This film is part of Free
Army Cross Country
Private Daly of the Connaught Rangers triumphs in the Aldershot Command annual cross country race, months before the outbreak of WWI.
Overview
This poignant newsreel item shows hundreds of soldiers competing in the annual Aldershot Cross Country race, months before the outbreak of WWI. The camera keeps pace with the runners, tracking Private Daly as he crosses the finish line. Known as 'the Devil's Own', the Connaught Rangers were an Irish Regiment of the British Army; some 2,500 Rangers would lose their lives in the coming conflict.
Related
Lt Pimple and the Stolen Submarine Lt Pimple and the Stolen Submarine
Comedy 1914 14 mins Silent Location: Twickenham
The intrepid Lieutenant Pimple thwarts foreign enemies in an action-packed wartime spy spoof.
From Antwerp to Ostend From Antwerp to Ostend
Travelogue 1914 5 mins Silent
On the brink of invasion, holidaymakers promenade while refugees shelter in beach huts on the Belgian coastline in 1914.
German Spy Peril German Spy Peril
War 1914 7 mins Silent
Inventive WWI propaganda in which a rejected volunteer foils a German plot to blow up Parliament.
Egypt and Her Defenders Egypt and Her Defenders
Travelogue 1914 10 mins Silent
Cairo street scenes, the pyramids, the majestic Nile and a visiting Lord Kitchener in a gorgeous tinted travelogue.
Gloves of Ptames Gloves of Ptames
Fantasy 1914 9 mins Silent
A mysterious pair of gloves from an ancient Egyptian tomb cause chaos in this silent 'trick' comedy.
Palace Pandemonium Palace Pandemonium
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent Location: Buckingham Palace
The campaign for women's suffrage steps up as Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Red Devilsβ Headquarters Red Devilsβ Headquarters
Amateur film 1980 2 mins Silent Location: Aldershot
Explore the base of operations of The Red Devils - facilities, equipment - then finish with a perfect display of their parachuting prowess.
Aldershot Military Parade Aldershot Military Parade
Amateur film 1950 3 mins Silent Location: Aldershot
Cavalry, infantry and the Women's Auxilliary Army Corp are on parade in the Hampshire town of Aldershot in this short film from the fifties
Honey Country Honey Country
Documentary 1950 15 mins Silent Location: Aldershot
The hives of Hampshire are the centrepiece of this tour of the county, from Aldershot to Bournemouth and all points in between.
Aldershot Military Centenary Aldershot Military Centenary
Amateur film 1954 92 mins Silent Location: Aldershot
Aldershot celebrates its centenary year with bunting, with marching, with shows and the beating of the bounds in this epic film from 1955.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archiveβs role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.