Dartmouth

About the film

A tour of the Dartmouth Royal Naval College, showing the education and shaping of young men into members of the Royal Navy.

Download this film

Details

• Release year - 1941
• Director - Michael Hankinson
• Production company - Spectator Short Films
• Producer - Ivan Scott
• Cinematographer - C. Hornby
• Sound recording - W.S. Bland
• Running time (minutes) - 11 mins 56 secs

Original description

'Britain rises from the sea, that is at once her history and her destiny, guarded by a mighty fleet, manned by sons of Britain, trained in the discipline and tradition of centuries. The training of the captains of the future starts early in life - the boys are chosen carefully for their educational and physical qualifications, without social prejudice. Dartmouth gives, like all great English schools, a general education of high standard - but how much more. The uniform, the houses called after famous Admirals whose names are the stuff of British history, the lessons in navigation, rowing and swimming, and all the other things that go to the making of good seamanship. And so this fine, broad education that goes on to fit the boys of Dartmouth, whether the sons of kings or commoners, to become officers and gentlemen of the King's Royal Navy.'

(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1941)

Did you know?

• The college depicted in the film is now called the Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, and still functions to this day.
• In September 1942, Dartmouth was bombed by six Focke-Wulf aircraft, resulting in the activities of the college moving to Eaton Hall, Cheshire until 1946.

All films are subject to the Creative Commons licence guidelines.

Learn more about how to use to the film archive.