British Pathe

Note: sound begins a few seconds before picture.

Second world war propaganda film starring Avice Landone, Frederick Piper and Enid Hewit. A charity appeal on behalf of the Red Cross. Opening titles read: "Until the Day... This story began on Xmas Morn. 1942 - it will not end until Victory."...

Note: sound begins a few seconds before picture.

Second world war propaganda film starring Avice Landone, Frederick Piper and Enid Hewit. A charity appeal on behalf of the Red Cross. Opening titles read: "Until the Day... This story began on Xmas Morn. 1942 - it will not end until Victory."

Begins with a nice sequence showing a man and woman listening intently to the radio on Christmas morning. They are parents of a soldier posted to Egypt and they are listening to a radio show which broadcasts messages home. They are hoping for a message from their son. As messages are read, pictures of family members listening around Britain are superimposed over the radio. Nice illustration of the power of radio broadcasting during this period. Broadcaster is Peter Haddon (sp?).

A letter arrives - bad news. Their son is missing. They receive a message from the War Office that their son is a prisoner of war. They phone "Martha" - his wife or girlfriend? from a telephone box. They visit the offices of the Red Cross where they are told all about the work the charity is doing to send parcels to prisoners of war. A typical Red Cross food parcel is shown to the parents. It includes a steak and kidney pudding, cocoa, tinned fish, biscuits etc. His mother wants to send him warm vests and his mouth organ! Various shots of Red Cross parcels being packed. Next of kin are allowed to send a parcel every three months. Family are given extra clothing coupons in order to buy things to send their son. Red Cross woman shows the parents a list of the books, games and musical equipment the Red Cross send out.

There follows a sequence showing how Red Cross parcels are packed, distributed, etc. The department that deals with education is shown. Books are tied together to be sent out to prisoners. Captured Film of British Prisoners in Germany is shown. The parents praise the organisation and the Red Cross woman tells them how much it costs the charity to do all this great work for the boys overseas. Father makes an appeal to "all these people seated here in the comfort of this cinema." There will be a collecting box coming around after the film. Ends with an on-screen message as follows:

Extract of Letter from British Prisoner of War - "If it were not for the Red X parcels many of us would never see Blighty again."

The film ends - the Story goes on - Until the Day we welcome them all home."