SONS OF OUR EMPIRE EPISODE 2 : Glimpses of the British Navy in war time [Main Title]

The British battle-cruiser squadron base at Rosyth, July-August 1916.

I. (Reel 3) The Royal Naval Air Service at Felixstowe. First their marching band. Then aircrew running a Curtiss H.2 flying boat, possibly one of the first two purchased from the Curtiss company, out of its hangar for launch. Note that the Anzani engines are running. This is followed by the prototype Porte F.1. These and other seaplanes in the air, including a Sopwith Baby. The Felixstowe (?) practises bomb runs against a partly sunken wreck. The Porte F.1 and a Short 184 are brought in by tugs. Commodore Caley and Flight-Commander Porte pose in a group with Commander Lynes. The seaplane carrier HMS Engadine launches a Short 184, which flies on patrol and returns to the ship. Some of the seaplanes stunt flying. II. The submarine service. E.23 is loaded with torpedoes, and moves off surfaced, submerges, surfaces and fires her 12-pounder, before returning to the base and being dry docked. III. (Reel 4) The battle-cruiser force, starting with a view of HMS Lion. Admiral Beatty's dog. Filming from a small boat in the harbour, the camera shows HMS Tiger, HMS Chester, with the 5.5-inch gun beside which Jack Cornwell died, and some of his shipmates, HMS Birmingham with a destroyer escort passing under a bridge, the hospital ship HMS Garth Castle collecting wounded from a drifter, and unloading others onto the shore. The wounded are taken by train to a convalescent home. HMS Princess Royal at medium distance in sunlight on a dappled sea, and at anchor. HMS Yarmouth (? possibly HMS Phaeton) at anchor. Torpedoes being loaded and fired from the destroyer HMS Firedrake, in rough weather at "15 knots an hour" (sic). Members of the crew display the ensign and a lifebelt captured from the submarine UC.5. A King Edward VII Class battleship fires a broadside.

35mm