Britain's Youth

The British public are encouraged to keep fit, as audiences are reminded they are “a nation of sportsmen” and “not a nation of spectators”.

‘Britain’s Youth’ focuses on sports that were enjoyed in large numbers by amateurs in 1940s Britain, and emphasises how sport played an important role in both the armed forces and civil defence services. The film helps to underline the benefits of sport in a time of war, as new recruits report for service in peak physical condition.

This government film is a public record, preserved and presented by the BFI National Archive on behalf of The National Archives, home to more than 1,000 years of British history.