HMS WARRIOR IN OPERATION SHOP WINDOW [Allocated Title]
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- Title: HMS WARRIOR IN OPERATION SHOP WINDOW [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ADM 1514
- Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: A boisterous crossing the line ceremony on HMS Warrior off West Africa, and Exercise Shop Window, in which South African military and civilian VIPs are taken onboard to see the ship put through its paces. The events are shown in reverse order as Warrior had left Singapore on 23 September, 1954, and was returning home via the Cape.
- Description: Neptune's two heralds come up on the forward elevator to be greeted by the Captain (unidentified). The two men, one of whom is Neptune's Chief of Secret Police, inspect the guard of honour The officials deliver a short address and are answered by the Captain. Cut to the reception of South African military and civilian officials at Capetown. The crossing the line ceremony then resumes. The barber and his attendants - all wearing striped rugby shirts - run along the deck past parked aircraft. Neptune and his entourage of bears and mermaids approach at a more stately pace, led by a penguin. Once Neptune and his Queen, squired by a RN Commander, have assumed their thrones, the proceedings begin in earnest. The shaving and ducking is fairly vigorous, and is accompanied by the usual horse play with the hoses. Various men, including some of the barber's assistants, are grabbed and thrown struggling into the pools and a fine mêlée ensues. Cut to Exercise Shop Window off Capetown, and a HA from the bridge as one of a range of 825 Squadron's AS.5 Fireflies is launched - the bridge top is crowded with spectators, and the cameraman does not have a very good view from his position behind the Type 277Q antenna. HA.MS to Westland Dragonfly 902 holding station to starboard. Just before the bridge, more men stand around the mobile aircraft crane, watching the deck operations - Fireflies are landing on, and two stand with wings folded in the forward park, one just cutting its engine after taxiing down the deck. A Sea Fury FB.11 of 811 Squadron taxies forward to join the Fireflies. Flying operations over, the planeguard Dragonfly alights aft. The Captain talks with his visitors. Off-duty officers and visitors line the port side to watch a display of air power - rockets fired into the sea from Fireflies. LA pan across the island, showing spectators crowding the open bridge top, the Type 281BQ on the mainmast and the second 277Q. LS aft past the two safety barriers to Fireflies landing on - in mid-sequence the cameraman crosses from a position alongside the island to one on a portside sponson. MS of a crowd admiring a marine kitted out in full battle-dress.
- Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ADM 1514
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1954
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, HMS WARRIOR, aircraft carrier (1944) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 811 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 825 (regiment/service)
- Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, light: Warrior (object name) ceremonies, British - customary: crossing the line (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Hawker Sea Fury (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Firefly (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Dragonfly (object name)
- 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: 800 ft; Running time: 9 mins
- HD Media:
- Link to IWM Collections page:
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