Title:SINKING OF THE SCHARNHORST : Admiral Fraser and his officers and men recount their experiences [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ADM 1215
Other titles:THE ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Two items. (I) The visit of King George VI to the Home Fleet in March, 1943. (II) Short statements by officers and men recounting their experiences in the Battle of North Cape, and film of some of the ships involved after their return to Scapa.
Description: I. Reel One. King George VI visits the Home Fleet. HM goes onboard HMS King George V where he is greeted by Admiral Tovey and introduced to the Captain and ship's officers. The King then inspects the Royal Marine guard of honour. HM inspects divisions on HMS Howe - cameraman situated on focsle pans across bridge and turret fronts. King is greeted by Rear-Admiral Burnett on one of his cruisers and introduced to the ship's officers. Onshore, HM inspects an army detachment and Naval and WRNS personnel - they cheer the King. Cut to HM on the bridge of a destroyer - he is in animated conversation with his companions and there is some laughter as the King reads a despatch. Cut to scene as the King leaves HMS Scylla to the cheers of the crew - as the Royal barge departs one of the crew loses his boathook overboard. MS starboard forebody of HMS Cumberland. CUs as King inspects HMS Glasgow. Scene on quarterdeck of King George V Class battleship - HMS Indomitable in the background. The King inspects a cruiser, and finally the escort carrier HMS Archer and its complement of Swordfish and Wildcats - he is accompanied by Tovey and Lumley-Lyster, Vice-Admiral Carrier Training.
II. Reels Two and Three. A series of prepared speeches recounting men's experiences during the action against the Scharnhorst - filmed on the quarterdeck of HMS Duke of York. Among the participants are Captain D K Bain of HMS Norfolk, Commander Meyrick of Savage, Commander Fisher of Musketeer, Admiral Fraser with his Chief of Staff, Captain W R Slayter (Commodore, First Class), and his Staff Officer (Operations) Captain C T Jellicoe, and Vice-Admiral Burnett and his Flag Captain, Captain F R Parham of HMS Belfast.
III. Reel Four. Various mute sequences. (1) Pan over Fraser, Burnett and officers on the quarterdeck of Duke of York. (2) CUs of plaque commemorating HMS Norfolk's adoption by the city of Norwich, and the ship's battle honours. Various shots of turret crew grouped about Y turret. (3) HMS Meteor (G.73) at anchor. On the destroyer's bridge crewmen act out 'sighting the enemy', and signal by Aldis lamp. (4) CU of the name plate Duke of York on the battleship's side. (5) MS off the starboard quarter of HMS Belfast at anchor, and LA as the cameracraft passes across her bows. Onboard, crewmen (one of them black) pose with the ship's cat (black and white). (6) MS off the port bow of HMS Norfolk, and track aft to mainmast. MCU as Royal Marines pose beneath 8-inch guns. Crested tompions are cleaned. (7) Quarterdeck of Duke of York - Vice-Admiral Burnett talks with Captain Parham and his other officers. MS off the starboard bow of Duke of York with storeship alongside - the cameracraft proceeds down the starboard side of the battleship, past the auxiliary boom defence vessel Digit (Z.188), and crosses beneath the stern.
Alternative Title:THE ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Tovey, John Cronyn (person)
George VI, King (person)
Fraser, Bruce Austin (person)
Bain, D K (person)
Meyrick, Michael Donston Capel (person)
Fisher, R L (person)
Slayter, William R (person)
Jellicoe, C T (person)
Burnett, Robert Lindsay (person)
Parham, Frederick Robertson (person)
Lyster, Arthur Lumley St George (person)
German Navy, Scharnhorst (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, King George V (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Howe (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Scylla (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, CUMBERLAND (HMS), heavy cruiser (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, GLASGOW (HMS), light cruiser (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Indomitable (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, ARCHER (HMS), aircraft carrier (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, DUKE OF YORK (HMS), battleship (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Norfolk (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Meteor (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, BELFAST (HMS), cruiser (1938) (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Savage (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Musketeer (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, DIGIT, boom defence vessel (regiment/service)
Keywords: ships, British naval - battleship: Duke of York (object name)
ships, British naval - battleship: Howe (object name)
ships, British naval - cruiser: Norfolk (object name)
ships, British naval - cruiser: Belfast (object name)
ships, British naval - destroyer: Meteor (G.73) (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - aircraft carrier, escort: Archer (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - harbour: Digit (Z.188) (object name)
animals, mammals: cat (object name)
communications, British naval - direct: Aldis lamp (object name)
Second World War & Battle of North Cape & 12/1943 (event)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: None
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 4
Footage: 3184 ft; Running time: 35 mins
