This archive footage depicts the last set of British troops to leave India in 1948, The Somerset Light Infantry. Starting with Major General Whistler conducting his farewell speech, it then leads on to the troops marching through the Gateway of India. For Archive Licensing Enquiries Visit: Explore Our Online Channel For FULL Documentaries, Fascinating Interviews & Classic Movies: #BritishPathé #History #Military #India Subscribe to the British Pathé YT Channel: (FILM ID:2425.1) Bombay India. Mute Lav. Two soldiers of the Somerset Light Infantry hold gifts from Indians, a painting and a model of the Gateway of India. Major General Whistler receives Indian Tricolour and drapes it over the painting. Troops of the Somerset Light Infantry. M.S. Governor of Bombay on saluting base. C.U. Major General Whistler speaking. M.S. Whistler making farewell speech. Side view of him speaking. Indian flag flying. L.S. Ditto. L.S. Governor of Bombay speaking. M.S. Side view of ditto. L.S. Front view of ditto. MS. Distinguished visitors. M.S. Union Jack and Indian Tricolour. M.S. Governor Gen. of Bombay shakes hands with Maj Gen. Whistler. L.S. General view of Ditto. C.E. Maj Gen. and Mrs Whistler. M.S. Two soldiers marching off with regimental gifts. M.S. Governor of Bombay on saluting base. L.S. Somerset light infantry marching through the Gateway of India. Maj Gen. Whistler with British and Indian staff officers taking the salute. Maj Gen. Whistler with British and Indian staff officers. Maj Gen. Whistler with small Indian child. Pinnace taking model of Gateway of India to ship. Guard of Honour posted around model. Aboard the launch taking service personnel out to the trooper. . . girl on launch. C.E. Ditto. M.S. Waving shore wards. L.S. crowds waving goodbye. L.S. Gateway of India from the sea. L.S. crowds, from the sea. L.S. Gateway of India and skyline from the sea. M.S. launch approaching the “Empress of Australia“. M.S. Maj Gen. Whistler climbs gangway of “Empress of Australia“. Nurses and climbing gangway. L.S. Trooping the colour aboard troopship. M.S. Ditto. C.E. Back view of painting and model going aboard. Going into storage aboard ship. C.E. Maj Gen. Whistler. M.S. Troops aboard ship. M.S. Ditto. M.S. Ditto. C.E. Painting. BRITISH PATHÉ'S STORY Before television, people came to movie theatres to watch the news. British Pathé was at the forefront of cinematic journalism, blending information with entertainment to popular effect. Over the course of a century, it documented everything from major armed conflicts and seismic political crises to the curious hobbies and eccentric lives of ordinary people. If it happened, British Pathé filmed it. Now considered to be the finest newsreel archive in the world, British Pathé is a treasure trove of 85,000 films unrivalled in their historical and cultural significance. British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website.
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