Description
Object description
Unedited and uncensored (?) newsreel footage showing units of the 50th Motorised Division disembarking at Cherbourg from three requisitioned Irish Sea ferries.
Full description
Part I. Reinforcements for the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) are seen on the Quai de France at Cherbourg docks shortly after disembarkation; the troops are all wearing greatcoats and are in full service marching order (FSMO). In the background can be seen a modern freighter and a requisitioned Irish Sea ferry with two short funnels (either «MV Ulster Monarch» or «MV Ulster Prince»). A long column of heavily-laden British soldiers with gas mask satchels worn around their necks files past French 'Poilus' at the exit. French stevedores try to push start a broken-down Bedford MW 15-cwt truck on the quay. On board one of the vessels docked at the Quai de France, four BSA motorcycles are swung out of a ship's hold in a cargo net under the supervision of a British Army Lance-Corporal. Two Bedford OY 3-ton lorries are briefly seen being towed on trailers across the quayside.
Full description
Part II. Scenes filmed from the quay showing British soldiers in FSMO coming ashore down a steep gangway from a requisitioned Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry (either «SS Tynwald« or «SS Fenella»). Five soldiers pose for the camera at a square opening in the ship's hull and men lining the ship's railings high on the boat deck wave at the camera. Scenes filmed on board the ship showing the heavily-laden British soldiers disembarking, taking one step down the steep gangway at a time and stepping ashore past two transport officers at the foot of the gangway on the quayside. More men are crammed into the space between the poop deck and main superstructure. A view from the ship of hundreds of men forming up into regular columns and squares on the quay as more soldiers step ashore. A brief interior shot inside a car (?).
Full description
Part III. A senior non-commissioned officer (a Regimental Sergeant Major ?) stands in the foreground as men from his unit file past him on the quay whilst others in the background disembark from a London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company (?) ferry. Men in full service marching order are seen stepping down a steep and wet gangway. Large numbers of British troops form up on the quayside; in the background is the LMS ferry with two funnels and two modern ferries with only one funnel each; they are «SS Tynwald« and «SS Fenella», normally used on the Liverpool - Isle of Man route. Three men hurl post bags lifted ashore in a big cargo net into the back of a British Army Bedford WTH 3-ton lorry. Another cargo net full of post bags is lowered (from the LMS ferry) onto the quay and the three porters set to work. Two merchant navy officers head past the camera on the quay as more troops disembark from the two Isle of Man ferries vessels in the backgound. Men in full FMSO make their way carefully down a steep gangway from one of the Isle of Man ferries watched by a transport officer on the quay. Soldiers in greatcoats and with gas mask satchels slung around their necks file past the camera - the framing of the shot crops their heads. Troops are seen disembarking from the other Isle of Man ferry in the background near where an Austin K2 ambulance is parked on the quay. Views of large numbers of British troops forming up on the Quai de France alongside the LMS ferry and the two Isle of Man ferries, from which yet more men are seen disembarking. Men disembark from two gangways from the LMS ferry. Filmed from one of the Isle of Man ferries, the breath of men using the steep gangway to disembark condenses in the cold winter air. Filmed on board ship from behind a line of men as they disembark through a side door in the ship's hull. Four soldiers from different units in the 50th Division sip tea out of their mess tins. A mess orderly (?) bends down low over a large cooking pot to pour tea from a mug into mess tins held out by a moving line of soldiers.
Physical description
35mm