BRITISH CALL TO THE NATION [Main Title]

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  • Title: BRITISH CALL TO THE NATION [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 512
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Recruiting film for the Royal Navy, produced by or for the Navy League on the eve of the First World War.
  • Description: The film consists of stockshots and patriotic verse in Victorian style. It opens with Trafalgar Square on Trafalgar Day, 21st October: Nelson's column has floral wreaths, and there is a close-up of a floral tribute in the shape of a White Ensign with ribbons reading "Navy League" and "To Nelson". The plaque on HMS Victory marking the spot where Nelson fell. Preserving the Nelson tradition, a picture of Admiral Sir Charles Beresford, a particular hero of the League's. The submarine D.2 leaves Portsmouth harbour past HMS Victory. A torpedo boat patrolling the harbour. The battleship HMS Hibernia, with a Short S-41 seaplane on the runway built over the foredeck for trials in May 1912. The seaplane takes off from the water. Submarine C.34 on the surface. HMS Neptune at anchor with crew on deck, lowering the flag. The film appeals for men to crew the ships, ending with "God Save the King".
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 512)
  • Featured Period: Pre-1914
  • Production Date: 1913
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Navy League (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Beresford, Charles William de la Poer (person) Royal Navy, Victory (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Hibernia (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Neptune (regiment/service) Royal Navy, C34 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, D2 (regiment/service) Navy League (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: celebrations, British - popular: Trafalgar Day (object name) ships, British naval - historical: Victory (object name) ships, British naval - submarine: D2 (object name) ships, British naval - battleship: Hibernia (object name) aircraft, British naval - seaplane: Short S41 (object name) ships, British naval - submarine: C34 (object name) ships, British naval - battleship: Neptune (object name) recruitment, British naval (object name) operations, British naval air - sortie (object name) buildings, British - monumental: Nelson's Column (object name) propaganda, British - inspirational (object name) 31/3(41) (event) GB, England & London, WC <Trafalgar Square> (geography) Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 254 ft; Running time: 5 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Title: this is taken from the shotsheet Production: previously catalogued as a war-time official film, but identified as a pre-war Navy League production by Mr Andy Field of Eye, Suffolk following a screening during 'The Navy at the Movies', an Open Museum course at the National Maritime Museum on 19 June 2004. Founded in 1894, the Navy League was a lobbying organisation calling for naval expansion in response to the perceived threats to Britain's command of the seas, initially from France and Russia, subsequently from Germany. The League is possibly best known for its slogan demanding additional dreadnoughts: "We want eight, and we won't wait!" Series continuity: there is no film held as IWM 513
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 512

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