WESTKAPELLE LANDING AT WALCHEREN [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: WESTKAPELLE LANDING AT WALCHEREN [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 541
  • Other titles: THE ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Royal Marines and their armour are landed at Red Beach, Westkapelle, despite stiff opposition from German batteries. The cameracraft is a LCT(4).
  • Description: Onboard the cameracraft a Marine sitting in one of the LVT(A)s enjoys a mug of tea. Men stand about chatting on the vehicle deck - a group pose on the LVT "Bedouin". LSs to other LCTs in the assault force. Three men clean rifles and a Bren - the machine gunner draws his companion's attention to the camera. Troops pose in their battle gear - one holds up a No 36 grenade between thumb and index finger. A man stands loading a rifle magazine, while another stacks his webbing around a Thompson sub-machine gun before checking the Bren pouches. LSs over the assault group - one of the LCTs is carrying a SBG. On the distant coastline the effects of the naval bombardment are evident. Marines board the LVTs. LS to a smoke-shrouded LCR of the Northern bombardment group as it fires, and pan to a line of explosions from a short salvo. XLS of an attacking Typhoon and explosions onshore. The LCTs head in towards the shore. A salvo of rockets raises a curtain of explosions onshore. Another LCR bombards, generating a huge cloud of propellant smoke - a LCI lies in the foreground. LS of a large explosion from a 500-pound bomb (aimed at the battery W15 ?). An attacking Typhoon flies over. XLS of a LCG bombarding from a position close inshore - a black puff of smoke suggests that the craft has taken a hit. LS to the beach as the cameracraft approaches - Westkapelle lighthouse is visible. Cameracraft runs between the groynes to beach near a deserted blockhouse (?) - off to port a companion also grounds and begins immediately discharging LVTs, which run through the shallows and up onto the muddy beach. HA.MCU as an armoured bulldozer assists the cameracraft (which has disembarked its own vehicles) in de-beaching - beyond the beach is the lighthouse and a pall of smoke rising from fires in the village. LS as troops advance towards a radar station on the skyline - in right foreground are the bows of LCT 960 and a LVT advancing along the beach - smoke from screens obscures the view. MS as German shells drop in the shallows near the cameracraft - others fall astern of a beached companion. The cameracraft withdraws, passing astern of LCT 960. Another shell falls very close to a LCT, and smoke rises from two of the invasion craft which have been hit. A medium calibre shell explodes near the cameracraft. Three-gun salvoes fall nearby. The cameracraft makes out to sea at its best speed. LS to LCT 961 as it steams past a burning smallcraft. The LCTs gathered offshore are still under fire - a capsized craft is visible in one shot. Various shots of the invasion craft formed into line ahead as they leave the area. CU of one of the crew - his face smeared with dirt. Various onboard shots - ship's ensigns at mainyard and gaff, Captain with binoculars, Oerlikon gunner, vehicle door being tightened up with the hand winch.
  • Alternative Title: THE ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 541
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-11-01
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, LCT 960 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCT 961 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCT 964 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Royal Marines (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[4] 960 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[4] 961 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[4] 964 (object name) weapons, British naval - gun [AA]: 20mm Oerlikon (object name) armour, United States - amphibious: LVT[A][2] & [British] (object name) combat, British - air strike: rocket attack (object name) combat, British naval - amphibious (object name) Second World War & Operation Infatuate & 1/11/1944 (event) Netherlands & Walcheren, Z <Westkapelle> (geography)
  • 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: 648 ft; Running time: 7 mins
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  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 541

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