What an utterly delightful film! They mightn't have reached the kitchen sink realism of yesterday, nor the edited sten gun fire of today, but in spite of the careful script and direction they managed to depict reality. Thank you for uploading.
Well; what a pleasant surprise that was, especially when we got to my hometown of Looe and my Granddad Bert Middleton pops up on the screen.Lovely video and memories; thanks.
Didn't go to Looe until early 70s but I remember someone who ran a tourist fishing boat off the quayside - he had a board that had a poem on it which said it was by Omar Khayam - and then at the side of it another one a bit more Cornish and jokey that said it was by Omar Bert - would that be the same guy ? Can't remember the name of the boat, although at one time I think I knew them all.
@@northernhecklet That was definitely my Pops doing; he was always up to that sort of thing. I have a feeling it was on the board for the Ma Cherie, skipper Bonzo Butters.Fond memories eh?
@@cousinjack2841 Definitely. Went there a lot as kids in early 70s when Shark Fishing was in full swing, remember the Our Boys, Our Daddy etc - big luggers compared to the little shark boats. Saw one of them a few years back all done up nice and fancy, pretty much as a sailing ship - although I guess it still had a motor somewhere. Used to go out on a little boat called the Maxie with a bloke who owned it called Rex, can't remember his surname - might have been Barnes although I could be getting confused. There were a lot of Pengellys around in those days, they seemed to own half the town. Been there quite a bit as I approach late middle age - i still like it, but ... Well it's different isn't it - some good some bad, and it's always better looking back to happy times - you don't remember the rubbishy bits.
What a precious jewel of a film. I was 2 years old when it was made and watching this has taken me right back. to those days Wonderful filming and a gentle, informative commentary. I also particularly like the music backing - a theme and variations of some sort - I wish I knew what it was. The Sailor looks a lovely likeable lad and I wonder what became of him in later life. All in all this film captures an innocence that seems to have long disappeared from British life and certainly from the current PC BBC where anything goes except decency.
I started work in the Dockyard in 1962 as a Fitter & Turner, and for me to see this " Brief Journey" with surrounding area was just great, so well done.
@demport boy My dear late grandfather worked in the dockyard all of his working life. He was a carpenter called Will Mitchell and he retired in the mid sixties. He received a medal from the government for length of service.
Wonderful film. i was born in 1961 and brought up in Plymouth, my father a naval officer posted to both Devonport and Manadon for many years. This train didn't run by then, which is such a shame. Fortunately we had a car and I spent my childhood roaming free on Dartmoor, playing improvised cricket, putting up a swing in a tree, flying a kite, looking for tadpoles, swimming in the streams, camping with my older brother in an old scout tent. Yelverton was a particular favourite as we would climb the rock and then repair to the pub in Clearbrook to sit on the grass outside for a bottle of Coke and a bag a crisps, a huge treat. I'm now a writer and I set all my books on Dartmoor. Once you've been put under Devon's spell, you can never escape. Fortunately. Better times.
Great vid to watch. I remember as a teenager on school holidays in Plymouth where I lived (early to mid 70's) my school mates and I used to regularly get the 84 bus from Plymouth to yelverton and walk for a couple of days on the majority of the routes this sailor walked and rode the train. The hotdog van at the start was sat on the waste ground adjacent to what use to be the Two Trees pub. This was redeveloped eventually, late 70s into multi storey car park. I attended Tamar secondary school until 1976.
Yes... we as boys and teenagers used to take the bus to Dousland or Cornwood and walk on the moors. We'd cycle to Wembury too... and have fun on the Hoe!
This is the second time I’ve seen this film. It’s fascinating to watch, as much for the people and their interactions as for the wonderful places here in Devon and Cornwall. Fills me with nostalgia, even though I wasn’t born till 15 years after the film was made. 😊
Joined the Royal Navy at Torpoint 1965, worked at Admiralty House twice, lovely seeing the train to Princetown, so many memories! still live in plymouth! all changed now though, its all modern!
