OPERATION NEPTUNE [Main Title]

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  • Title: OPERATION NEPTUNE [Main Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 1863
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Historical documentary on Operation Neptune (naval element of Operation Overlord) combines use of British and German archive film and modern interviews with Vice-Admiral Schofield (captain of «HMS Dryad» in 1944), Commander Stanbury (Intelligence specialist who checked Atlantic Wall beaches) and Admiral Parham (who commanded «HMS Belfast» on 6 June 1944) to recall planning and execution of Normandy landings.
  • Description: Composed of interviews with those involved, interspersed with archive footage taken from British, French and German sources. Aerial views of Southwark Park, the home of HMS Dryad (Naval navigation college and HQ of Operation Neptune) lead into an interview with Vice-Admiral Schofield, Captain of HMS Dryad in 1944. Schofield comments on the selection of HMS Dryad as HQ; later he will comment on the foul weather prior to D Day. An interview with one of Admiral Ramsay's Wrens follows, in which she discusses the pressure to open a second front. Intelligence specialist Commander Stanbury gives details on the planning and reconnaissance phases of the operation, including his recollection of personally swimming ashore at Normandy in order to inspect the defences; he will later give his impression of the landings themselves. A Canadian swimming tank driver gives details of training and the difficulty of operation for his vehicle. Mrs Gene Gordon recalls the amount of administrative support required prior to the invasion; she will later comment on the Wrens taking part in Admiral Ramsay's funeral. The operations room at HMS Dryad is shown, in its preserved state, as it was at "H" Hour on D Day. Aerial shots of Portsmouth Harbour follow. Leading to aerial shots of a lone landing craft, scene of an interview with Able Seaman Johnston who describes his impression of the flotilla before describing the problems of seasickness and disembarkation. This build up is contrasted with the ignorance of the German forces about the invasion, highlighted in an interview with the owner of the chateau in which the Germans had their Normandy HQ, who recalls a dinner and dance for the German officers on the very eve of the invasion. The calm of the night was shattered by the dropping of paratroops and the commencement of the bombing campaign prior to the invasion by Allied Forces. Admiral Parham (then captain of HMS Belfast) relays the part played by HMS Belfast at Normandy. The interview takes place on HMS Belfast's Captain's Bridge; Parham recalls the difficulty he had dodging landing craft while he sailed to the cruiser's bombardment position. He also suggests that HMS Belfast opened the bombardment on D Day. The film closes with contemporary shots of the Normandy coastline, alongside a British WWII sailor's grave, concluding with Admiral Ramsay's stained glass memorial at Portsmouth Cathedral.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 1863
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (MGH 1863)
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1971
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: HMS Belfast Trust (Production sponsor) Nautic (Production company) COSTELLO, JOHN (Production individual) More, Kenneth (Production cast) Bell, Martin1938-08-31Bell began his career as a foreign affairs correspondent in the 1960s and in the next 30 years he reported on conflicts all over the world. In 1997 he left the BBC to stand as an independent candidate in Tatton, Cheshire. He was successfully elected. Bell now acts as an ambassador for UNICEF. OBE (Production individual) Mulligan, Geoff (Production individual) Inns, David (Production individual) Elderton, Jim (Production individual)
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  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 1056 ft; Running time: 27 mins
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    MGH 1863

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