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.
Picking Potatoes - Pontllanfraith Schoolboys at Bassaleg Harvest Camp
Schoolboys and spuds in the great outdoors – Bassaleg pupils get their hands dirty for the war effort
From the collection of:
Overview
Pontllanfraith schoolboys swap their books for buckets for the war effort at Bassaleg Harvest Camp. Potato picking and corn stooking are the main tasks, with some help from the Land Girls. There’s ploughing, too, with tractors and horses under skies ploughed by warplanes. It’s hungry work, and the cornish pasties devoured in the field are as welcome as the supper and hot showers back at base.
The filmmaker, Evan Owen Jones (1905-88), was born and brought up in Prospect House, North Street, Abercynon, to parents who hailed from Tudweiliog on the Llŷn peninsula. He studied art at the Slade School of Art and taught the subject at Aberpennar Grammar School, Pontllanfraith High School and Llandrindod College. He passed his last years at Mynytho, Gwynedd.
Related
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Bell of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.
Watch for free
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Watch for free
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
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.