Title:LANDINGS ON 'SWORD' BEACH, 6 JUNE 1944 (PART 1) [Allocated Title]
Film Number:A70 29-1-2
Other titles:
Summary: Assault units from the 3rd Division's 8th Brigade land on the coast of Normandy at 'Sword' Beach.
Description: On board Sergeant O'Neill's LCT, vehicle crews (13/18th Hussars' 'RHQ' Squadron and 8th Brigade HQ) stand by as their craft and another LCT approach 'Queen Red' Beach at La Breche, where a rising tide half conceals German beach obstacles. Shermans (Hussars 'C' Squadron) disembark to join other armoured vehicles near a beach exit; one vehicle (a flail tank ?) burns brightly. Filming from a sea wall near where a No 5 Beach Group troops' HQ and Bofors gun position have been established, the cameraman observes troops (2nd East Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Suffolks, sappers, signallers, beach personnel, No 4 Commandos) filing towards a beach exit, seeking shelter from sniper fire and mortar bombs by parked vehicles. Two wounded men (one British, one German) make an appearance. Elsewhere, abandoned vehicles are caught by the tide and others in the traffic jam on the beach are set on fire. LCTs, one of which approaches the shore with its tank deck on fire, arrive with tank and self-propelled artillery reinforcements. Commandos (No 45 Royal Marine Commandos ?) and the first infantrymen from the follow-up brigade (1st Norfolks) come ashore.
Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor)
Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company)
O'Neill, F D (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Div 3 (regiment/service)
British Army, Bde 8 (regiment/service)
British Army, Hussars, 13/18, Squadron RHQ (regiment/service)
British Army, Hussars, 13/18, Squadron C (regiment/service)
British Army, Yorkshire Regiment, East, 2nd Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, 4 Commando (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Royal Marines & 45 Commando (?) (regiment/service)
British Army, Norfolk Regiment, 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
Royal Navy (regiment/service)
Keywords: ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT & [damaged] (object name)
armour, United States - tank: M4 Sherman & [British] (object name)
combat, British - mortar bombardment [I] (object name)
combat, British - artillery bombardment [I] (object name)
casualties, British wounded - battlefield (object name)
casualties, German wounded - battlefield (object name)
defences, German - emplacement: beach obstacles (object name)
weapons, British - gun [AA]: Bofors (object name)
12/5(261.22).7 [ Operation Neptune] (event)
Sword beach, Calvados, France (geography)
Queen Red Beach, La Breche, Calvados, France (geography)