What a lovely film. I could, and do, watch it every day. Everyone is so likeable. There must have been a script but it seems so spontaneous. There were clearly several takes of certain scenes, the sailor leaves Plymouth North Road in a compartment train and arrives at Yelverton in a corridor train. The Princetown train is interesting as it is formed of two ex-LMS carriages. The Western Region must have been short of stock. The commentary is well written and narrated. Even the dogs and cats acted on cue. I am old enough to have seen the film when it was made as we had our first television in 1954. It reminds me so much of the glorious 1950s. Peter Clark
I came across this beautiful gem of a film just over w eek ago and I've watched daily ever since, sometimes twice a day ! Gentle, soothing and a soul refreshing experience toanyone who appreciates gentleness, courtesy and quality
I joined the RN at Torpoint on 3rd January1959 at HMS Fisgard as an apprentice. Most of the scenes in this film are familiar to me, but I’m not sure about Jack going ashore carrying a “shiny Burberry” (oilskin) and his Pussers’s brown case. The Torpoint ferry across the Tamar to Devonport followed by a bus to Plymouth centre was our regular weekend run ashore. We couldn’t afford to drink in pubs in those days, apart from being under age, but enjoyed our shore time at the Cinema, the NAAFI club and particularly at the Cappuccino coffee bar in Saltash St. In fine weather we spent a lot of time courting on Plymouth Hoe. Happy Days!!
Interesting to see you mention Pussers brown case. I still have my late father’s, ( he was Hostilities Only 1942-46 ) I always thought it was called a Ditty box. Dad’s always looked a bit battered till a few years ago when we had a flood, now it looks even worse, but I haven’t the heart to chuck it.
@@michaelcorley9968 This type of small case was issued to all ratings on joining the. RN. The term “ditty box” referred to any type of small box that was kept in your locker, in which you kept your small valuable bits and pieces.There was no specific type of box, just whatever you fancied. When I was an apprentice, we all made a small metal box as part of our workshop training, which was ideal for the job. However tatty your Dad’s case is, it is part of his life history, and must be kept in his memory
I joined in 61. Do you Remember the serge SBs and how we felt inferior in them so always wore our Burberry on runs ashore. Happy days, the preferred beverage for a sixteen year old tiffy of my class was rum and black currant.
I joined the Navy at HMS Raleigh in 1972 and was Devonport based for my whole time, I used to often spend a weekend on Dartmoor and this film has bought back some fantastic memories. Great times!
@@alexhidell8022 Yes. HMS Maidstone was moored off-shore as as a prison ship from late 1969 until about 1974 when she was moved to Sydenham Wharf in Belfast and it acted as a base for minesweepers and from HMS Lochinvar which used to run gun running patrols.
A fascinating film of life before the Tamar road bridge, with branch lines long gone. I was 10 years old in 1954 and the only travelling was a Sunday trip to Dartmoor or the coast in our first family car.
The real deal #2's uniform, port and starboards with silk cap tally, ironed collars, silks, lanyards and gunshirts along with the venerable pusser dirk marlin spike knife hanging around the waist. Takes me back to my RCN days being issued in early 1960 with uniforms and kit date stamped 1944. Haaar matey.
I was born in Yorkshire in 1952. My Father was a sailor, and was born in Gunnislake. We had our childhood holidays in Plymouth where my Grandmother lived, and often took the train to Liskard, and then the branch line on to Looe, sometimes catching the bus to Polperro. This film took me back there; it was wonderful.
cool days cool memories. I envy people of your generation because you guys get live in real world with real experiences. Nowadays our day started with laptop and end with smartphone in hand. Things have became pretty boring and dull.
A serendipitous find.....Cox Tor is my back yard now & The Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale is my local.....would have loved to have seen the Princetown train running..
It helps that they weren’t fat knackers in those days. I’ve seen the RN’s new no. 8s/working dress equivalent, I think they are trying for the unisex paramilitary look.
