Snapshots from Normandy (1944)

by Linda Kay

British Pathé

Synopsis: Newsreel footage shot during the allied invasion of Northern France shows bridges being built and demolition taking place in the heavily bombed village of Tilly.

Reality Cat: The end of the segment shows front line soldiers getting meals to eat in their slit trenches. A little white village cat named Snowball is then shown making friends with the men in a machine gun nest.

Snapshots from Normandy - white kitten Snowball with machine gun nest soldiers

The last shot of the film shows the kitten playing with Private Connell’s finger as the narrator explains, “For him, Private Connell’s trigger finger is itching to be scratched.” Fortunately the soldier does not have his finger on the trigger while the cat is playing with him.

Snapshots from Normandy - white kitten Snowball playing with machine gun shooter Private Connell's finger
Snapshots from Normandy - white kitten Snowball playing with machine gun shooter Private Connell's finger

Final Mewsings: Cats can usually find cat lovers anywhere.

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