From the Four Corners

It started in Trafalgar Square, WC2 viewed from the National Gallery.

Not a particularly straightforward shot to replicate with sun and depth seeking to confound. SJ

A second shot of the location. St Martin-in-the-Fields and South Africa House.

The traffic defied a shot from further away. SJ

The three meet up, Private J Johnston (The Black Watch of Canada), Corporal W Atkinson (Australian Imperial Force) and Private R Gilbert (2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force). A studio set with a rather confusing back projection of a segment of Trafalgar Square to include St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Confusing indeed. I think I've attained the rough angle of the backdrop. SJ

They are joined by Leslie Howard who happily tells them that the pubs north of Regent Street open at 11 o’clock and invites them for a beer. A more structured back projection of 6-8 St. Martins Place with the Coliseum to the left and the pillars of St Martin-in the-Fields to the right.

Much of the Coliseum is currently under wraps and tourists are rather in the way of 6-8 St. Martin's Place. SJ

They each then tell their story of their particular involvement in the war effort. How at the cinema, Corp. Atkinson had seen footage of Australian troops marching through the street on their way to the harbour. Looking north along George Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Troopless in 2025, with tall buildings behind. The statue of Queen Victoria now in front of the Queen Victoria Building was moved from Ireland in 1986.(SR)

They march past Sydney Town Hall, George Street, Sydney.

A peaceful Sydney Town Hall today. (SR)

Then he saw the troop ship leaving harbour and he made up his mind. Troop ship passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Pvt. Johnston, a farmer, had quite a piece of land near Vancouver. Had he not volunteered his wife would probably have kicked him on the boat. A general view south of Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada showing the Lions Gate Bridge.

Pvt. Gilbert, a law student sitting his finals, was prompted to consider the purpose of his studies if the war was lost. There just happened to be a recruitment office near to his office. Looking south down Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand with the Auckland Chief Post Office building to the left. Pleasing to see that the building on the corner of Queen Street and Customs Street, also survives.

Leslie Howard takes the three to show them why he thinks he knows why they answered ‘the call to arms’. An unusually high view up Ludgate Hill to St. Paul’s Cathedral introducing the subsequent studio based ‘viewing gallery’. One has to stretch one's imagination to expect to see some of the sights he will highlight from St. Paul's Cathedral.

From a more likely viewing gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral. “About 500 years ago an Englishman described London as being happy in the wholesomeness of its air, its ancient foundations and its most worthy liberty.” A view across the City of London towards Tower Bridge. The tower of St Mary Aldermary, Queen Victoria Street, foreground. Cannon Street station to the right before it was bombed on the 11th May 1941 with Adelaide House behind.

The landmarks of 1942 are now dwarfed.

“The River looks nice from here doesn’t it?” “Liquid history someone else called it”. Looking south east with Unilever House dominant in the right hand corner.

Unilever House is one of the few recognisable buildings remaining.

“Just over there, short of the Surrey hills lies Kingston, ‘King’s Stone’, where many of the early kings were crowned.” Market Place, Kingston upon Thames. It similarly features in a number of films including 'The Dock Brief', 'Operation Diplomat', 'The Lost Hours' and 'Marriage of Convenience' and 'The Yellow Teddy Bears'.

John Harwood found a gloomier day. (SJ)

“In fact the ‘Coronation Stone’, still stands in the Market Square.”

Equally deserted for John. (SJ)

“Those chaps made their mark on London. Alfred the Great for instance, the father of the British navy".

John did all seven sides just to be sure. (SJ)

A little way beyond Kingston is a place called Petersham, Richmond, Surrey at the time of filming. St Peter’s Church, as viewed from Church Lane looking south.

John found the trees re-arranged. (SJ)

"Buried there is Captain George Vancouver RN". “Well, I must tell them at home” says Pvt. Johnston.

“A little further along the River, Staines way, is Runneymede, where Magna Carta was sealed”. “No free man shall be taken or imprisoned or in any way destroyed nor will we send upon him except by the lawful judgement of his peers and the law of the Land” recited Pvt. Gilbert. It would seem that this location could well be the bank of the River Thames at Runneymede, Surrey nearest to the Magna Carta Memorial.

"Between the trees down there is Greenwich Hospital", SE10. "Captain Cook had a job there once and he is ‘common property’ to all three of you. As viewed from Greenwich Park.

John Harwood provides this sunny spring scene. (SJ)

“Look down to Tilbury”. “That is where your fathers and my fathers stood when we were threatened by the Armada with invasion”. Viewed from Gravesend West Street Pier (Kent), Tilbury Riverside Station (Essex) (closed 1992) and what is now Tilbury Cruise Terminal to the right on opposite bank together with 'Tilbury Hotel' to the left, ravaged by an incendiary fire in 1944.

“Have you seen the Shakespeare country?” “Bankside just down there across the River below us”. “That was their theatreland”. Referring to the siting of the original Globe Theatre built in 1598, destroyed by fire 1613, rebuilt 1614 and then demolished in 1644. Southwark Bridge holding center stage.

How noticeable that all those small properties have given way to block development.

“Will Shakespeare’s plays were often running at the old Globe Theatre down there.” A plaque marking the original site was erected in 1912 on the wall of the Anchor Brewery that occupied the site and now forms part of a wall at 123 Park Street, SE1

This is just east of Southwark Bridge on the south side of Park Street. SJ

“They used to entertain the troops home from the Netherlands and West Indies”. A section of the aforementioned plaque.

A livid hue to the colour of the plaque. SJ

“It is all yours, and that is yours too, you have your own parliaments now, but that is the mother of them all. Mother of the American Congress too”. The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge.

A view west from The Queen's Walk. SJ