British Army Recruitment Film 1970's | Outdoor and Practical Crafts

This 1970s British Army recruitment film explores three major occupational interest areas to help new recruits choose the trade that best suits their skills. As the second film in a three-part series, it highlights the huge variety of careers available across the Army during the Cold War.

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The film begins with a visit to an Army Careers Information Office, before moving into the three featured areas:

Outdoor & Practical Crafts

This section focuses on hands-on, physically demanding roles that require toughness and teamwork. Recruits are shown building airfields, operating excavators, laying culverts, unloading ammunition at Marchwood, working as air despatchers, setting up fuel supplies, stringing communications lines across rough terrain and recovering vehicles such as the Ferret armoured car using an FV1119 Recovery Vehicle. The film makes clear that these soldiers work in all weather conditions and rely on practical skill, fitness and teamwork.

Drivers

For those drawn to vehicles and transport, the Army offers opportunities to drive everything from Bedford 4-tonners and Land Rovers to Antar tank transporters, motorcycles, cranes and the amphibious Alvis Stalwart. The film also highlights the Army’s own landing craft, including HMAV Aachen, hovercraft of 200 Hovercraft Squadron, and Eden-class vessels. Drivers are shown navigating difficult terrain, maintaining their vehicles and working independently when required, including scenes filmed in Cyprus.

Mechanical Maintenance & Workshop Crafts

This area is aimed at recruits who enjoy technical work with tools, machinery and engines. The film follows vehicle mechanics, fitter machinists, specialist armourers and marine and aircraft engineers as they repair Chieftain tanks, maintain landing craft, service helicopters such as the Westland Scout, test engines with advanced equipment and help construct or repair military facilities. Workshop trades such as carpenters, plumbers, welders and painters are also shown, all carrying significant responsibility for the safety and effectiveness of equipment and personnel.

The film concludes by summarising the qualities needed for each trade area, emphasising commitment, skill, responsibility and the importance of training. The closing scenes show soldiers arriving by RAF Hercules and driving off in Bedford lorries as the narrator trails the third part of the series.

A wide-ranging and authentic look at the trades that kept the British Army running in the 1970s.

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