The Battle of Britain

PEOPLE AT WAR - A SEAMAN'S STORY [Main Title]

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Fair Use

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Catalogue number
  • COI 107
Production date
1943
Place made
GB
Subject period
Creator
Category
film

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Object description

The courage and service of the British merchant seaman, typified by the story of a Newfoundlander who had been torpedoed four times, related in an interview in his room as he packs for a new trip.

Full description

After an opening convoy sequence, the film concentrates on the seaman (who is never named) and his interviewer, with occasional illustrative use of stills and stock shots, and interruptions by a commentator. Torpedoed first in the Spanish Civil War, second time in 1940 on the tanker 'Imperial Transport' which broke in two, the crew successfully bringing the stern section 300 miles back to England; after 2 years on coastal ships the seaman joined a liner in time to be torpedoed the third time on the way back from South America and to suffer 20 days in an open lifeboat before being picked up by a Portuguese ship. The fourth torpedo sunk the ship in which survivors of the third were being transferred to Gibraltar. Film ends with an encouraging epilogue from the commentator "the other side of the story is one of victory."

Physical description

35mm

Associated people and organisations

Associated places

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