The Army and Navy movie (Leger- en vlootfilm)
version July 10 2019
The film was shot in 1916 and released in January 1917.It is a propaganda movie, to assure the public the the military was prepared.
To watch the movie, click here
Below you'll find the translation of the comments, plus some of my own remarks, things I have to look into
Army- and Fleet movie (Holland Neutral); director: Willy Mullens; Netherlands 1917
00:00:09
This "First Netherlands Government movie" has been restored in 1993 by the Dutch Filmmuseum (EYE] on basis of the original nitrat material, available in the archives of the Dutch Filmmuseum and the Goverment Information Service with the aid of existing title lists.
Restoration: Ine van Dooren
00:00:42
Queen Wilhelmina
00:00:53
Prince Consort Henry
00:01:40
Training of recruits, sports
00:03:26
In the Fishing Harbour
[notice the many different car types]
00:05:13
We're going for a swim . 4000 at the same moment ...
00:06:15
Sport demonstrations of Army and Navy
00:07:48
tossing in the air
00:08:14
cyclists troops
00:09:24
speedy lads occupy a railway bridge
00:12:48
crossing a stream with the aid of a steel wire, ??, collapsable boat
00:14:34
machine guns M.08 Schwarzlose on a sleigh carriage
00:14:41
cutting a tree
00:15:47
army dogs
00:16:29
A visit to the dog depot
00:16:48
HM the Queen on her way to the exercises
[00:18:00 the man beside her is General CJ Snijders, Commander in Chief Land and Seaforces]
00:18:04
With the utmost interest, HM always tracks the exercises from army and fleet
00:20:07
our loyal canines in heavy terrain
00:23:05
Machine gun dogs swimming
00:24:47
automatic rifles
Madsen M.16 in an AA role
00:25:39
machine guns for the cavalry
Schwarzlose M.08 Guns look like the Schwarzlose M95 carbine OM (old model); relatively small hand protection on the barrel
00:26:05
taking care of the wounded
00:26:20
first aid on the battlefield
00:26:49
aid station
00:27:57
main aid station
00:29:24
At the evacuation station
00:30:15
transport of the wounded in the polders
00:31:12
The Dutch Red Cross provides the further care of the wounded and ill soldiers.
Transport witch one of the Red Cross trains
00:31:54
Glancing in the train
00:32:27
HRH the Prince of the Netherlands, chairman of the Dutch Red Cross
00:32:57
nurseries
00:33:01
One of the central magazines wich provides our field army with food products
00:33:29
One day's ration of meat for a part of our forces
00:34:03
loading
00:34:27
Bakeries
00:35:18
prepared for the front
00:35:51
arrival of the food with the troops; lorry transpot to the billets
00:36:11
When the horse is ill ...
00:36:25
cannot translate
00:36:48
A nice bite
00:37:05
drugged / narcose
00:38:08
A sick hoof
00:39:59
painful, but recovery
00:40:11
Royal Military Academy
00:40:52
the governor
Major-General JWP van Hoogstraten (in function 1915 - 1919)
00:41:06
the courtyard, afternoon roll-call
00:41:32
In the wardroom / mess (?)
00:42:19
One of the central laundries
arrival of the blankets
00:43:24
washing
00:43:42
drying
00:44:08
break
00:44:24
From early morning to late in the evening, people are
working to provide our troops with clean blankets, sheets, etc
00:46:23
Making one of the hundreds of mines washed ashore harmless
00:47:48
Detonating (recorded from about 40 meters distance)
00:48:00
laying mines in the rivers
00:48:22
loading the mines; a glance in the minelayer
00:49:23
going out, laying the mines
00:50:56
Some practice mines will be detonated. Water columns of 80 meters
00:52:02
back to the harbour
00:52:20
our hussars
00:52:31
Cavalry, cyclist troops, horse artilleru and machine guns usually act in unison
00:53:20
our waterways and ditches are, because of their swampy banks difficult obstacles
00:53:56
night march with downpour
00:54:47
accross the heath
00:55:20
Swimming for hussars and horses. A patrol of officers crosses de river Meuse
00:56:59
Fieldexercise for the cadets
00:59:29
from the heath back on the road
01:00:25
going down, through the loose sand
01:02:27
Gathering of some cavalry regiments
[the army had 4 regiments of cavalry]
01:05:31
with a pontoon foot bridge crossing the Dieze river
[01:06:39: General Snijders inspecting]
01:07:39
Transferring horses and vehicles with pontoon rafts
01:10:36
The Commander-in-Chief with the commander of the 4th Division
General CJ Snijders and Major-General PW Weber
01:10:59
Our airmail. 600 pigeons are being released
01:11:19
Pigeon barracks
01:11:34
Cyclists and hussars provide themselves with pigeons
01:13:13
a pigeon basket
01:13:27
Wrapped up in her girdle, the pigeon is protected against shocks and bumps
01:14:35
after service
01:14:50
hand grenades
[find out the type]
01:15:06
When throwing life grenades, the result is observed in a mirror
01:16:08
throwing grenades by hand and catapult
01:16:51
the explosion
01:17:02
An attack with handgrenades
01:18:30
mining / tunneling.
01:18:34
The entrance to the mine, inserting the charges
01:20:04
The mine will be ignited electricly at the best possible moment
01:20:21
a push on the button and ...
01:21:07
the created crater
01:21:49
coastal defense
[find out gun, caliber etc]
01:22:19
firing a coastal gun. Even at a large distance, grenades can be seen hitting the water
01:23:17
Royal interest
01:23:33
Coast guards, always standby
assumption: Fort aan den Hoek van Holland
01:24:18
On patrol
01:24:38
Guys! A mine ...
