SCENES IN THE SUEZ CANAL IN THE AFTERMATH OF OPERATION MUSKETEER [Allocated Title]
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- Title: SCENES IN THE SUEZ CANAL IN THE AFTERMATH OF OPERATION MUSKETEER [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: MGH 6791
- Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY LEADING SEAMAN JOHN VIDLER [Alternative Title]
- Summary: Amateur film shot by Leading Seaman John Vidler while serving on HMS Striker (L3516, Tank Landing Craft) records naval activities in Malta and at Port Said in the aftermath of the British attack on Egypt during the Suez Crisis in 1956 (Operation Musketeer). Also included is a reel showing the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 30 July 1966.
- Description: Reel 1: General deck views on board HMS Striker at sea during exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. Views on deck; various personnel can be seen. Cameraman John Vidler (bearded) is shown walking towards the camera on the starboard side; Able Seaman Price is on the focsle with two Marines. Further deck views; choppy sea. Other vessels in the flotilla including HMS Reggio can be seen aft of Striker. Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns on ship, manned by gun crew led by Petty Officer Tim Healy. (The flypast of aircraft, the jet performing a victory roll and the parachute drop were taken later at the Farnborough Air Show, and spliced in for effect.) Vessels alongside - one of these is HMS Rampart (L4037), Striker's sister ship (this is prior to a transfer of supplies at sea). HMS Striker in dock at Malta, prior to Suez: vehicles marked with "H" (for Operation Hamilcar, the original name for Operation Musketeer) are driven off. Views on deck. Cut to scenes on shore in Egypt after the British intervention, Able Seaman Price and colleagues recover Russian shell casings for souvenirs; red flag flies. In the background is the hospital ship La Marseillaise. Night shots - very underexposed - of officers on board Striker following tradition of stirring Christmas Pudding mix. Port Said harbour in daylight: small landing craft (S8) passes, other vessels in the background include HMS Reggio. Striker (on patrol in the canal) passes various large wrecks in the harbour, including two dredger Pollux, on its side in an area being used as a ship's graveyard. Another dredger, Peluse, is also seen. Shore views during the patrol, including the Suez Port Authority Building and Egyptian Police Station, and large numbers of vessels at shoreside. Aircraft carrier (HMCS Magnificent, carrying Canadian contribution to UN peacekeeping force). Men on board Striker take a cigarette break and pose for the camera, smiling; among these is John Vidler. Further general harbour and ship views, including scenes shot early in the morning on board RFA Sea Salvor, involved in salvage work (the raising of the suction dredger Paul Solente, the largest ship of its kind at the time and one of the ships sunk as a blockade by the Egyptian Navy). Everyone is wearing blue overalls, signifying that they are now under UN command. (Late October-early November 1956) [20 mins 40 secs] Reel 2: Further scenes in Suez harbour. Lysander aircraft (used to deliver mail) takes off from HMCS Magnificent: Whirlwind helicopter flies overhead and lands on Magnificent. Men at work on board Striker, maintaining deck equipment, including the large winch gear for the stern anchor. Views of vessels in the canal; Striker's cutter sails past, flying the UN flag. On deck, Egyptian "gash wallahs" assist in clearing away "gash" (rubbish); John Vidler goes over to talk with them. Location then moves to Malta, where HMS Striker is restocking the ship's stores: sailors, stripped to the waist, paint the side of the ship. Men pause for a tea break; tea is tipped over the side of the ship onto those painting below. Officers in uniform on board Striker; atmosphere is relaxed. Supplies are brought aboard in sacks. Views across harbour. Men moving links of chain on deck, other men relaxing (two play with a camera). Views at sea on the way to Naples: views of shore, including Sicily, with Mount Etna, shrouded in cloud. Striker in dock at Naples: alongside is the destroyer USS Waldron, part of the US Sixth Fleet - an aircraft carrier can also be seen. Tourist scenes in Naples: Castel Nuovo, Piazza del Plebiscito and the church of San Francesco di Paola. Further scenes on board ship, at harbour in Naples. Marines on board an assault craft being used as a liberty boat; crew (in formal uniforms) wave. Warships in background; British submarine passes, the crew standing formally on deck. (Suez scenes November 1956, Malta and Naples scenes early 1957) [17 mins 47 secs] Reel 3: (Described as "On the way to PS [Port Said] Second Time" on original can.) Views from HMS Striker in Sliema Creek, Malta: John Vidler (now clean shaven) leans against rail, playing guitar. Maltese Ferry and dghaisa (dghajsa) pass. Panning shots on board deck with crew. Very dark sequence, with dark shots of John Vidler's daughter at the end). Another ferry shot. View of Maltese street from window of John Vidler's upstairs flat in Vittoriosa, Malta: family members (two women and daughter) wave to the camera before walking off. Back on board Striker: further shots of ferry boat and views of quayside. John Vidler plays with two children - his daughter and a neighbour's son - on the roof terrace of the Vittoriosa flat. (ca Spring 1957) [7 mins 3 secs] Reel 4: Further Malta views: ferry boat, St John's Cathedral, dghaisa (dghajsa). Panoramic view of Grand Harbour with forts and various (British and US) warships. (ca Spring 1957) [1 min 46 secs] Reel 5: Small children, including John Vidler's daughter in dark glasses (under-exposed). Views from the window of the Vittoriosa flat showing British soldiers/cadets (Union flag flying) walking past as part of Sunday Church Parade. (ca Spring 1957) [2 mins 45 secs] Reel 6: Scenes of the 1966 World Cup Final, England versus Germany, at Wembley: exterior showing the stadium's iconic twin towers of Wembley Stadium and also shots of crowd on the terraces (a large number of Union flags can be seen, with the occasional German flag). One brightly attired gentleman is seen holding a flag inscribed "Cheer England to the Top of the World". Band on pitch prior to kick-off. Excerpts from the match, from behind goal - one of the goals is shown. (30 July 1966) [7 mins 8 secs]
- Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY LEADING SEAMAN JOHN VIDLER [Alternative Title]
- Colour: Colour
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: MGH 6791
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions:
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1956-11 1956 1957 1966-07-30
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Vidler, John (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, HMS STRIKER, landing ship tank (regiment/service)
- Keywords: Port Said, Egypt (geography) Valletta, Malta (geography) Naples, Campania, Italy (geography) Operation Musketeer & 1956 (event) Royal Navy 1945-2000 (theme)
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English
- Technical Details: Format: Std 8mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 6 Footage: 800 ft (ca); Running time: 55 mins (ca)
- HD Media:
- Link to IWM Collections page:
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