PORT CLEARANCE WORK BEGINS AT LEGHORN AS THE KING VISITS NAPLES [Allocated Title]
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- Title: PORT CLEARANCE WORK BEGINS AT LEGHORN AS THE KING VISITS NAPLES [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ADM 468
- Other titles: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: Leghorn was entered by US troops of the Fifth Army on 19 July, 1944, and found to be in a state of utter desolation after repeated Allied bombing and extensive German demolitions. Piombino further south was used as a temporary source of supply as US engineers began a programme of systematic clearance and reconstruction to prepare Leghorn for alongside discharge. At this time King George VI was on a twelve day tour of the Allied forces in Italy, visiting Naples on 23 July, and the next day being shown the port area and the anchorage, where Allied vessels were beginning to gather for the invasion of southern France.
- Description: I. Reel One. Arrival of stores and equipment at Leghorn. Men load a truck. On the beach are two LCT(4)s and a LCT(3) - parked transport includes an amphibious jeep and US 6x4 trucks. A mobile crane is at work along the shore. LSs over the harbour area and the vessels sunk in the shallows. A member of a RN signals group uses an Aldis lamp and LST 33 approaches the shore. Sequence shot from a LST in convoy of transports with USN destroyer escort. Cut to a tented RN encampment onshore - some have strung hammocks between the trees. Sequence showing US engineers at work - a bulldozer and shovel and clamshell cranes clear rubble which 6x6 dump trucks deposit as hard core for a mole. Sequence shot inside the bombed-out butane oil refinery showing broken pipes and damaged pumps. MS of sunken vessel by a pier on which the transporter cranes and other facilities have been demolished. Sequence showing radio operators and signalmen at work at RN signals station. MS off the port bow as LCT(5) 561 runs in to hard and releases bow ramp. LCT(5) 560 disembarks a tracked mobile crane. LS over jumbled stores on the tank deck of an unloading LCT - a rather more neatly stowed companion is alongside. Reel Two. Shots of scattered debris, sunken vessels and ruined buildings lining the harbour's side - one of the buildings is marked with a crude swastika. RN welder cuts up tangled steelwork so that a bulldozer can drag sections away. General shots of the harbour blockships and ruins in the town. A bulldozer clears rubble. Scuttled alongside is a heavily listing Spica Class torpedo boat - it is prevented from capsizing by the lines still securing it the quayside. Men survey underwater damage using an air line and goggles. A harbour crane is demolished by explosives. Powered lighter equipped with sheerlegs lifts some heavy wreckage off quayside. A helmeted diver works from a diving boat. A boom defence vessel is used to help move wreckage. MSs and CUs of sunken merchantmen in the harbour. Sequence inside a ruined factory - some of the equipment bears the legend JAMES BENNIE & SONS, GLASGOW. II. King George VI's visit to Naples. Avro York touches down, and the King deplanes to be greeted by Admiral Cunningham, C-in-C Mediterranean Fleet, General Wilson, Supreme Commander Mediterranean Theatre, and Air Vice Marshal Baker, Chief of Staff Mediterranean Allied Air Force. LS over Allied ships in Bay of Naples - HMS Orion is centre screen. The King arrives at the quayside and inspects Allied personnel, including Free French sailors - one of whom is particularly ill-shaven - and merchant officers. Cut to sequence shot from cameracraft following the Royal barge among the shipping in the Bay - they pass the US transport USS Lyon (AP 71), the hospital ships Maine (1) and Principessa Giovanna (58), the US destroyer USS Edison (439) with a Brooklyn Class cruiser visible in the background, some liberty ships, and the Italian destroyer escort Indomito (ID). Onboard sequence as the King visits HMS Orion, now alongside - escorted by Admiral Cunningham the King is introduced to the junior British admirals, including Bisset, Troubridge and Morse, and Allied naval officers - in the background is a 6,500 ton US attack cargo ship, spectators crowding its upper works. Film then reverts to the King's passage round the Allied fleet, the cameracraft passing close astern of USS Mackenzie (614) and HMS Wilton (L.128). The Royal barge makes off in the direction of the French cruiser Gloire. LA.CU of White Ensign fluttering in a breeze. MSs of the cruiser HMS Aurora and the destroyer HMS Undine (R.42). LSs of two Dido Class cruisers - Black Prince and Dido.
- Alternative Title: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ADM 468
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1939-1945
- Production Date: 1944-07-24
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor) British Paramount News (Production company) Hardy, Douglas H J (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: George VI, King (person) Cunningham, John Henry Dacres (person) Bisset, Arthur William La Touche (person) Troubridge, Thomas Hope (person) Morse, John Anthony Vere (person) Wilson, Henry Maitland 'Jumbo' (person) Baker, Brian Edmund (person) Macmillan, Maurice Harold (person) Royal Navy, Orion (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Wilton (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Undine (regiment/service) Royal Navy, AURORA (HMS), light cruiser (regiment/service) United States Navy, USS LYON, transport (1940) (regiment/service) United States Navy & Edison (regiment/service) United States Navy & Mackenzie (regiment/service) Italian Royal Navy, Indomito (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCT 561 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LCT 560 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, LST 33 (regiment/service)
- Keywords: ships, British naval - cruiser: Orion (object name) ships, British naval - cruiser: Aurora (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Wilton (L.128) (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Undine (R.42) (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[5] 561 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LCT[5] 560 (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: LST 33 (object name) ships, British auxiliary - assistance: Maine (1) (object name) ships, British auxiliary - assistance: Principessa Giovanna (58) (object name) ships, United States naval - destroyer: USS Edison (439) (object name) ships, United States naval - destroyer: USS Mackenzie (614) (object name) ships, United States auxiliary - transport: USS Lyon (AP 71) (object name) ships, Italian naval - destroyer: Indomito (ID) (object name) ships, Italian naval - escort: Spica Class torpedo boat & [damaged] (object name) engineering, military, United States: port clearance (object name) reconstruction, Italian (object name) transport, United States - engineering: bulldozer (object name) transport, United States - engineering: mobile crane (object name) aircraft, British - transport: Avro York (object name) communications, British naval - electronic: radio (object name) communications, British naval - direct: Aldis lamp (object name) Italy & Livorno, Tuscany (geography) Italy & Naples, Campania (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: 2 Footage: 1579 ft; Running time: 17 mins
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