THEY reely weren't expecting that! A Weymouth family uncovered wartime newsreels whilst searching through old movies.

The surprising discovery was made by former channel swimmer and ardent Terras fan, Merv Sharp, his wife Rosie and sister-in-law Paula Martin.

Merv said: "Neither I, Rosie or Paula have any idea where these two films came from. My late father-in-law Stan Cheeseman was a keen amateur film maker and would record local and family events, but how he came into possession of these two movies we have no idea.

"I know that he served in the Royal Navy during the war and was on the North Atlantic Convoys and visited New York so maybe he picked them up there. There is no sound track on either, but they are captioned. The first film shows the American industrial might with its manufacturing of ships, tanks and aircraft, but the second features the war in the Pacific with some harrowing images of jungle combat both from the US and Japanese perspective.

"There is one close up scene where it is obvious that some American soldiers have been to hell and back, they have the 100 yard stare.

"I haven’t timed them, but they are about 15 to 20 minutes each in black and white. I have watched many wartime newsreel films before, but I have never seen these two."

The family are now eager to find more information about the two American wartime newsreel films and therefore they will be showing both movies at Weymouth Rugby Club next week.

Idris Martin, Merv's brother-in-law, said: "There were going through all the old family things and they just came across them. My father-in-law used to make family films. He would always record the Weymouth Carnival every year. They came across loads of things, then the two World War Two newsreel films.

"So we decided to show them next Thursday to anyone who is interested. It would be great if there was someone who might know what they are - we know its World War Two, but not what battle or anything like that. We hope someone can shed some light on it and help. If you are interested in that era that it would be great if you could come along.

"I've seen lots of newsreels of the war but I have never seen these two before. I don't know how my father-in-law got hold of them. We knew he was in the navy and went to America and Russia, but how he got hold of these I have no idea."

Merv will be showing both movies at Weymouth Rugby Club on Thursday, January 28 at 7pm.

For more details call Idris on 07774485186.

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