01:24:51
The mine is destroyed by the machine gun.
The impacts can be followed clearly in the water
Schwarzlose M.05
01:26:14
"during day and night, in all wheathers, they stand guard, with their rifle"
01:27:23
Field Artillery, the gun
Probably 7cm field gun
01:28:06
marching
01:28:42
"What thunders on the heath,
what shines in view"
01:29:22
With connected pontoons along our big rivers
01:29:52
gallopping howitzer battery
Gun looks like a 12 cm howitzer, without shield
01:31:08
Firing guns and howitzers
1st gun: assumption 12cm steel 2nd gun looks like a 12 cm howitzer, without shield
01:32:25
A target battery is being fired on (filming from about
12 meters of the exploding projectiles)
assumption 12cm steel
01:35:28
glances at some munitions factories
01:35:35
delivery of staves which will be turned into projectiles
01:35:53
raw material for some honderds of thousends of grenades
01:36:17
In the factory. Boring (?) of projectiles and parts
01:37:24
painting
01:37:40
producing mercury fulminate, a very dangerous job
01:38:25
pressing the detonator
01:38:36
covered by a shield, this dangerous work takes place
01:39:09
a corner in the measurement room, were al parts are verified accurately
01:39:28
finishing filled projectiles
01:39:52
The shrapnel grenades with their content are packed in airtight tin drums
01:40:21
packaging. Transporitng to several depots
01:41:01
After a strainful week, one of the shifts returns home
01:41:37
equipment. steel helmets
01:42:46
gas masks and goggles
01:43:38
steel shields (with loop-holes) protect the shooter to the smallest distances
01:44:39
high voltage department
01:45:05
gloves and pads to clear wire obstacles
01:45:34
anti aircraft guns
[check type]
01:46:22
A travelling mobilisation theatre company.
Artists arriving
01:47:52
the dressing room ... make up ...
01:48:10
the audience enters; the play starts
01:50:31
aviation. Lt van Heyst, instructor with the avaiation department
01:50:42
some aircraft
check types, Farmans
01:51:14
the cockpit
(01:51:34 Naval pilot looks like Karel Doorman, Dutch rear-admiral, battle of the java sea)
check aircraft type
01:52:06
departure
??
Farmans
01:53:44
an excursion with the plane
Farman F40 (LA 37)
with camera
01:56:22
a picture of the pilot
(still looks like Doorman to me)
01:57:07
Automobile-Radiostation (quick movable stations for wireless telegraphy)
01:59:39
pontoon bridges
(02:05:00 Sneijder inspecting. He started as an engineer officer)
02:06:34
blowing a bridge
02:07:08
Attaching explosives above and below the waterline.
Guys...Take cover...
02:08:41
motorcyclists
02:09:00
boldness in the dunes
02:09:23
motorcyclists, carousel (?) riding
02:10:45
manoeuvre images
02:11:04
Army day in Rotterdam
02:11:48
a glance at the trenches
02:13:34
the minister of war on manoeuvre
(this is N. Bosboom, with the small white beard. He was a major general before becoming minister of war. He had to leave his office on May 15, 1917)
(check if other persons can be identified)
02:13:57
fight in a village
02:14:26
the cavalry continues the reconnaissance
(02:15:26 Snijders talking to commanders; have to identify)
02:16:09
heavy artillery is brought up
(identify guns)
02:16:39
parading the troops
02:18:25
seminar for seafaring
(character form 'onze vloot': our fleet
the school is in Leiden)
02:19:43
signalling
our boys climb like cats
02:20:14
rowing
02:20:34
vaulting / leapfrogging
02:20:59
Long live the navy!
02:21:17
Midshipmen and crew of several ships parading for her Majesty the Queen
02:22:28
to sea
Royal Netherlands Assembly "Onze Vloot" (our fleet) on its way to HMS Holland
more info on HMS Holland
02:23:12
on board
02:23:24 attack by torpedoboats
02:24:04
Her Majesty the Queen was at the leading torpedoboat and arrives at the "Holland"
02:24:41
a view from the bridge
02:25:50
Suddenly alert. The "Holland" hits a mine.
rescue boats are lowered
02:27:14
Her Majesty leaves the "Holland"
02:27:26
laying mines
02:28:22
in the mine hold
02:28:49
while pushing out a mine, a man fell overboard...sloop is lowered
02:29:24
everything is good again.
dredging (?) the mines
02:29:53
launching torpedoes
02:30:31
there she goes..
beware..
torpedo tracks..
02:30:50
dredging (?) practice torpedoes
02:32:10
the mascot provides entertainment
02:32:35
getting fresh air
02:32:51
offshore with the torpedo boats
02:34:34
submarines
02:35:36
a look through the periscope
02:35:55
via submarine to HMS "Hertog Hendrik" (Duke Henry)
02:36:22
the "Gelderland" is seen, against the sun
02:36:51
doing 30 miles
02:38:22
HMS "Hertog Hendrik"
02:38:36
on board
02:39:36
flag parade (?)
02:39:56
a glance from the top of the mast (crows nest)
02:40:09
probing
02:40:27
signalling with search lights at night
02:41:14
taters on deck. peeling potatoes
02:41:32
serving the guns
02:42:20
alarm. "battle stations".
02:43:11
broadside (?)
02:43:22
calm on board
02:43:48
the end
Comments are welcome.