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Summary: The First Sea Lord, Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, visits the US destroyer base at Queenstown, Cork, in 1918.
Description: Opening low-angle long shot from a small boat as it crosses the bows of USS Melville, moored with two destroyers alongside (one a Tucker Class vessel). Wemyss comes onboard with Commodore Brownrigg and Captain Marriott, to be greeted by Captain Pringle and the Melville's officers. Wemyss inspects crew and ship. Crew on quarterdeck, cheer for the camera and dance to the ship's band. "The Colour Problem": close-up of black orderly. Tall black rating posed alongside a shorter and fatter Caucasian as a humorous contrast (the white is a leading seaman, Gun Pointer first class, with two re-enlistments - he laughs heartily, the black rather wanly). Ship's mascot. Admiral Wemyss leaves the ship. Sequence showing survivors of a torpedoed merchantman being disembarked from a British destroyer and a steamer - some enter waiting ambulances, others walk away past camera (one acknowledges its presence by raising his hands in a triumphal gesture). US destroyers in harbour - including USS Duncan (46). Medium shot track along waterfront to the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Bluejackets come ashore on leave. Naval patrol falls in for inspection. Close-up of Commander Arwyne, organiser of the men's entertainments. USN Men's Club - billiard room and mess. Close-up as Wemyss commends Captain Pringle. Sunlit harbour scene. Final close-up of fluttering Stars and Stripes.
Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
Engholm, F W (Production company)
Engholm, F W (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Wemyss, Rosslyn Erskine (person)
Pringle, J R P (person)
Brownrigg, W Douglas S (person)
Marriott, T R (person)
Arwyne (Commander) (person)
United States Navy & Duncan (regiment/service)
United States Navy & Melville (regiment/service)
Keywords: ships, United States naval - destroyer: Duncan (46) (object name)
ships, United States naval - destroyer: Tucker Class (object name)
ships, United States naval - harbour: Melville (object name)
weapons, United States naval - gun: 4-inch (object name)
weapons, United States naval - gun: 2-pounder Maxim (object name)
delegations, British international - naval (object name)
recreation, United States naval - casual (object name)
casualties, British maritime (object name)
12/3(261.2).7 (event)
GB, Ireland & Queenstown, Co Cork (geography)
Race (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 894 ft; Running time: 15 mins