COLONIAL POLICING IN ADEN AND BRITISH SOMALILAND [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: COLONIAL POLICING IN ADEN AND BRITISH SOMALILAND [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 6897
  • Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY LES TOMPKINS [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: Amateur film shot by Les Tompkins during the 1950s, with own commentary reflecting post-imperial nostalgia subsequently added in the 1980s, records his service in the Aden Police, and his final posting in the British Colonial Police preparing the local police force in British Somaliland before the Protectorate's independence in 1960 as Somalia.
  • Description: Section 1: "Aden 1954" traced in sand by his wife, Biddie Tompkins. Views of Aden, including statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Park Gardens, Crescent Hotel, rest-house for BOAC pilots, Goldmore Bathing Club. (Till 20 mins). Section 2: Scenes in Crater inlet. Detailed views of dhow construction. (Till 27 mins) Section 3: "Shebam" Scenes in the Hadhramout in the Aden Protectorate; aerial views of city from Dakota, whose passengers include pilgrims to Mecca. Man identified as "the great Arabiist Doctor Sargent of Cambridge University". is Robert Bertram Serjeant (1915-1993). Return to Aden by Aden Airways flight. (Till 42 mins) Section 4: "To the Hadramaut of Saudi Arabia" Preparations for slow road journey over desert. (Till 53 mins) Section 5: "The Rub al Khali Desert" Another long journey and return to Aden. (Till 79 mins) Section 6: "Aden Police" Tompkins, who was in command of the police launches in Aden Harbour, films his two patrol launches, Mahassim and Margara, as well as the British medals worn by his Aden policemen. USN destroyer USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD 713) in harbour. Somali workers, bearing small bags of possessions, being repatriated on vessel Velho to British Somaliland (work in Aden reportedly being reserved for Aden citizens). Governor of Aden arrives to open Parliament. Military section of Aden Police, commanded by Khan Sahib, on parade, wearing medals including British Empire Medal. Commissioner Vincent takes salute at marchpast by Armed Police ("sad to think these men turned against us when the Aden riots started"). British Army soldiers demonstrate how to deal with rioters, holding up sign "Disperse or We Fire" before aiming at the protestors' knees. Jock Stewart (or Stuart ?) shows how to throw gas grenade {"armed police used it against us later on"). Officers of the Aden Police include Jimmy Brean, Somali and Aden officers, and Khan Sahib. Governor arrives outside Government House for Queen's Birthday Parade, comprising Aden Camel Corps, British Army, Government Guards and Aden Police (an event loved by the people of Aden, according to Tompkins). RAF flypast. Locals sell khat for chewing (custom which police failed to eradicate). Another riot control exercise, where "protestors" throw bags of flour, prior to becoming casualties and being taken to hospital for interrogation about causes of riot. Police commissioner Jock Stewart attends inquest, officiated by Supreme Court from Nairobi, with presiding judge inspecting parade. Police sports day: Scots Guards play bagpipes "loved by the people of Aden"; Indian wives, dressed in saris, of armed police officers. (Till 104 mins) Section 6: "Last days in Somaliland" Arrival by ship at Berbera at the start of Tompkins' final posting after twenty years' police service. Various local scenes, including export of sheep to Aden by dhow, before arrival at police station in Mandera (North-Eastern Kenya border) (Till 109 mins) Section 7: Home leave in bungalow at Widemouth Bay, Cornwall, in 1958. (Till 118 mins) Section 8: Colonial expatriate life in Mandera: swimming pool, drinking, roast goat for Christmas. (Till 123 mins) Section 9: Animal safaris in Somaliland and Djibouti. Touring country as British Police training Officer to prepare Somali police force for independence. "What wonderful people the Somalis are - goodbye!" Section 10: "To UK via Suez Canal" Voyage home to UK on the Union Castle liner Rhodesia Castle at end of eighteen month posting in British Somaliland.
  • Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY LES TOMPKINS [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 6897
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (KAY 1923)
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1954
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Tompkins, Leslie Arthur19042009-03-22 (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound
  • Technical Details: Format: VHS Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Length: 150 minutes (ca)
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 6897

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    Documents.20713 (System.Xml.XmlElement)
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