Title:HMS HERMES VISITS FRENCH PORT [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ADM 1863
Other titles:
Summary: HMS Hermes pays a friendly visit to an (unidentified) French port. Local people inspect the ship and are entertained by members of the crew.
Description: Crewmen descend gangway and get on board coaches on the quayside. The crowded coaches drive off past the camera; some of the crewmen wave.
Royal Marines band plays on board Hermes. High angle shot shows townspeople as they come up onto the deck on the aircraft elevator. Local schoolchildren are allowed to walk along the wing of a Fairey Gannet; the school party are accompanied by nuns. (Some of the crewmen appear to be dressed as pirates.) When the children have seated themselves on the wings and fuselage of the gannet, the ship’s photographer takes their picture. Some of the children, including a boy wearing a flying helmet, wave to the camera. High angle medium shots as some of the local people inspect a twin 40mm gun position; some of them sit inside as the gun is trained.
Scenes below deck, where a small tractor pulls a trolley crowded with children. Close-up of a small boy with a diving helmet over his head; the helmet is suspended from a sling. Two scenes of the Royal Marines Band playing, below deck and also in town square.