Description
Object description
Unedited and uncensored (?) newsreel footage showing units of the 50th Motorised Division en route to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) disembarking at Cherbourg from requisitioned Irish Sea ferries.
Full description
Part I. A cheerful looking 'Tommy' (an infantrymen serving with the 4th Battalion Green Howards judging by his cap badge) is seen on the Quai de France at Cherbourg sitting on a pile of kit bags, steel helmets and SMLE Mk III rifles very shortly after disembarking. Other men from the Green Howards and other units in the 50th (Motorised) Division pose for the camera. They are in Full Service Marching Order (FSMO) and are dressed against the cold with greatcoats and balaclavas. A column of men marches along the quay after disembarking from a requisitioned Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry (either «SS Fenella» or «SS Tynwald» ) and they put on a smile and wave their caps as they pass the camera; the ones who are carrying no weapons may be serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in a Field Ambulance unit. A cargo net filled with post bags is lowered by a dock crane onto the quay and its contents spilled onto the ground.
Full description
Part II. A view of the docks at Cherbourg busy with shipping landing reinforcements, vehicles and stores for the British Expeditionary Force; a modern freighter is seen unloading supplies at the quay nearest the camera whilst in the background beyond the column of British troops heading towards the harbour exit can be seen an Irish Sea ferry (either «MV Ulster Monarch» or «MV Ulster Prince») with two short funnels and a cross-Channel steamer with two tall ones. Two 3-ton lorries, the first a Bedford WTH, the second an Albion, motor in opposite directions on the road in the foreground. A diesel shunter locomotive slowly pulls a train of flatbed wagons carrying new Bedford OY 3-ton lorries along the dock railway past Cherbourg's idle trans-Atlantic passenger terminal; the train passes a Morris GS8 15-cwt truck parked on the quay near the spot where a cargo vessel (the modern freighter seen in Part I) is docked. A big dock crane lifts a Bedford MW 15-cwt truck high into the air from the freighter's forward cargo hold.
Full description
Part III. A view along the busy Quai de France; post bags are seen being loaded into the back of a Bedford WTH truck in the foreground as British troops land from a large Irish Sea ferry with two tall funnels nearest the camera and two Isle of Man ferries («MV Fenella» and «SS Tynwald») in the background. Troops in FSMO make their way carefully down a steep gangway from one of the two Isle of Man ferries and make their way past a transport officer supervising their embarkation. A large number of troops form up on the Quai de France before proceeding on the next stage of their journey. Scenes filmed from the quay showing British soldiers in FSMO coming ashore down a steep gangway from one of the Isle of Man ferries (either «SS Tynwald« or «SS Fenella»). Five soldiers pose for the camera at a square opening in the ship's hull. 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 (?).
Physical description
35mm