Title:MILITARY FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT ARTHUR BEANE [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BFO 109
Other titles:COLLECTION OF ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE TAPES [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Unedited clips of the interment of a Second World War Spitfire pilot, whose remains were discovered in 1989.
Description: The first 20 minutes are a series of unedited clips taken during a military funeral, when the recently discovered remains of Lieutenant Arthur Haggie Beane, who was killed in action 26 November 1943, were interred. He was a Spitfire pilot serving in «HMS Heron» of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was killed over France and was buried in the St. Charles de Percy War cemetery, St. Charles de Percy, Normandy, France on 3 February 1993. The unedited clips include various shots of the memorial cross on an atmospheric, foggy morning, a solitary bugler from the Royal Marines playing the Last Post, wreaths being laid and a firing party of 6 female officers from «HMS Daedalus» practicing in readiness for the ceremony. A parade of around 20 French standard bearers file into the cemetery, along with around 80 mixed military and civilian personnel who are present for the burial. The airman's coffin arrives, draped with the Union Jack and borne by 6 Naval officers from «HMS Daedalus», followed by the start of the ceremony, which is conducted by a French minister. The minister refers to the "young English pilot killed in action in a Spitfire" before the film stops suddenly.
The film then becomes a series of unedited clips of the bridge on a Royal Naval aircraft carrier. Clapperboards reveal the following information; RNSAP HMS EXCELLENT PORTSMOUTH, 16/7/1984.
Final section is a collection of unedited rushes of Sea Harriers and Westland Sea King helicopters taking off from the deck of an unidentified aircraft carrier.
Lieutenant Beane was initially commemorated on the Lee on Solent memorial to the missing. His Commonwealth War graves Commission (CWGC) entry can be viewed here - http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3078866. According to the CWGC, the final mix of the film is in their care.
Alternative Title:COLLECTION OF ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE TAPES [Allocated Series Title]
