This film is part of Free

Rotherham Services Procession

This is an absorbing film of a Remembrance Day service and procession in Rotherham, unusual in being held in wartime, and made more poignant for being so.

Non-Fiction 1942 9 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for Yorkshire Film Archive

Overview

Here we have all the ceremony of a Remembrance Day service and procession being held in Clifton Park in Rotherham in 1942. It being at the height of the war meant that as well as the usual military personnel, all the home front services are also in evidence, including a women's brass band. It also meant that many of those attending would surely have lost loved ones in the conflict, which must have given the day an added quality of pathos.

This film was made by Rotherham bank manager Charles Chislett, who was an exceptional, almost semi-professional filmmaker. As an active member of the Church Pastoral Aid Society Chislett’s chief interest was in taking films to raise money for charity, giving very many film shows, each accompanied with a lecture. He later made excellent films of his many travels in retirement. Remembrance Day was founded to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War, to coincide with the formal end of hostilities "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month." Now it also serves to remember those who have lost their lives in all subsequent wars.