INVASION OF SICILY [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: INVASION OF SICILY [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 561
  • Other titles: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Scenes on troopship Reina del Pacifico en route to Sicily, troops going ashore in LCAs and scenes of disembarkation on the beaches.
  • Description: I. Troopship at sea. Sequence showing troops at PT. CU of men cleaning weapons - a Bren, Lee-Enfield, Thompson sub-machine gun. Two soldiers read SOLDIER'S GUIDE TO SICILY. Men relax at cards. Man cleans a .38 Smith and Wesson. Others mend clothes or simply look out at the other ships in the convoy - SS Orient is visible in the distance. One man writes a letter. HA onto port bow of HMS Tetcott (L.99) come close alongside the cameraship - a light heaving line is passed across. Various MSs of troop transports astern and in a neighbouring column. Soldiers onboard continue to check their equipment - one man cleans and reassembles a two inch mortar, another disassembles a 36M grenade, removing the striker lever, striker and striker pin, while a third cleans the cylinder of a .38 revolver. MLS over the convoy - the three-funnelled Queen of Bermuda is nearby. Sequence showing the approach of HMS Tetcott and the passing of a light line. Further shots of the convoy, including the Orontes and either Strathnaird or Strathnaver. II. Arrival off the Sicilian coast. HA from the cameraship as a LCR heads inshore. The sun rises over the invasion fleet. LS of three LCAs heading for the shore. LS to the coast, partially obscured by smokescreens - three LCTs move right to left in mid-ground and a Colony Class cruiser bombards. The cameraship begins disembarking troops - troops clamber down scramble netting into LCAs which then make off - LCP(S) 43 is also alongside. Nearby is LSI(S) Amsterdam (?) also disembarking troops. MS to Reina del Pacifico as cameraman departs in a LCA - the craft heads inshore past LCI(L)s and LCTs to run up on the beach. III. Cameraman on the landing beach. MS as LCI(L) 295 disembarks men - in the background LCI(L) 169 runs inshore and lets go brow ramps - heavily laden soldiers wade ashore along guide ropes held by RN crewmen, one of the soldiers stumbling and getting thoroughly wet. Soldiers help push ashore a Bedford AT Portee. A White Scout Car and a Stuart tank are disembarked. Organised by a Lieutenant with a loudhailer, the troops file along the beach - all are heavily laden, carrying rifles, a Bren, PIAT. A signal is flashed by Aldis lamp. LS to the beach exit - a lower frame is a notice BEACHMASTER HQ AND AMO. A soldier passes camera pushing a GS bicycle with his rifle in clip.
  • Alternative Title: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 561
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1943-07
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: British Movietone News (Production company) Fisher, Norman (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Tetcott (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCA 257 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCPS 43 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCIL 295 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCIL 169 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - destroyer: Tetcott (L.99) (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCA 257 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCP[S] 43 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCI[L] 169 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCI[L] 295 (object name) ships, British auxiliary - transport: Reina del Pacifico (object name) armour, British - armoured car: White scout car (object name) armour, United States - tank: M5 Stuart & [British] (object name) armour, British - SPG: Bedford 6-pounder AT Portee (object name) transport, British - 2/3 wheel: bicycle (object name) communications, British military - direct: Aldis lamp (object name) operations, British military - amphibious (object name) operations, British maritime - sea: convoy (object name) operations, British naval - escort (object name) weapons, British - projector: PIAT (object name) Operation Husky, Allied Invasion of Sicily 1943, Italy, Second World War (event)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 722 ft; Running time: 8 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 561

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