The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
4th Battalion Duke of Wellington Regiment at Redcar Camp
With war looming on the horizon, troops from the Duke still find time to relax and joke even when learning how to grapple with mortar launchers and lie flat firing anti-tank rifles.
From the collection of:
Overview
In between Hitler annexing Austria in March, and The Munich Agreement in September of 1938, the 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington Regiment get into training for their imminent assignment to artillery. At a camp near Redcar they practice using mortars, anti-tank rifles and dismantling and cleaning machine guns. In between there is time for cricket, football and general larking about.
This is one of several films provided by the Yorkshire Regiment of the 4th Battalion at various training camps in the 1930s. The Duke of Wellington's Regiment dates back to 1702, becoming linked with West Yorkshire in 1782 and taking the title of Duke of Wellington in 1853. In 1908 it became the 4th Battalion (DWR), and in 1938, presumably shortly after this film was made, its role and name changed to the 58th Anti-Tank Regiment (DWR) Royal Artillery. It raised various battalions at different times – it isn’t sure how many it had during the 1930s ¬– with the two Regular Army battalions, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, amalgamating in 1948. In 2006 they amalgamated with other regiments to form the Yorkshire Regiment.
Related
Watch for free
Home Front and Home Guard - Wartime Woking Home Front and Home Guard - Wartime Woking
Amateur film 1938 10 mins Silent Location: Woking
Woking gears up for war in this remarkable film about the Home Guard and its contribution to the town.
Watch for free
Sea Fort Sea Fort
War 1940 7 mins
Surrounded by water and manned to defend the coastline, sea forts were remote outposts of Britain’s home front.
Watch for free
Ack-ack Ack-ack
Documentary 1941 9 mins
‘ACK ACK’ is a profile of the soldiers who manned anti-aircraft positions on the home front during the Second World War.
Watch for free
Citizen's Army Citizen's Army
Documentary 1941 10 mins Location: London
Ordinary men from all trades and professions lead double lives to hone their soldiering skills in Britain during the Second World War.
Watch for free
Civilians in Uniform Civilians in Uniform
Amateur film 1946 21 mins Location: Leatherhead
Leatherhead applauds and thanks its Civil Defence Service volunteers for their sterling efforts, in this fascinating film made during the last months of the Second World War.
Watch for free
Clandon Home Guard - drills and stand down Clandon Home Guard - drills and stand down
Amateur film 1942 12 mins Silent Location: Clandon Park
Dad's Army, Clandon-style, are at it again in this fascinating film about life in Surrey's Home Guard.
Watch for free
Launch of the RNLB City of Leeds Launch of the RNLB City of Leeds
Amateur film 1951 4 mins Silent Location: Redcar
Jostling for a view, a big Cleveland crowd watch the Princess Royal christen a new lifeboat in Redcar.
Watch for free
Yorkshire Riviera Yorkshire Riviera
Amateur film 1958 19 mins Silent Location: Redcar
A nostalgic dip and drive around the North Yorkshire coast in the sun-kissed 50s.
Watch for free
Sand Racing at Redcar Sand Racing at Redcar
Non-Fiction 1950 18 mins Silent Location: Redcar
Walking on sandy beaches can be difficult enough, but thousands turn out to watch motorcycle riders racing around a sand circuit on two wheels.
Watch for free
Clean Air Bus Clean Air Bus
1973 1 mins Location: Redcar
Behold Teesside Municipal Transport's Clean Air Bus - a silent and vibration-free bus powered by an experimental Rolls Royce liquid propane gas engine.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.