ROYAL NAVY SHORE BASE [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: ROYAL NAVY SHORE BASE [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 1069
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Routine on a Royal Navy shore station, probably just after the First World War.
  • Description: The film is slightly disjointed and concentrates almost exclusively on the parade ground. The station clearly operates aircraft (which are never seen) for some of the men, mixed indiscriminately with the others, wear RAF uniform. The action starts with a parade ground drill, the men marching past the Vice-Admiral in charge of the station. Then a jump to the end of a church parade with the chaplain ordering 'on caps'. Then more marchpasts, and a group of the men cheering the camera. (At this point the Gaumont logo appears). The men march past the station commander. Posed group shots of various officers, including the station commander, most of whom salute the camera. A junior officer inspects the station transport lorries. On the parade ground there is some confusion as RAF and Navy men are taught their respective drills and methods of saluting. Physical training for the men. A pay parade. An officer instructs men in the sundial. The men cultivate the camp allotments and feed the pigs. A group goes on leave. Back to the church parade - the non-Anglicans are dismissed and the chaplain begins. Then a long countermarch, led by the band, past the station commander. A posed group of the officers. Close-ups of the station bulldogs. The chaplain and his wife feed the chickens. More of the marchpast. One sailor receives a leave slip from another (acted). Two Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officers together. Another shot of the bulldogs. 'Eight bells' is sounded on the station bell and the guard changed over. A final portrait shot of an officer. (The sea is never seen in the film.)
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 1069)
  • Featured Period: 1919-1939
  • Production Date: 1919
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Gaumont (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy (regiment/service) Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: operations, British naval - routine (object name) operations, British naval air - routine (object name) religion, Christianity - military, British (object name) animals, mammals: pig (object name) animals, birds: chicken (object name) animals, mammals: dog (mascot) (object name) ceremonies, British - customary (object name) GB, England (?) (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 762 ft; Running time: 12 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Remarks: for sheer pointlessness and dullness the activities of this station deserve some kind of prize. Surely this is not the way the Royal Navy wished to be presented to the world ?
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 1069

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