EXERCISE FABIUS II: AMPHIBIOUS LANDING PRACTICE BY 50TH NORTHUMBRIAN DIVISION AT HAYLING ISLAND, HAMPSHIRE [Allocated Title]

A month before the invasion of Normandy, 50th (Northumbrian) Division take part in Exercise Fabius II, a large-scale amphibious landing rehearsal.

Part 1: A wide shot showing a Bofors 40mm gun position; in the background a row of houses and a small conical tower. View of the gun traversing, the lower half obscured by an earth wall. The cook of the gun crew, Private T Morgan of Kinsley near Pontefract, preparing food on a trestle table beneath camouflage netting. Another soldier and a young boy watch. The cook stirs a pot on a brick stove. The regimental tailor, Gunner O'Hara of Harrow, Middlesex, kneels at a sewing machine on a wooden crate in a field; cows graze behind. Rear-quarter close-up of O'Hara operating the sewing machine. Two soldiers; one sits on a stool, the other (probably Bombardier Prince of Shaftsbury) kneels in a ditch cooking on a stove. A house and garden shed can be seen behind. Closer shot of Prince cooking on a stove. Exhausted by his efforts, Prince has a nap in a ditch. Two signallers, Signalman Russell and Signalman Hilard (sp?) at their bivouac.

Part 2: A fairly grey wide shot of the beach at Hayling Island with swimming DD tanks coming ashore. A DD Valentine tank drives off the beach Landing Craft Tank LCT 763 followed by another tank carrying fascines. Tank rolling up the beach; other tanks and an LCT behind them. Wide shot looking along the beach; a tank with fascines rolls away. A tank drags away some beach obstacles. Wide shot with various landing craft in the distance and an armoured bulldozer on the beach.

Part 3: An armoured bulldozer clears barbed wire. Wide shot with a group of observers on the beach, apparently including General Montgomery (in beret and flying jacket). Montgomery walks along the beach, passing some beach troops erecting a sign. A tank drives off LCT 727. A fascine tank drives off 727, as a Landing Craft Assault reverses away from the beach and turns around.

Part 4: Wide shot; LCT 427 and 766 beached with various vehicles (a fascine-carrying tank, Universal carriers, an M5 Half-track) on the beach. Troops on the beach; a Universal carrier passes followed by a half-track carrying troops. An impressive shot looking out to sea; a line of LCTs in echelon starboard approaching the beach, along with other LCTs and a number of barrage balloons float above them. Tilt down from a barrage balloon over the beach. General scene; five barrage balloons float over beached landing craft, men and various vehicles on the beach. A half-track exits the beach. Universal carriers use the exit; LCT 643 and 1033 in the background.

Part 5: A pair of Morris light reconnaissance cars approach the exit. A telephoto shot, crowded with LCTs; a bulldozer on the beach and a Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle driving off an LCT. A Universal carrier drives through a beach exit and crosses a seafront road past a parked bulldozer; a sign reads 'No Parking'. A line of DUKW amphibians coming ashore. Telephoto of the DUKWs and other vehicles. LCT 2452 with vehicles disembarking. Two men walking on the beach carrying a cable drum; a rapid tilt up shows them to be moving a barrage balloon. Looking out to sea; a warship (possibly HMS Dacres, a Captain Class frigate) signals by Morse lamp. Pan of the beach showing wire obstacles, recovery vehicles and men at work.

Part 6: US Navy Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) US 502 coming ashore. US LCI 507 dropping its gangway ramps and men disembarking. Men wading ashore from LCI 507. Men forming up on the beach. Men wade ashore from LCI 500 as a body of men march along the beach. Wide shot with beach LCA and LCI 503; men wade ashore with bicycles.

Part 7: LCT 907 beaching. The beach; LCT 922 and 924 beached with balloons above and men and vehicles ashore. A Churchill tank named 'Leviathan' passing and driving into the water to reembark on LCT 600. A fascine Churchill named 'Lurcher' passing.

35mm