Title:ADMIRAL VIAN VISITS SWORD BEACH AND MULBERRY B [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ADM 1268
Other titles:OPERATION NEPTUNE [Allocated Series Title]
Summary:
Description: I. Column of German POWs approach along the beach - bulldozer in the shallows in the background. MCUs as the prisoners pass. Cut to MS of Admiral Vian and party, approaching past a Sherman BARV which has shed its starboard track. Vian and companions watch chespaling track laid from a Bedford 15-cwt. Vian inspects a LCT(4), damaged on German beach obstacles (?). Party, accompanied by US guards carrying Thompson SMGs, pass a REME amphibious tractor, 'The Rocket'. Beachmaster supervises German POWs in clearance work. MCU of RE troops relaxing - CU of one shaving. MS of beached LCT(4) 578 - a second LCT lies behind her, and there is a LCA in the foreground - camera pans up the beach to road leading to vehicle exit. MS of troops laying chespaling track - LCT(4), Rhino and LCVP in the background. View along road at the top of the beach - LCTs can be seen drying out in the background with a Sherman BARV and bulldozers - barrage balloons overhead - Austin K5 moves away from camera in the foreground. MS of LCT(4) 456 unloading Dodge 3-ton truck - metal tracking is being laid in the foreground.
II. MCU of Vian talking with War Correspondent onboard small craft alongside a larger vessel. Vian poses for the camera. LS track along the seaward side of the blockship line, Mulberry B - the camera craft enters the harbour, passing Alynbank and HMS Aristocrat, secured alongside blockship Saltersgate - MFV 610 and other small craft lie inside gooseberry. Vian talks with a US officer onboard the camera craft. LS to the beach - Mack (?) 6x4 wrecker stands near the water's edge.
III. Camera vessel approaches the inner harbour entrance at Port-en-Bessin. MCU of ruined building - US troops walk amidst the rubble. View of the ruined seafront - 1-1/2-ton International passes in the foreground. MCU of ruined shop 'A La Parisienne' - a jeep and amphibious jeep pass in the foreground, both with trailers. LA.MS of large tricolour flying from top of a building. MLS of a demolition explosion at a German gun casement. MS pan across quayside - locals and British servicemen face the camera. A nun, a Daughter of Charity, passes. Troops fraternise. MS to ruined cinema and demolished roadblock - an Austin K6 signals truck noses through the gap. MS of a cart standing before a seafront 'Coiffeur' - British troops help locals load personal possessions and furniture. Final shot of villagers standing in front of the 'Boulangerie Lemarchand'.
Alternative Title:OPERATION NEPTUNE [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Vian, Philip Louis (person)
Royal Navy, LCT4 578 (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, LCT4 456 (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Alynbank (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, ARISTOCRAT (HMS) (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, MFV 610 (regiment/service)
Keywords: ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[4] 578 (object name)
ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[4] 456 (object name)
ships, British naval - escort: MFV 610 (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - anti-aircraft, ocean: Aristocrat (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - anti-aircraft, ocean: Alynbank & [expended] (object name)
ships, British civilian - cargo: Saltersgate & [expended] (object name)
armour, United States - funnies: M4 Sherman BARV & [British] & [damaged] (object name)
transport, British military - amphibious: Ford GPA (object name)
transport, British military - engineering: bulldozer (object name)
transport, British military - truck: Bedford 15-cwt GS (object name)
transport, British military - truck: Dodge 3-ton GS (object name)
transport, British military - truck, special: Austin K6 signals (object name)
prisoners of war, German - labour (object name)
engineering, military, British - Mulberry: blockship breakwater (object name)
society, British military - friendship (object name)
01/5(4-16).1 (event)
Sword Beach, Merville, Nord, France (geography)
Port-en-Bessin, Calvados, France (geography)
