DUNKIRK EVACUATION AND FLEET AIR ARM TRAINING SCENES [Allocated Main Title]
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- Title: DUNKIRK EVACUATION AND FLEET AIR ARM TRAINING SCENES [Allocated Main Title]
- Film Number: MGH 6859
- Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY LIEUTENANT PHILIP RODERICK HALL RN [Alternative Title]
- Summary: Two reels of amateur film shot and subsequently edited by Lieutenant Philip Roderick Hall, notably while serving on HMS Whitehall during the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk in 1940, and during his subsequent training as a Fleet Air Arm pilot (prior to being killed in action on 14 June 1942); film also includes off-duty scenes relaxing in England, probably during the summer of 1941.
- Description: Reel 1: Bow and stern views from on board Admiralty Modified W Class destroyer HMS Whitehall (D 94) pitching and rolling through heavy seas, with another two-funnelled destroyer signalling on the horizon. In calmer waters, sailors on board HMS Whitehall (nameplate partially visible) manhandle on deck and then test fire depth charges, which hit sea without detonating. (4 mins 11 secs) Pan along empty mole at Dunkirk [with distinctive diagonal trusses and ladders improvised to allow evacuating British and French troops to reach decks of small vessels previously alongside - but not seen on film], with sunken armed trawler in foreground. On board HMS Whitehall, starboard view aft records deck packed with British Expeditionary Force (BEF) soldiers all wearing helmets and with anti-aircraft guns elevated against German air attack [during one of her four voyages back to Dover, 30 May - 1 June 1940] during Operation Dynamo. Another destroyer, HMS Wolsey (L 02) passes, her deck packed with evacuated troops. Camera pans across fires and smoke over Dunkirk town, with distinctive white and striped lighthouse in background and rapid passage of arriving and departing destroyers, and one Cross-Channel ferry, assisting in the evacuation. A destroyer fires her rear anti-aircraft armament, and another appears so low in the water as to be sinking or aground. (5 mins 4 secs) Convoy of tankers and other vessels at sea off the south coast of England, protected overhead by Avro Ansons of RAF 48 Squadron (planes O, R and B) of Coastal Command, which make repeated passes over the camera ship, as does a Short Sunderland flying boat. Destroyer approaches and transfers sack by jackstay. In calm seas junior RN officers lark around on deck for camera; two officers (Surg. Lieut. James G Brown and Roderick Hall) then practise their golf shots by driving golf balls into the sea. Larking continues, with James Brown pushing over an officer on a lilo, appearing with two other officers and 'gesticulating'. Later he appears cartwheeling down the starboard side of the ship, walking a make-shift tight rope, practising golf strokes, then sunning himself on a lilo. Roderick Hall reads book. Whaler is lowered into the sea and is rowed across to a merchant ship, which has halted, then returns and is raised on davits. Passing HMS Calcutta (D 82) on the horizon as she returns to Plymouth bearing on her bow part of the bridge structure of HMCS Fraser [following their collision during the evacuation from France on 25 June 1940]. Passing HMS Calcutta, now berthed at dockside at Devonport, awaiting removal of the bridge structure of HMCS Fraser. Sunken vessel in foreground, and convoy in distance. Whaler pulls alongside Admiralty V and W Class destroyer HMS Wessex (D 43) [prior to being sunk on 25 May 1940], with torpedo slung on davit, then returns to HMS Whitehall with retrieved torpedo, hauled aboard with fuse still smoking. Off-duty, two junior RN officers enjoy company of two young women in a sports car; playing in small swimming pool with lilo, onto which the men, including James Brown, place a reluctant black labrador for their own amusement. (11 mins 23 secs) Reel 2: Men carry on playing with labrador on lilo in small pool. Scene changes to a larger pool near a large modern country house, with RN lieutenant and girls relaxing by pool in sun and diving from board. Lieutenant with cigar and two young women. Young officers and women (one a WRAF Corporal). Hairy caterpillar on ground. Mixed group of young men (Fleet Air Arm trainees) in civilian clothes and RN and RAF uniforms outside a RAF-style hut at No. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire, for advanced flying training. Camera lingers over large number of empty spirit (whisky, bacardi, gin) and beer bottles, which have been artistically arranged on the grass, forming a pattern of letters: PDA F GCBH 1941; three FAA trainees, with Roderick Hall in the centre, demonstrate for the camera the pleasures of drinking, while a 2/6 Cheap War Edition copy of Dorothy Sayers' detective story "Strong Poison" points to the dangers. Servicemen and servicewomen drink more conventionally indoors. Flying training scenes record Fairey Battle taking off, Hawker Hart or Ospreys and Fairey Battles in flight and on an airfield with large hangars in the distance. RN and RAF officers together; pilot and observer/instructor climb into Fairey Battle which taxis and flies above the clouds. RAF and RN officers, latter now with wings. Partially burnt-out fuselage of Fairey Battle (D 30 on fuselage) lies in field, covered with fire-extinguishing white foam; a fellow officer holds up for the camera various parts of the German bomb which must have been dropped in a surprise Luftwaffe raid on the training station airfield [see possible incident under Notes below]. (9 mins 6 secs) Group of Fleet Air Arm officers, pending Deck Landing Training (768 Naval Air Squadron ?), wait on Glasgow Railway Station platform, then walk along street outside station where Rogano's Oyster Bar is visible. Group piles out of truck and boards vessel, with camouflaged County Class cruiser and R Class battleship visible at anchor (Firth of Clyde?). On board aircraft carrier HMS Argus steaming off Lamlash (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde) naval pilots in Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Fulmars practise Deck Landing Training using arrester hooks, pilots being brought in by batman on deck [ 21-22 September 1941]. On board fast launch, returning to Ardrossan quayside. Group shot of Fleet Air Arm lieutenants and sub-lieutenants standing outside hangar, presumably before posting overseas. (12 mins 53 secs)
- Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY LIEUTENANT PHILIP RODERICK HALL RN [Alternative Title]
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised: Yes
- Object_Number: MGH 6859
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM
- Featured Period:
- Production Date: 1939
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Hall, Philip Roderick (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations:
- Keywords:
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
- Technical Details: Format: 16mm 2 reels; Super 8mm 2 reels; DVD Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 611 ft; Running time: 15 mins
- HD Media:Yes
- Link to IWM Collections page:
- Related IWM Collections Objects: