THE STORY OF THE DRIFTERS : and of the sea dogs who man them [Main Title]

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  • Title: THE STORY OF THE DRIFTERS : and of the sea dogs who man them [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 553
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Tribute to the men of the minelaying and minesweeping drifters.
  • Description: (Reel 1) Their work on shore, preparing a mined anti-submarine net - wire splicing, making nets, fitting floats, detonators, etc. Work on the water - Lowestoft drifter loads netting and cable. Two types of mines - electro-contract mine for attachment to an AS net, and the floating mine (represented on screen by a buoy?). Drifters leave port for a "secret destination". Mk H.II (?) mine is embarked. Medium shot of HMS Melton underway. Paddle minesweepers at sea - HMS Sandown (903), HMS Albyn (587). Grimsby drifters leave harbour for minesweeping duties: "To these men the Nation owes a vast debt of gratitude." Scenes onboard destroyer leaders HMS Swift and HMS Broke: ratings embark on Broke; medium shot of bridge structure; crew cheers for camera; ship's dog; ship's bell; battle honours. HMS Swift: medium shot from the eyes as 6-inch gun is traversed (HMS Broke in the background); high-angle medium shot from crow's nest; meat ration; kitten on deck; medium shot of crew; officers pose with ship's dog. (Reel 2) A raid on the Belgian coast by a mixed naval force of monitors, destroyers, minesweeping drifters and motor launches. Admirals Ronarc'h and Bacon and Captains Bowring and Evans on HMS Broke. Medium shot of HMS Swift underway. Inboard shots of Broke's torpedo tubes. Various shots of destroyers in line ahead - Hawthorn and Admiralty M Class, Marksman Class Leader; HMS Marshal Ney, Erebus, and M15 Class monitor; drifters and MLs; C Class cruiser. HMS Broke - Admirals Ronarc'h and Bacon on the bridge; stern wash; anchoring at Dunkirk; Admiral Bacon goes ashore in motor boat Muriel.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: IWM 553
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1917-11
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor) Engholm, F W (Production company) Engholm, F W (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Peck, Ambrose M (person) Evans, Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell (person) Bacon, Reginald H S (person) Bowring, Humphrey (person) Ronarc'h, Pierre Alexis (person) Royal Navy, Melton (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Sandown (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Albyn (regiment/service) Royal Navy, BROKE (HMS), destroyer (1914) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Swift (regiment/service) Royal Navy, EREBUS (HMS), monitor (regiment/service) Royal Navy, ML275 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, ML279 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, ML278 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, ML55 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - gunship: Erebus & [+] (object name) ships, British naval - gunship: Marshal Soult (object name) ships, British naval - gunship: M15 Class (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Broke & [+] (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Swift (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Marksman Class Leader (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Admiralty M Class (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Hawthorn M Class & [-] (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: L Class & [-] (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: F Class (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: C Class (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper: Melton (898) & [paddle] (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper: Sandown (903) & [paddle] (object name) ships, British auxiliary - minesweeper: Albyn (587) & [paddle] (object name) ships, British naval - light forces: ML55 (object name) ships, British naval - light forces: ML275 (object name) ships, British naval - light forces: ML278 (object name) ships, British naval - light forces: ML279 (object name) ships, British naval - private: Muriel (admiral's barge) (object name) equipment, British naval - surveillance: searchlight (object name) weapons, British naval - passive: 65-pound electro-contact mine (object name) weapons, British naval - gun: 6-inch (object name) weapons, British naval - gun: 15-inch (object name) weapons, British naval - torpedo (object name) operations, British naval - mines: clearance (object name) operations, British naval - mines: laying (object name) combat, British naval - bombardment (object name) society, British naval - sustenance: meat ration (object name) animals, mammals: cat (mascot) (object name) animals, mammals: dog (mascot) (object name) 12/3(261.2) (event) 12/3(261.2).842 (event) GB, England & Grimsby, Lincs <harbour> (geography) Dunkerque, Nord, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1980 ft; Running time: 33 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 553

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