@@columbmurray I expect they have a long list of practical requirements, cost, durability, washability, flexibility, thermal considerations, etc. But in those old uniforms they had to climb the ships rigging, & if you slipped & fell to the deck from the top you were not very likely to survive, so they certainly couldn't afford wardrobe malfunctions.
Uniform had dignity in those days. Just look at the bus driver and conductor, for exampl, and the railway ticket collector in his double breasted jacket and smart peak cap. Authority personified. Nowadays all so called uniform looks as if it came from a market stall. Peter Clark
I agree wholeheartedly. There was no mistaking a sailor's uniform for anything else. The tunic style top especially showed off a man's physique to its best advantage - tight at the waist and hips and the blue collar flap at the back emphasising the broad shoulders. Altogether a very smart and becoming form of dress
If you were a leading seaman in the RN taking part in a BBC documentary, of course you'd have good manners. I lived through those `simple` days and certainly wouldn't want to go back.
Well not everything was better back then but I would agree that today's society is obsessed with consumerism/materialism with an attitude of I want more and more because I'm never satisfied.
Top notch historical documentary. This is the first time I've seen the full length 'version'. Good to see a glimpse of Cornwall, having recently discovered a genealogy link.
Fascinating glimpse into a bygone age. Brilliantly narrated and lovely soft orchestral music music in the background. How things have changed. Going to look at the revisit produced in 2018.
Thank you for sharing, that was Fabulous, reminds me during the 60s,but I would catch the Train to brum ,my wife and I visited looe in 2014 nice fishing Port.
Many times I travelled the long journey from Plymouth station to Sheffield, then changed for a short journey to Doncaster, when I was a gunnery rating onboard HMS Torquay in the 60's. And Plymouth was a great run ashore in those days.
Correct me if I'm wrong,but I believe that HMS Torquay was the first ship in the RN to have computerised Radar.I was a Radar Plotter,first on HMS Zulu,then on HMS Hermes,which was the second ship to have computerised Radar.Never really got to grips with computers,preferred the old system like we had on the Zulu!!!
@@alanstevens8896 Sorry, I don't know - I was a gunner - the radar said yes, we opened fire! My brother-in-law was an RP on the Hermes in the early 70's . I served on the Gurkha in the early 70's and, in my opinion, the Tribals were the most elegant and impressive frigates the navy ever had, although only having one screw was torture for seasick suffers in rough seas.
@@rnf1227 Tell me about it!!! When I was on the Zulu,we left Portland in 1971,bound for Gibraltar,and the Middle/Far East.Just the small matter of crossing the Bay of Biscay first!!! Well it was rough,like as in Force 10 rough.It took us 5 days to go from Portland to Gib........they wouldn't let anyone on the upper deck on that crossing.When we got to Gib,we discovered that part of the deck near the funnel was bent over.Thats the roughest seas I ever experience in my time in the Navy.By the way,the Zulu was F124.Did you ever do Beira Patrol? It would be nice to keep in touch!
My dad served his national service on the Launceton castle sister ship to the one featured in the film. He was there the year this was filmed. He He joined the RNVR in Glasgow before his service. Then re joined after he finished it. Retired a CPO MEM . Passed away over 6 years ago. . He had 40 years service between RNVR/RNR and RN. One of the few rating to have two bars to his long service medal. I joined when it was RNR 1984 as a seaman mine warfare. Discharged 1992 start of cut backs.
OMG that was like going home I miss the place where the fairies live And the salmon leap Where my heart is tied to a gnarly tree In the ever flowing Walkham valley If I ever get to go there again My heart will cease to long
I wonder where leading seaman David Watt is today? I moved to Plymouth from Taunton in 1972. Why Plymouth? Drawn out of a hat! Could quite easily have been Bristol to Basingstoke! No regrets. Got jobs at Tecalemit at Marsh Mills and Ham and Sewell in Armada Way. Those were the days. My two eldest daughters were born in Derriford Hospital. There are Cornish connections though. Bought my first house in Saltash, then Millbrook and finally Callington before me and the family moved up country due to job promotion!.I still have a great love for Devon and Cornwall, even support Argyle to this day!
