On The Yser Front (1914)

On the Yser front - refers to Yser River in Belgium; near the North Sea. (I have had some difficulty in making an absolute identification of the soldiers here - possibly Belgian; in which case I believe the uniforms worn in this footage are the Yser uniform and also a 1915 khaki uniform supplied by Britain; and the French Adrian helmet; or else they are French).
Shot looking towards river; pan right to cemetery with simple wooden crosses sticking up from wildflowers. Ruins of village; with Belgian officers driving in car through what must have been square. Soldiers by ruins of house along river. French and Belgian officers walking through ruins of town; one is carrying a tiny puppy.
3 of them stand on narrow footbridge across the river; ruins on opposite bank. More shots of ruins. Good wide shot looking diagonally across river at docks; with bombed buildings behind them and the narrow bridge in front; pan on men crossing bridge. MS soldiers at camp. One man gives messages to another. 2 men carry a big pot past.
Various shots of more ruins. More of troops in camp: man sitting under tree reading letter; other men there; some clothing hanging on fence; etc. men sit at table playing cards next to shelter protected by stacked sandbags. CU soldier holding the same cute and tiny puppy inside helmet.
FILM ID:2470.04
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