancing under fire. M/S of Ashwood with his camera. Various shots of British prisoners of war after being released, they are in high spirits and dance around. Various shots of tanks and infantry in the desert. Various shots of General Bernard Montgomery outside his caravan with Ashwood and other correspondents as he gives interviews. Back in the studio Terry makes his excuses and leaves to go on a date. CHRISTMAS IN TOBRUK - British Pathe Tobruk, Libya. Several shots of Pathe cameraman Terry Ashwood in his pyjamas as he gets up from his bed in the desert. He looks into his Christmas stocking and reads his cards. Bell on Tobruk Church ringing. Various shots of sacks of mail being sorted at desert sorting post. Several shots of ruined buildings in Tobruk where the Tommies are having their own. They write Merry Xmas on the wall and seem to be enjoying themselves. Soldiers ironing their clothes, 'dress up' set the table and serve dinner. Men sitting at table with 'Merry Christmas' written on the wall behind them. Christmas feast. Christmas pudding with a twig instead of piece of holly. Men drinking. Terry Ashwood leaving building and it is 'snowing'. Pan up to show the men ripping paper into small pieces and throwing int from the balcony. DESERT CONVOY ATTACKED - British Pathe Middle East. Various shots show a convoy of army trucks making their way across the desert with supplies for the front line. Pathe cameraman Terry Ashwood is seen checking his camera and filming from the roof of one of the trucks. The convoy is attacked by enemy shells that explode around the trucks and throw up clouds of sand. The convoy isn't hit. After the attack the Motor Transport Drivers stop and have a cup of tea. Terry Ashwood has one too! Commentator says "Nice work, Terry". DESERT CONVOY GETS THROUGH - 1942 - British Pathe Various shots of the convoy of trucks and armoured cars moving across the desert. Several unsteady shots from moving truck as few shells fall close by. Various shots of Terry Ashwood having a cup of tea with men of the convoy. They stop for a break after getting through the attack. Good close up shot of Terry Ashwood smiling .Ashwood is seen with his camera filming from top of moving truck. LIBYA OFFENSIVE - CONTINUED - British Pathe L/S of low level bombing raid by German planes near Bardia. Various shots at a desert airport showing the wrecks of Nazi aircraft. General view of Tobruk Harbour with sunken ships in the foreground. Numerous captured Italian field guns are lined up. Italian prisoners are searched and then given food. They sit looking dejected in barbed wire pens. After a desert rainstorm army camps and tents are flooded. Several shots of soldiers trying to rescue belongings and crockery. C/U of Pathe cameraman Terry Ashwood cleaning his camera. M/S of Italian prisoners at work repairing the desert road. Various shots of Indian troops entering Derna. They search houses for any remaining enemy soldiers. Several shots of German and Italian wrecked planes on Derna aerodrome. Various shots of wounded British soldiers in the captured Italian hospital. More shots of wrecked German equipment as we advance across the desert. Indian troops march into Berta. Several shots of long lines of German and Italian prisoners of war. Commentator says "North Africa won't be clean until the whole tribes of Huns and Wops have been driven out - or better, wiped out!" Note: this item is quite badly scratched. EL ALAMEIN - British Pathe Various shots of the troops in lorries, jeeps and other vehicles travelling along the desert road. Several shots of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in front of his caravan looking at some maps and papers, several officers around him. Various shots (some close ups) of Field Marshal Montgomery in the Pathe Studio handling film - presumable footage of the battle. Director of Pathe News Terry Ashwood showing Monty some of the shots on the film. Follows a sequence of the battle - various shots of the big explosions, artillery guns being loaded and firing, tanks moving across the desert, planes dropping bombs, Monty looking through binoculars , troops running through smoke and firing, mass troops marching etc. Cut back to Monty seated in the studio talking onto camera. TERRY ASHWOOD RECEIVES OBE - Colour - British Pathe Pathe Newsreel title - Special! Various shots of the Buckingham Palace with cars parked at grounds. Various shots of the people leaving Buckingham Palace after investiture. Various shots of Associated British Pathe cameraman and producer Terry Ashwood posing for cameras with wife and daughter after receiving his OBE. Terry Ashwood, wife and daughter enter the car and drive off. More shots of the Buckingham Palace with traffic around.
