Calling Blighty

Poor welfare and especially length of tour duty, crystallised in the phrase "the Forgotten Army", led the War Office to investigate the significant issue of morale, which culminated in a tour of South East Asia Command (SEAC) by the Earl of Munster and his subsequent report in September 1944, although a Morale Committee had met regularly in the War Office since 1942.

In the studio a canteen set was built to provide a realistic and relaxing environment and personnel were brought in to deliver their messages.

The location unit usually comprised a director, two cameramen, two sound recordists, two assistants and a welfare officer responsible for making the contacts.

[1]: 33 [3][4] Generally, people from one particular city, town or region were grouped together in order to facilitate screening back in the UK, and while personnel from all three services are featured, they are predominantly from the army.

[1][5] Each Calling Blighty screening took place at a cinema in the subjects local area and was usually organised by the regional Army Welfare Committee.

A Calling Blighty film unit sets up a shot with the dance band of the Cameronians in Singapore 21 February 1946. On the right of the camera is the producer, Captain L Hamilton-Webb, while around the microphone are Staff Captain Jackson and brothers Louis and Ted De Rosa.
A Calling Blighty film crew prepares to film Royal Air Force personnel from Sheffield in a forward area on the Burma Front.