Defence by Fire

Series

Series Name
Pathe Gazette

Issue

Issue No.
45/53
Date Released
2 Jul 1945
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1Moscow Parade
  2. 2Defence by Fire

Story

Story No. within this Issue
2 / 2
Summary
The story of Britain’s coastal barrier to invasion, showing the various methods used by the Petroleum Welfare Board to prevent German invasion of the British Isles. From submarine pipe-lines, oil bubbles to the surface. As the dark patches merge together they are electrically ignited from the shore and the sea bursts into flames. Another of the defences was the "Fougasse", an innocent looking tar barrel. Tens of thousands of these drums were hidden along the coast, manned by Home Guard units. Out of the blast of the drum there spread a great ball of deadly fire. For low-flying enemy aircraft there were vertical flame-throwers which could project tongues of flame into the sky. This was our defence by fire - but film ends by showing the sea to be calm and cool again.
Keywords
Weapons; Civil defence
Length of story (in feet)
491
Story extras:
Film clip
Production Documents

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This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name
British Pathe Ltd
Email
info@britishpathe.com
Web
https://www.britishpathe.com/
Phone
0207 665 8340
Address
3.29 Canterbury Court
1-3 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE
Notes
Pathe now also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.
Series held
View all series held by British Pathe Ltd

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