JAPANESE OFFICERS COME ABOARD HMS NELSON FOR PENANG SURRENDER NEGOTIATIONS [Allocated Title]

With the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, a delegation of Japanese officers and officials come aboard the Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson to discuss the surrender of Penang.

On the forecastle of a ship a naval officer briefs a party of Royal Marines; he is standing by a blackboard with a chalked map of Malaya. In the background the battleship HMS Nelson can be seen. Medium close-up Royal Marine. Closer shot of the officer and his map, which shows Penang and the various Malay States. The marines disperse after their briefing. Penang in the distance; pan to HMS Nelson. A small Japanese vessel, escorted by a British destroyer, approaches camera in grey weather. The Japanese vessel approaches Nelson. View of Nelson with Penang behind; the weather appears to have markedly improved. Seen from HMS Nelson; the Japanese vessel (flying a white flag and a Imperial Japanese Navy ensign) comes alongside. Japanese sailor on the bow hurls a line to Nelson. Slight pan/tilt from white flag to the gangway staircase; Japanese officers come aboard. They salute as they step aboard, and several look up towards the White Ensign. In the Admiral's cabin; Japanese officers shown in. British officers take their seats. Japanese officers. Vice Admiral Harold Walker and others including Captain Thomas Hilken DSO (appointed Naval Officer in Charge Penang). Three British sailors on deck armed with Lanchester submachine guns. Close-up one of the sailors. Quarter master pipes the Japanese delegation as they depart. Japanese officers leaving HMS Nelson. Imperial Japanese Navy ensign flying at the stern of the Japanese boat (a trawler?). Brief shot shows the Japanese boat reversing with a Landing Craft Assault (LCA 1719) passing. The Japanese boat moving away; in the background a cruiser (possibly the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Ceylon). A smaller launch follows.

35mm