Plymouth, Devon.
Great C/Us of a sergeant major, RSM Albert Young shouting orders (natural sound) to a troop of teenage boys of the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion. They are inspected as they stand to attention on a parade ground.
We then see several shots of the boys in training, abseiling down cliffs, walking across the weir of a river, canoeing and swimming across the river, sliding down a rope on a winch (instructors watch from the ground). Boys are instructed on the use of compasses; others are seen going through an assault course, carrying rifles and wearing backpacks.
A group of boys approach a bridge; the instructor and a boy leap off the bridge into the river below - in their uniforms! Other boys are seen jumping in.
Note: on file are notes about the film and booklets on the Battalion; one leaflet exclaims "...And leadership is a man's job"! Mute neg is missing for this issue.
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Description
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Data
- Archive
- British Pathé
- Issue Date:
- 30/11/1959
- Sound:
- Sound
- Media URN:
- 2571
- HD Format:
- Available on request
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Appears in...
- Categories
- War & Revolution
- WorkSpaces
- IJLB Paddington 2
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Stills
pnicholson says
I joined in Sep' '59 and remember that RSM easily enough: his face, voice and that he was a Scots Guardsman. He retired not long after that film was shot, and I'll never forget the stench of after-shave when he came up close and barked in my face. The C.O. and one of the sergeants are vaguely familiar.
The I.J.L.B. was a great experience in general, for discipline and confidence-building. Jumping off that bridge nearly got me killed as I couldn't swim, but some of the lads dived in down-stream and saved me. The only other non-swimmer that day was my pal Rob Hindmarch who, ironically, died in a river crossing while serving in the SAS 6 years later.