From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 5:39 PM

The story continues from the previous clip. John Daniell is now in debt. He spent a lot of money fighting in Ireland but his patron was accused of treason so John would not have a friend to get him a good job to pay off his debts. In this section of the play John expresses his frustration with al...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 5:09 PM

In this section of the play Lady Essex’s secretary enquires about whether the missing letters have been found and explains to John Daniell why they are valuable. A reward of £1000 is offered, a huge amount in those days. Jane then questions John whether he has taken the letters. He admits he has...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 5:05 PM

At the start of this clip Britannia (representing Britain) points out ‘What others are doing for us’. We then see a young recruit being waved off to war by his poor, elderly parents. The action then moves to scenes of trench warfare. From here we see scenes of action in wintry conditions. Next t...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 1:36 PM

The opening titles tell us we are looking at the Ulster Division, probably from 1915-17. We then see huge numbers of soldiers from that division all posing, smiling and waving for the camera. The titles then show us the Royal Dublin fusiliers. Similar scenes follow, the Dubliners holding up item...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 1:28 PM

This public information film features talking chickens and encourages people to save scraps for more eggs. It starts with the cockerel telling the hens that their target is to "lay an egg a day" to which a hen replies "I want to do my bit, goodness knows!" then complains about the lack of food. ...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 1:01 PM

Henry talks about how his unit’s attack had been stopped and his mates decimated. He then explains how he waited until dark to get back to his lines. He crawled across no man's land, like many others. He crawled over bodies and his uniform was covered in blood and guts. He says that the num...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 1:01 PM

The film clip starts with Tommies making their way across No Man’s Land and into enemy front line trenches. We then see a title explaining that Battle Police are rounding up prisoners and wounded in No Man's Land. From here we see large numbers of prisoners being marched away guarded by Brit...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 12:54 PM

The film starts with a tram being driven and conducted by women. The journey continues as the women driver prepares the tram and we then see the women conductor taking tickets on the top deck. When the Great War started most people thought it would be a short war. It was soon clear that...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 12:41 PM

Henry tells us about the first major battle he fought in. The plan was to attack a village called Serre that was well defended. He talks about the defences and the barbed wire. He explains the plan to hit the defences with an artillery barrage to destroy these defences. He then tells us that he a...

From: UK National Archives on Sat, Apr 05 2008 7:07 AM

The clip opens with Jane Daniell writing a letter to King James I, Elizabeth I’s successor, asking him to help her husband and her family. She then goes on to explain how life looked good four years ago but now things are very bad. She explains how she was a loyal servant to the countess of Esse...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 9:50 PM

The clip starts with some pretty harrowing footage of a German trench devastated by artillery fire. We then see a pet dog killed in action and then more harrowing shots of British and German dead. We then see a burial party at work. This is followed by a brief glimpse of big guns and then soldier...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 9:37 PM

This film opens with titles proclaiming ‘Terror In Ireland’. We then see a scene in which a British checkpoint blocks an Irish street. The scene then switches to show a crowd gathering around an IRA man shot dead by British troops. It is probably Sean Tracey, a prominent Republican. Fr...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:53 PM

A census can paint a comprehensive picture of the social and domestic conditions in a nation. Census returns are essential tools for effective policy, planning and decision-making purposes at both national and local level. Not only do the results enable the Government to track developments over ...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:53 PM

In this clip the upbeat voice over tells us how ‘society women’ (women from the upper classes) are doing their bit for the war effort. They have turned a magnificent country house into a factory for making hospital supplies. During the First World War Britain had learnt how valuable wom...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:47 PM

This short animated sequence urges women to repair and reuse their clothes. It suggests that they can still look good even when they use their nightclothes to make other clothes and keep less underwear in the drawer! During World War 2 clothing was rationed as well as food, fuel and other essen...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:41 PM

In this film Gold Coast independence leader Kwame Nkrumah is freed from prison after winning victory in the country’s elections in 1951. A huge crowd welcomes him with much shouting and cheering. He then parades through the packed streets in an open top car. Dr Kwame Nkrumah was the lea...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:41 PM

An American commentator looks at the effects of rationing. This film explains what was the weekly ration for a family in wartime Britain. During the First World War Britain introduced rationing at a fairly late stage. In WW2 the government was well aware of the need to conserve food and...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:23 PM

The film shows two women serving at a railway station restaurant who are busy chatting. In less than half a minute they give away a huge amount of information which would have been very valuable to an enemy spy listening in. When war broke out in 1939 all sides in the war were on the al...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:23 PM

This film provides a lively voice over describing the work of women in the land army. We see women driving tractors ploughing up new fields to grow food. During the First World War Britain had learnt how valuable women could be to the war effort. As soon as war broke out women were cons...

From: UK National Archives on Fri, Apr 04 2008 7:21 PM

This short animation urges people to be on their guard. It shows a drawing of a Nazi spy and then uses a range of disguises to see how hard he would be to spot. When war broke out in 1939 all sides in the war were on the alert for spies or fifth columnists. Fifth columnists were suppose...