At 1:43 they pass a Daring class Destroyer, moored alongside, with no pennant number. I think it's probably Dainty, which was based in Portsmouth from 1953 to 1955, when she was laid up in reserve. Anyone know more?
I first thought it was a Battle Class but they had no X gun so you are no doubt right. Might even have been Daring herself as she was based there around that time.
@@VOR32 Had a chat with my Dad who served on both Delight and Dainty and he confirms it's a Daring - although he's puzzled why there's no pennant number. I have seen a photo of Dainty during sea trials without a number, which is why I thought it might be her.
I joined HMS Raleigh in Feb 1966. A week after signing on the dotted line I came down with the worst dose of flu imaginable. I didn't get any sympathy till I was near collapse. Was in the sick bay for a fortnight before rejoining basic training. I was lucky in that I joined the back end of the old navy and had a couple of years of grog rations which I still regard as the best rum on the planet. We were told not to drink "scrumpy" if we went ashore. Of course one had to try it to see how bad it really was......and it was...
sklenars . Interesting to know that you was in Raleigh in 1966, so was I....I subsequently joined the FAA. We joined the RN at the right time...good memories and friendships.
sklenars yep you joined at the right time. We still had warships then and a whole world to visit, what an adventure. My dad was in too, his first commission was the then new HMS Ark Royal 1957, he spent the majority of his career on that grand old lady, apart from a couple of stints on tribals, Ashanti and Ghurka and I believe a stint on Llandaff. As I was about to leave school, 1976, " you know, the navy today is not what it was in my day. I served my time too enjoyed e very minute of it and thirty years later my son spoke of enlisting, the very same words interrupted my breathing pattern. Funny old game.........init!
@@redipayp7353 I remember now the journey from Liverpool Lime street station to Plymouth took 11 hours, with a change of loco at Stafford. It was still steam in those days. Pollution wasn't even considered, just a normal fact of life. My first draft was to a "ton" class minesweeper based at HMS Lochinvar near Edinburgh. This class of ship were used for fishery protection. A more unsuitable craft for this type of work would be hard to find. With only 6ft draft, they bounced off the top of waves, crashing into the troughs. In the middle of winter around the top of Scotland mal de mer ruled.
I should have added that in the first week I came down with flu too. I remember going to bed early with all the blankets I could muster to sweat it out...I didn’t want to be backclassed. I was at HMS Collingwood when rum was removed. The best scrumpy was at the Portsmouth dockyard gates, there was a pub that sold it. After 2 pints you got a hang on it. I was always a ‘sportsman’ and played rugby, table tennis and football for the FAA. My greatest achievement was running the gun for FAA in 1976 at Earls court. I’m 73 years now and only memories to look back on, fond memories of the 13 years I did in the Navy. It gave me a platform to travel the world, which I covered mostly. I have now retired in Albania, a country I love..
@@redipayp7353 I think the complete change from a normal civvy street to life in the Andrew was a complete shock to the system, hence our immune system was weakened and left us exposed to whatever virus was going. I went on to HMS Mercury for the R/O training which still stands me in good stead as I'm still able to touchtype at 73. My sport was boxing and I managed to win the Portsmouth command heavyweight title in 1968 (novice) having got knocked out in '67 in the semi-final (ouch). When I went back to Mercury for a course later, I was roped into the Brickwoods field gun crew and we were favourites to win but I got drafted before the event to HMS Leopard where I spent the next 2-1/2 years, a lot of that in the FE. I left in late 1971 a few years before my time was up for various reasons. Studied for 3 years at the then College of technology in Southampton for R/officers cert. Spent the next 20 years as Radio/Electronics officer on every kind of merchant vessel plus a stint at Portisheadradio. Finally paid off a Chinese owned Panamanian flagged tramper with the cracking name of GREAT NANCY in Bangkok in 1995. I've been living in New Zealand for 22 years and can safely say its the best of the best places to live...
