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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: pettsy on Saturday 04 February 06 13:10 GMT (UK)
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Please can anyone help me.
My grandad, Sgt G.T.PETTS was once in a film by the BBC, shown at the cinemas during WW2.
He was shown leading his men through the jungle.
Do you know how or where I can get a copy of this film.
I would love to get a copy and supprise my dad for his birthday.
Pettsy
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Hello
Not sure whether it would be held at Broadcasting House or White City or elsewhere but this is the main address
British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC Broadcasting House,
Portland Place, London,
W1A 1AA
Tel: 020 7580 4468
Best of luck
Biker
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Thanks Biker.
I will dig out my grandfathers letter about the film, and write to them.
I hope they can help.
I will let you know the outcome.
I would love to see my grandad leading his men into the jungle :)
Pettsy
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Yes Pettsy do let us know what happens - always nice to know the outcome of things and this sounds really interesting.
Regards
Biker
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just a thought, the pathe news reels are on line, i remember looking at a few of them a couple of years ago
got to be worth a look ;D
http://www.britishpathe.com/
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good luck!!! wow what a find that would be!
Please keep us updated
will
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Pettsy;
I found some film footage of my father on a showing on a TV, program , which had used achives material from the IWM, where I wrote, explianing the program in question, they kindly sent me the complete footage of that period ( 1945 Burma, Singapore)
You suggest that grandad was waliking through the Jungle, perhaps part of the Chindiz, there fore I would advice you try
http://www.burmastar.org.uk/ you may gain more information on his service etc.
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Thank you Blue Spirit, sounds promising.
I am getting excited now ;)
My grandfather and your father could have served in Burma together.
I will see if any of the photos I have of him were in Burma, I also have some letters he sent his wife (my nan) so can check the dates to see if they match up with you father being in Burma.
Thank you
Pettsy :)
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If you find he did, email me a picture, i will check my film footage out, to see if i can match him.
Date and Sqdn would be a help..
regards
Thank you Blue Spirit, sounds promising.
I am getting excited now ;)
My grandfather and your father could have served in Burma together.
I will see if any of the photos I have of him were in Burma, I also have some letters he sent his wife (my nan) so can check the dates to see if they match up with you father being in Burma.
Thank you
Pettsy :)
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Hi Blue Spirit,
My grandfather was Sgt George Thomas Petts b.11th May 1914.
He was in the TA from 1934-1957.
He was in the London Irish Rifles.
He joined the Army in Sept 1939 - Nov 1945.
He served in Burma from 1942 to 1945 (the end of war)
He was with the Nigerian Regiment or the Royal West African Frontier.
I will look at his address on one of his letters later on.
He has red hair, hazel eyes, a tash, slim, average height 5.8" - 5.9"
He is a Londoner, Chelsea.
I am still trying to work out how to post a pic here, Berlin Bob did send a link, so I will have to study it.
I have lots of photos of him, group photos etc.....
Pettsy
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Hi ;
With that info I would strongly suggest going to the Burma Star web site leaving some information there, I would go straight to the IWM, http://www.iwm.org.uk/ telling them the usage and when it was seen, Hopefully you will get a copy of the orignal footage., it takes time so make a start asap.
If you have or can see his medal awards, then they can also tell a story, showing some of the campaigns he was in.
I have checked out the footage, which by the way is in Black & White no sound, and covers RAF ACSEA.
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Thank you Blue Spirit,
My father has his medals, they are... Victory Medal, Burma Star,1939-45 Star, Defence Star and TA Medal.
I will dig out the letters tonight and e mail them tomorrow.
There was a program on TV last year and we heard someone say "Sergeant Petts"
Thanks for all you help, I will keep you informed.
Pettsy
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I received an e mail from the IWM they can't help, but have given me another link to try.
I have sent a letter to the BBC too.
So I will have to wait and see.
Looked at some of those reels on the Britishpathe.
I thought I saw him at one point :o but hard to make out really.
Pettsy
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Hi Pettsy, a young lady is researching this Petts, not a sister of yours by any chance? Davie C
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Hi Davie C,
No I do not have a sister.
Only a brother.
Pettsy
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Hi Pettsy,
I wish you luck with your search.
My father in law, James William "Jock" Burns, served with the KOYLI's in Burma where he met and married my Mother in Law, beryl Pansy Davidson in Maymyo.
We have some brilliant photos of him over there.
Unfortunately he passed away in 1966 from a heart attack caused by shrapnel reaching his heart.
You never know, maybe your dad knew him - long stretch but you never know do you.
Carol
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Hi Carol,
Thank you, I have had no luck so far, but I won't give up. There has to me a copy somewhere ???
I have tried to BBC ITV IWM etc....
It was my Grandfather, not my dad who served in Burma, I want to get a copy to surprise my father for his birthday.
Pettsy
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Hi Pettsy
Pity you can't find a copy. I'm running out of ideas too but have you tried the BFI?
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/446186/index.html they seem to have a catalogue http://www.bfi.org.uk/nftva/catalogues/index.php
Might it be worth sending them an email?
Just a thought ...
Biker
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I have just has an e mail from the BBC.
They said it was not the BBC as there was no TV service during the war. Even though it was shown at the cinema.
It was probably British Movietone or Panthe.
I will give it a week, and if I have not heard from them by then I will e mail them both again.
Pettsy
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Dear Pettsy,
Contact me at work, and I'll see if I can help. I manage a database of all British newsreels (www.bufvc.ac.uk/newsreels) and I may be able to help, though the information you've posted so far isn't enough to help identify a film - soldiers weren't usually identified by name in such films. The film won't be by the BBC, which didn't operate a television service during the war. It will either be by one of the five newsreels then in existence, or filmed by one or other of the army film units. Most likely it's in the IWM somewhere, but they would need more detail. All of the British Movietone newsreels are online as well as those by Pathe - go to www.movietone.com. Anyway, send me what details you can to (*)
Luke
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the PM system for exchanging personal data.
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Good luck again with this new link Pettsy and let us know what happens
Carol
Can't wait to find out
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OOOH!!
thats interesting! mum says dad was in a clip.......must get the details
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Thank you Luke :D
I have sent you a pm.
Pettsy