National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Home Guard Parade (Cardiff) and Manoeuvres
Cardiff City Hall’s Clock Tower offers the film-maker a bird’s eye view of the Home Guard/Royal Welch Fusiliers parade below. Home Guard manoeuvres are shot on the ground.
From the collection of:
Overview
A Home Guard and Royal Welch Fusiliers parade outside Cardiff City Hall (possibly showing the Home Guard Stand Down in December 1944?) followed by footage of the Home Guard on manoeuvres – making a floating bridge, firing guns, retrieving a ‘casualty’ by boat. Filmed by Lionel Dingle, a Cornishman who had made Cardiff his home and who was active in the Home Guard.
Mr Dingle, a mining engineer, was employed in Cardiff by the Cornish drilling company Holman Brothers and was accustomed, as part of his work, to taking aerial shots of Cardiff which probably explains his access to the City Hall’s clock tower, from which position he has filmed the parade seen here. As well as being an active member of the Home Guard he was an accomplished, competitive rifle shooter. He married a woman from Cardiff and the city became his home.
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
Documentary 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
Sunshine Girl Sunshine Girl
Advert 1959 12 mins Location: Merthyr Tydfil
What makes a South Wales Sunshine Girl? Well, the answer may vary depending on whether you ask a chauvinist or a feminist!
Watch for free
The Boat Builders The Boat Builders
Documentary 1963 16 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A boat is a work of art, as this film illustrates so beautifully.
Watch for free
J.G. - John Ivor Golding J.G. - John Ivor Golding
Biopic 1973 14 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A glimpse of the life of a chain-smoking, proud-to-be-gay raconteur-of-sorts and resident of Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff.
Watch for free
The Opening of the Prince of Wales Hospital at Cardiff The Opening of the Prince of Wales Hospital at Cardiff
Non-Fiction 1918 13 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Miss Clara Deacon, matron (or 'commandant' as the press refer to her) of this pioneering hospital, accompanies the royal patron on his visit.
Watch for free
From Dyserth to Llandudno and Cardiff From Dyserth to Llandudno and Cardiff
Home movie 1958 4 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Donald Duck comes home with the Sunday School trippers from Bethel Chapel, Dyserth!
Watch for free
Encil Yr Haul/ The Sun's Retreat: an example of art in the environment Encil Yr Haul/ The Sun's Retreat: an example of art in the environment
Documentary 1978 19 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A mechanical grave digger is co-opted to help with the creation of a garden at Glan Ely High School, Cardiff.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.