Thank you so much for posting this. It is lovely... but at 4:45 there is reference to horror:. the totally unsympathetic people unfriendly proto-soviet proto fascist American motor city 'replanned ' by vicious Abercombie. But, thankfully , that is only mentioned briefly and from then on the film is lovely and gentle and there are some very nice parts .. the train , life in the villages . So sad the line was closed. Such beauty lost, such nostalgia. I was eight and living in Plymouth in 1954 My mother was in the WRNS and in the Plymouth blitz. Overall a lovely film.
He could have got from Merrivale by Western National buses, the 113 to Tavistock, 82 to Liskeard and 69 or 70 to Looe, although they were so infrequent and badly timed, he'd probably still be stuck en route now.
This is as diverse as it gets in old Devon my dear!....I wish it was still like this now and not gentrified (ruined) by well to do’s from London and the Home Counties who seem to have made Devon and Cornwall their personal playground full of second homes and Chelsea tractors now.
surprises me a sailor on shore leave wanting to go looking round churches and seeing old farmers even them days most sailors hit the pubs and the nightlife must be one on his own.
I'm pretty sure that "men dressed as seamen" is still the norm for ceremonial; these guys wore sailor suits all the time but the working rig was different in the 80s, number 8 rig was ordinary trousers in navy blue and a shirt (lighter blue) with name tally on the left breast and rank/specialisation badges as appropriate. I think they wear a camo patterned outfit now as working rig but on ceremonial occasions and on a full divisions I believe the bell bottoms etc. (square rigged for junior rates, fore and after rig for NCOs and officers) are still worn (number 1 uniform with gold badges and medals).
@@22buck1 I joined the Royal Navy in 1978, the year they changed the uniform to how it looks now. There were many occasions when sailors were alongside one another wearing the old and new uniform. Side by side the difference was dramatic, in fact, so bad was the new uniform, when the newly kitted out sailors arrived in front of senior rates unaware of the change, they nearly always received a bollocking for looking like bag of shite, senior rates being totally confused by state of it. you would have to been there to understand.
I was born in 1966 and seeing the state of the world in so called modern times, I yearn for the simple, less busy days gone by. What a crying shame we are where we are now!
you cant believe its the same UK today Talking to strangers and children then getting a lift on a motor bike no helmet crossing a river with out the RNLI on stand by I think I prefer 1954 to 2021 we have lost so much goodness and kindness and yes manners too
Bloody hell, young ‘Jack’ is covering more miles on his run ashore than the bloody Royal Marines did in the Falklands campaign. But wasn’t life so simple…
@Amplify According to my father, the trick was, to get the bell bottoms off and tie knots in the legs, gather as much air as you could in them, fold over, and use as a crude buoyancy device, during swimming tests, where you had to swim completely around the vessel you were serving in. Not so bad if you were posted to a destroyer or frigate, however, he was part of the flightdeck crew of a carrier....
Terrific film. Lots of long gone railways. Hitchhiking. River crossings. Fishing villages. Absolute charm.
Yes indeed. Almost all gone.
What an utterly delightful film! They mightn't have reached the kitchen sink realism of yesterday, nor the edited sten gun fire of today, but in spite of the careful script and direction they managed to depict reality. Thank you for uploading.
Well; what a pleasant surprise that was, especially when we got to my hometown of Looe and my Granddad Bert Middleton pops up on the screen.Lovely video and memories; thanks.
Didn't go to Looe until early 70s but I remember someone who ran a tourist fishing boat off the quayside - he had a board that had a poem on it which said it was by Omar Khayam - and then at the side of it another one a bit more Cornish and jokey that said it was by Omar Bert - would that be the same guy ? Can't remember the name of the boat, although at one time I think I knew them all.
@@northernhecklet That was definitely my Pops doing; he was always up to that sort of thing. I have a feeling it was on the board for the Ma Cherie, skipper Bonzo Butters.Fond memories eh?
