Empire Warriors: The British Empire at War 1945-47

Synopsis

A documentary focussing on four key wars fought at the end of the British Empire, featuring original archive and news footage together with dramatic reconstructions of key events and first-hand accounts from former soldiers, terrorists, politicians and intelligence specialists. The four episodes featured are Kenya - The Hunt for Kimathi, Aden - Mad Mitch and his Tribal Law, Malaya - The Intelligence War and Palestine - The Jewish War.

The DVD also includes extended interviews with key participants that were not broadcast on television.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2006

Year of production

2004

Notes

Broadcast in four parts on BBC2 beginning 19/11/04

Subjects

History

Keywords

British Empire; civil war; Guerilla wars

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

369 minutes

Year

2006

Type

VHS

Format

PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

369 minutes

Year

2006

Sections

Title

Kenya - The Hunt for Kimathi

Synopsis

This edition focuses on the Mau Mau uprising in 1950s Kenya and the attempts by British and colonial security forces to hunt down its leader, Dedan Kimathi, who was eventually caught and executed in 1956. Veterans of the conflict are now calling for Kimathi’s body to be exhumed and given a hero’s burial.

Duration

60 mins

Title

Aden - Mad Mitch and his Tribal Law

Synopsis

This edition tells the story of the end of British rule in Aden. In June 1967, British troops came under attack from Arab police. 22 British soldiers were killed and Aden lay in the hands of guerrillas. Col Colin Mitchell was tasked with re-establishing order and his actions placed him on a collision course with the establishment.

Duration

60 mins

Title

Malaya - The Intelligence War

Synopsis

This edition tells the story of how a Malayan Communist Party death squad began a 12-year war to end British rule in Malaya by killing an English rubber plantation manager in 1948. Featuring interviews with British secret intelligence officers who scored a rare success against communist expansion of the time, and surviving members of the MCP.

Duration

60 mins

Title

Palestine - The Jewish War

Synopsis

In 1946 in British-administered Palestine, Jewish guerillas carried out one of the most spectacular attacks of the 20th century - the bombing of the King David hotel. Former Jewish guerillas and members of the British security forces tell the inside story of the campaign to oust the British and establish a state of Israel.

Duration

60 mins

Distributor

 

Available from retail outlets

Name

Simply Media

Contact

Laura Smith

Email

info@simplymedia.tv

Web

http://www.simplymedia.tv/ External site opens in new window

Phone

0203 542 3722

Address

Highlight House
57 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SJ

Notes

Formerly known as DD Home Entertainment or DDHE