HMS MOTH AND HMS CADDIS FLY (?) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: HMS MOTH AND HMS CADDIS FLY (?) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 71
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The gunboats HMS Moth and HMS Caddis Fly (?) on the River Tigris and the River Euphrates, Mesopotamian Front, 1918.
  • Description: The film starts with a slow pan of a Fly Class river gunboat, probably HMS Caddis Fly. An Insect Class gunboat, HMS Moth, which is larger, is moored by the riverbank, and bombards the area with its 6-inch and 12-pounder guns. HMS Caddis Fly is shown on patrol, and making smoke while at anchor. The river shown may be the Tigris, the Euphrates, or both.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1918
  • Production Country: GB United States of America
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) International Film Service (Production company) Varges, Ariel L (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Moth (regiment/service) Royal Navy, CADDISFLY (HMS), gunboat (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - light forces: Moth (object name) ships, British naval - light forces: Caddis Fly (object name) combat, British naval - bombardment (object name) 01/3(567) (event) Turkey & Tigris River, Mesopotamia (?) (geography) Turkey & Euphrates River, Mesopotamia (?) (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: 544 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Title: the shotsheet gave this film the title HMS MOTH AND VARDIS. The store ledger, which is of an earlier date, gives it as just KARDIS. Neither name fits the Fly Class river gunboat shown. HMS Caddis Fly, which served in the area, seems the most likely candidate. Summary: see also IWM 5, IWM 6, IWM 11 and IWM 82. Remarks: the light and shade contrast between the sunlight, the water and the ships themselves is very beautiful.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 71

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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