HMS NORFOLK ESCORTS ARCTIC CONVOYS [Allocated Title]

Amateur film shot by Commander John Litchfield while serving on HMS Norfolk on escort duties with the Arctic convoys PQ.16 and PQ.17 to North Russia.

I. Reel One. PQ.16. LS from the bridge of HMS Norfolk to the mountainous coastline of Iceland - merchantmen and the convoy's RN escorts are gathered in the anchorage. Norfolk makes to sea followed by HMS Kent and accompanied by destroyers. LA of signal hoist on Norfolk - the halyards are held by a bearded Lieutenant who is laughing uproariously - in the background is visible the cruiser HMS Liverpool. On the bridge a Lieutenant-Commander turns and smiles broadly on seeing the cameraman. The dwindling mountains of Iceland are seen over the barrels of one of Norfolk's twin 4-inch guns. The cruisers steam in line ahead, Liverpool and another preceding Norfolk. Sunset.

II. Sequence showing Norfolk in rough weather - she is in company with a King George V Class battleship (HMS King George V ?) which is also rolling heavily. This may show Norfolk with Howe as distant cover for convoy JW.53 in February, 1943, when very strong gales were encountered.

III. Ice and fog. In calm, clear conditions the officer of the watch (Reverend Ken Matthews, chaplain and in command of ack-ack lookouts) is seen on the bridge wearing cold weather clothing and smoking a pipe - he looks through his binoculars obligingly, then turns to smile at the cameraman. LS of the cruisers USS Wichita and USS Tuscaloosa passing in front of an iceberg (these two ships formed part of the covering force for PQ.17). In brilliant sunlight, HMS Norfolk steams through light ice, and officers and men stand by the rail watching the passing floes. Cut to men in cold weather gear walking along a deck transformed by heavy encrustations of ice - a dense fog swirls over the sea - nearby the three funnels of a County Class cruiser (HMS London ?) are just visible in the gloom. LA of ice-covered barrels of twin 4-inch gun (sunny again). Black and white sequence showing HMS Liverpool in foggy conditions.

IV. Air defence of PQ.16. LS pan over the convoy - among the merchantmen are the cruisers Liverpool and Nigeria. Flak speckles the sky. London passes left to right at speed. LSs over the convoy show the defending escorts wreathed in smoke from light AA. Norfolk opens fire with 4-inch AA and LS of Liverpool as she does the same. The convoy continues on its course in calm, clear conditions. LS off the port beam of the AA ship HMS Alynbank, wearing a vivid disruption scheme - just visible behind her is Liverpool. In the interval between attacks men relax - a man in anti-flash opens a pack of cigarettes. Norfolk opens fire as more flak fills the sky over the convoy. Partially obscured by a passing merchantman, a large explosion takes place across the convoy (a torpedo hit ?). The escorting cruisers are obscured by the thick brown smoke from their 4-inch guns. Tracer from Norfolk's 2-pounders pursues a low flying raider.

V. PQ.17. On the bridge of HMS Keppel Commander Broome, noticing the cameraman, picks up his steel helmet and raises it in greeting. Keppel is alongside Norfolk refuelling - this is after the escorts had left the convoy. Refuelling completed, Keppel makes off.

VI. Iceland. LS of HMS Belfast passing left to right across Icelandic anchorage.

VII. LS across an anchorage to a merchant ship - she appears to have a fire forward. Contrails in the sky suggest aerial combat and the ship may be in a Russian anchorage, victim of German air attack.

VIII. Reel Two. CUs of HMS Norfolk moored in Icelandic anchorage (Hvalfjord) - shot from a smallcraft. A tanker is silhouetted against the mountains of the Icelandic coastline. A prolonged study of the coastal mountains - at the end of the sequence they are catching the light of the declining sun. A group of men clown about on the ice along the shoreline. Sunset over the mountains. Cut to interior scene, presumably onboard Norfolk - an art exhibition is underway, the cameraman favouring a languid nude study. Sequence showing a concert, the female roles being played by men. Officers, including Commander Broome, enjoy grog in Norfolk's wardroom. Deck sports - a tug of war, rope climbing, a sack race. CU of one of the ship's officers relaxing in the septentrional sun, his cap over his face, while another, the bearded Lieutenant with the ready sense of humour, wears the traditional British handkerchief on his head. Cut to a lengthy study of a puffin colony on a rocky islet - like all right-minded men the cameraman seems fond of puffins. HA on Norfolk as Flag Officer Commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron, Rear-Admiral Hamilton (?), comes onboard to be received by Acting Captain Litchfield (temporarily in command on account of illness of captain).

IX. Norfolk heads out to sea ahead of a King George V Class battleship - sea is calm, but there is heavy low cloud. An aircraft carrier is passed, but in the early light it is virtually invisible against the black coastline. This sequence may relate to episode II.

X. PQ.17. First Cruiser Squadron heads out to sea. HMS London precedes Norfolk.

16mm