LANDINGS ON 'SWORD' BEACH, 6 JUNE 1944 (PART 3) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: LANDINGS ON 'SWORD' BEACH, 6 JUNE 1944 (PART 3) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: A70 31-2
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Royal Marine commandos land on 'Queen Red' Beach at La Breche.
  • Description: The cameraman pans over the blackened faces of troops belonging to No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando and two naval gunners behind their starboard Oerlikon cannon as their LCI(S) steams towards 'Sword' Beach. An LCT explodes in a ball of flame as it and other invasion craft approach 'Queen Red' Beach at La Breche which is dotted with vehicles making for a beach exit. Sergeant Grant's own craft discharges its complement of commandos alongside a burning 22nd Dragoons flail tank and two knocked-out 13/18th Hussars amphibious tanks. Commandos have difficulty in getting ashore from an LCI(S), whose boarding ramps are askew, before they head for the beach exit where a 5th Assault Regiment Royal Engineers AVRE has laid its bridge over the sea wall. From the top of the beach, the cameraman pans over commandos heading inland through the exit marked by a windsock, seen here being erected by an engineer. Sappers and other members of the Beach Party are seen at work. Lining the water's edge are several LCI(S) slowly coming afloat as the tide rises.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-06-06
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor) Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company) Grant, Ian James1917-04-16Family origin: Edinburgh, Scotland (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Royal Marines & 45 Commando (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Engineers (regiment/service) Royal Navy (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - amphibious: LCI (S) (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT & [wrecked] (object name) armour, British - funnies: Churchill AVRE (object name) armour, British - funnies: flail tank & [wrecked] (object name) armour, British - funnies: amphibious tank & [wrecked] (object name) weapons, British naval - gun [AA]: Oerlikon (object name) combat, British - artillery bombardment (object name) operations, British military - movement: ship (object name) 12/5(261.22).7 [ Operation Neptune] (event) Queen Red Beach, La Breche, Calvados, France (geography) Sword beach, Calvados, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Footage: 90 ft; Running time: 1 min
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: in compliance with Lord Lovat's orders all commandos wore berets on their heads Remarks: excellent shots of wary, tense commandos on a LCI(S) as it approaches 'Sword' Beach and of the run-in to 'Queen Red' which is very spectacular - vide the landing craft exploding 500 yards to port. Exceptionally clear shots of troops landing on beach and of the wrecked vehicles lying scattered along the water's edge Technical: A70 31 and A70 32 are held on the same reel.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    A70 31-2

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