The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
The US Troops' Peace Tree at Braunton
US Troops' Peace Tree at Braunton
In partnership with:
Overview
US troops from the US 'Assault Training Center' plant a symbol of peace in a ceremony in the grounds of St. Brannock’s Church in Braunton, North Devon on Monday 5 June. The troops are friends with Rev. J.H Prince. On 4 June General Eisenhower announces Operation Overlord and on 6 June the D-Day landings begin. The 146th Engineers are one Battalion deployed to Normandy from Southampton on 7 June and have the task of clearing underwater obstacles and mines and building bridges.
The peace tree was planted with a plaque: “This tree was planted on June 5 1944 by American enlisted men of diverse faiths visiting and volunteering work upon this scared ground during the War of Liberation as a personal tribute to Britain’s glorious stand against aggression”. The 254th constructed an assault training centre in the sand dunes at Saunton and Braunton and the 146th took over Braunton Camp. These facilities proved realistic, building exact replicas of German fortifications thought to exist in Normandy. Lt. Col. Paul W. Thompson was in charge of training the Americans for the assault on the Normandy beaches. In May 1992, as Brigadier-General, he unveiled a memorial in their honour.
Related
Watch for free
Sip-and-Puff Assistive Technology Sip-and-Puff Assistive Technology
Current affairs 1975 6 mins Location: Braunton
Eileen Brown lives with Multiple Sclerosis and uses assistive technology to write after seven years.
Watch for free
Somerset Stars at Braunton CC Somerset Stars at Braunton CC
News 1980 1 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Cricket stars turn out for centenary at the Kelsey Ground Braunton CC
Watch for free
End Piece to Opus One: The Car goes Home End Piece to Opus One: The Car goes Home
Amateur film 1955 1 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Eddie takes to the lanes in his old car around Braunton
Watch for free
Farm Auction at Braunton Farm Auction at Braunton
Amateur film 1955 3 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Cattle and sheep at Braunton Auction
Watch for free
Braunton Bulb Farm Braunton Bulb Farm
Amateur film 1960 12 mins Silent Location: Woolacombe
Horticulturalists rear fine blooms
Watch for free
Felling the 'Cross Tree' Felling the 'Cross Tree'
Amateur film 1935 2 mins Silent Location: Braunton
Lumberjacks of Braunton: north Devon villagers gather to cut down their celebrated 'Cross Tree' to make way for a better road system.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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 Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.