THE INVASION ARMIES TAKE OVER THE RUNNING OF A SMALL HARBOUR ON THE CALVADOS COAST (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: THE INVASION ARMIES TAKE OVER THE RUNNING OF A SMALL HARBOUR ON THE CALVADOS COAST (PART 1) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: A70 41-1
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The capture shortly after D-Day of one of the few harbours in Calvados lessens the Allies' problem of getting stores and equipment ashore while the 'Mulberry' harbour system has yet to become operational.
  • Description: The camera surveys the harbour at Port-en-Bessin (captured by Royal Marine commandos on D+2) where a Royal Navy LCT is seen discharging its cargo of stores. One of two German flak ships caught in the port by D-Day landings lies half-submerged by one of the quaysides. Buildings shot up by the German vessels in their death throes line the harbour front; also visible is a large reinforced concrete barrier built by the Germans blocking one exit from the outer harbour. Army Pioneers and Royal Navy Beach Group ratings load stores onto lorries on the quayside. Detachments from a British heavy anti-aircraft regiment and US Army (?) engineering equipment come ashore from LCTs. Free French sailors (from either Montcalm or Georges Leygues) greet local inhabitants, some of whom are seen helping in shifting stores. Sappers from 233rd Field Company Royal Engineers demolish with pneumatic drills and wirecutters part of the German barrier, allowing a 2nd Army Engineers' tipper truck access.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-06-10
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor) Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company) Ginger (Sergeant) (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Engineers, Field Coy 233 (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Pioneer Corps (regiment/service) Free French Navy (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT (object name) ships, German naval - anti-aircraft & [wrecked] (object name) defences, German - emplacement: concrete harbour barrier (object name) demolition, British - obsolescence: concrete harbour barrier (object name) equipment, United States military - engineering (object name) society, French - friendship (object name) supplies, British, movement [FA] - misc (object name) transport, British military - truck: tipper truck (object name) Second World War, North West Europe & Operation Overlord & 10/6/1944 (event) Port-en-Bessin, Calvados, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Footage: 489 ft; Running time: 5 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: initially intended for shallow-draught coasters, Port-en-Bessin became the Allies' main oil tanker terminal for the Normandy campaign from 30/6/1944. The unit which captured the port during the early hours of 8/6/1944 was No 47 (Royal Marine) Commando Remarks: good footage
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    A70 41-1

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