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Roberts, John: Children playing war games in a suburban backyard (c.1941)

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Children playing war games

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

Two children, Kay and Barry Roberts, play in the garden. The young boy (Barry), dressed in an army green helmet and holding a toy rifle, takes aim at a fake enemy off camera. The clip ends with him lying on his stomach on the grass, staking out the invisible enemy. His younger sister Kay parades her pretty pink parasol.

Curator’s notes

by Poppy De Souza

Children have always played war games and simulated battles, but it is interesting to remember that at the time this footage was taken, the Second World War was in full swing. Roberts filmed various military parades, the 1941 Anzac Day march in Adelaide, and an armed forces recruitment parade the previous year. His interest in Australia’s involvement in the war may have had an influence on his children’s choice of recreational activity if it didn’t directly dictate it.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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