@@cousinjack2841 Definitely. Went there a lot as kids in early 70s when Shark Fishing was in full swing, remember the Our Boys, Our Daddy etc - big luggers compared to the little shark boats. Saw one of them a few years back all done up nice and fancy, pretty much as a sailing ship - although I guess it still had a motor somewhere. Used to go out on a little boat called the Maxie with a bloke who owned it called Rex, can't remember his surname - might have been Barnes although I could be getting confused. There were a lot of Pengellys around in those days, they seemed to own half the town. Been there quite a bit as I approach late middle age - i still like it, but ... Well it's different isn't it - some good some bad, and it's always better looking back to happy times - you don't remember the rubbishy bits.
What a precious jewel of a film. I was 2 years old when it was made and watching this has taken me right back. to those days Wonderful filming and a gentle, informative commentary. I also particularly like the music backing - a theme and variations of some sort - I wish I knew what it was. The Sailor looks a lovely likeable lad and I wonder what became of him in later life. All in all this film captures an innocence that seems to have long disappeared from British life and certainly from the current PC BBC where anything goes except decency.
I started work in the Dockyard in 1962 as a Fitter & Turner, and for me to see this " Brief Journey" with surrounding area was just great, so well done.
@demport boy My dear late grandfather worked in the dockyard all of his working life. He was a carpenter called Will Mitchell and he retired in the mid sixties. He received a medal from the government for length of service.
Just great seeing something of the past of so many places I know. Leaves me with a warm feeling.
This is really nice to see this,won’t see these days or people again.
That’s how time works.
You're right. They are destroying our nation and culture. Replacing it with the 3rd world.
@@alexhidell8022 come to Plymouth, all that's changed from this video is the lighthouse has more stripes now
What a beautiful country we used to live, this was so comforting and peaceful to watch 🇬🇧🇬🇧
Wonderful film. i was born in 1961 and brought up in Plymouth, my father a naval officer posted to both Devonport and Manadon for many years. This train didn't run by then, which is such a shame. Fortunately we had a car and I spent my childhood roaming free on Dartmoor, playing improvised cricket, putting up a swing in a tree, flying a kite, looking for tadpoles, swimming in the streams, camping with my older brother in an old scout tent. Yelverton was a particular favourite as we would climb the rock and then repair to the pub in Clearbrook to sit on the grass outside for a bottle of Coke and a bag a crisps, a huge treat. I'm now a writer and I set all my books on Dartmoor. Once you've been put under Devon's spell, you can never escape. Fortunately. Better times.
Thanks for that . Such nostalgia watching this film.
Great vid to watch.
I remember as a teenager on school holidays in Plymouth where I lived (early to mid 70's) my school mates and I used to regularly get the 84 bus from Plymouth to yelverton and walk for a couple of days on the majority of the routes this sailor walked and rode the train.
The hotdog van at the start was sat on the waste ground adjacent to what use to be the Two Trees pub. This was redeveloped eventually, late 70s into multi storey car park.
I attended Tamar secondary school until 1976.
Yes... we as boys and teenagers used to take the bus to Dousland or Cornwood and walk on the moors. We'd cycle to Wembury too... and have fun on the Hoe!
This is the second time I’ve seen this film. It’s fascinating to watch, as much for the people and their interactions as for the wonderful places here in Devon and Cornwall. Fills me with nostalgia, even though I wasn’t born till 15 years after the film was made. 😊
Joined the Royal Navy at Torpoint 1965, worked at Admiralty House twice, lovely seeing the train to Princetown, so many memories! still live in plymouth! all changed now though, its all modern!
That was bleedy lovely to watch. A tear in my eye.
Because we realize what they took away from us by introducing 'multiculturalism' and ' diversity'
@@alexhidell8022 who exactly ?
What a perfectly lovely film from yesteryear...so relaxing to watch and to think of Naval people who guard this Great Island Nation. Many thanks .
Those beautiful Devon and Cornwall villages. