https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/aaceca18-4cb6-45cb-9332-33775b44c41b Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films! Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com This film "Britain and Empire" (1947) is one of the March of Time forum edition newsreels. It highlights the resilience, challenges, and transformations within the British Empire and Commonwealth, just before the colonial period came to an end. It also depicts England's struggle to restore herself to strength and prosperity immediately following World War II. Street scenes unfold in London (:06); a British bobbie or Metropolitan Policeman guides traffic near Golden Lane ECI (:09). Wide shots cover the city of London (:14); close shots follow of the face of Big Ben (:19). A horse-drawn carriage carts members of parliament (:23). Brigdes open in the London harbor as overseas commerce flows through (:38). Ship hands move incoming cargo (:46). Maps relay the spread of British trade (:51). A section shows operations within the Colonial office in London conducted by the staff of civil servants (1:16). Close shots show the colonial officer stamp (1:24). Narration explains how work is conducted (1:26). The film turns to Australia  (2:04); and fields of livestock. Wool industry workers pull heaps of wool (2:13). Austrailian industry was progressing from the colonial age into self sufficiency (2:24). Images from WW1 follow (2:38). Australian government is explained over shots of the parliament building (2:47). New Zealand relied heavily on agriculture for industry (3:05). The Tirau Branch New Zealand Dairy Co-op follows (3:19). During the Second World War, New Zealand produced goods for the US Army based upon reverse lend-lease (3:32). Canada is noted on a map (3:45). Ground shots follow of Quebec (3:58).  The Canadian wheat industry supplied much of their industry until an international depression decimanted the industry (4:13). Steam trains push through (4:34). The film turns to South Africa (4:47); it's population and servitude of Indigenous population is discussed (4:57). Double decker busses pass (4:56). Native settlers appear in traditional attire (5:04). The Union of South Africa building follows (5:23). Workers measure deposits of gold (5:28). The richest part of the British empire was India (5:36) though ninety percent of the population was existing in desperate poverty (5:44). Indian women operate looms (6:16). British rule and the consequences of opposition to that rule are mentioned (6:17). A mass of Muslim worshippers bent forward in prayer (6:20). A rivalry existed between the Muslim population and Hindu. Ghandi appears (6:31) and his plight to assist the population in achieving independence. A British flag flies over an observation tower (6:39). The tower of London (6:49) and HM Stationary Office follow (7:03). Reports of the war effort of the UK during WW2 are cited (7:07). A British man ducks into an air raid shelter (7:25). Women settle into cots (7:330. Lines for enlistment follow (7:49). World War Two combat scenes unfold (8:26); soldiers duck from air drops of buzz bombs (8:32). Firefighters work to put out flames (8:46) over rubble below. The female British industrial force is explored (9:06). Female lumber jack hack at trees as many female workers replaced land farmers organized by British officials. Production of war materials were increased (9:40). A volunteer-organized assembly line pumps out war materials (10:10). Warplanes are constructed (6:53), and warships are overhauled (10:59). Military jeeps are lifted by crane (11:39) into merchant vessels. Crates for food for children arrive at port (11:53). Signs explain rations during the war (12:06). As much of the male workforce entered the war, women left home for industrial jobs. Often children were cared for at government aided nurseries (13:05). Bombed-out children enjoy midday meals (12:53). Finances are discussed including loans, taxes and war expenditures (13:27). Stamps for war loans appear (13:48). National savings plans were promoted. Newspaper headlines relay the war closure (13:56). Celebrations erupt; civilians dance in the street (13:56). Cranes move rubble as restoration begins (14:40). Youth study at the Exhibition County of London in late summer(15:15). 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 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v35Y94MhxeM Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:18:44 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/aaceca18-4cb6-45cb-9332-33775b44c41b All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.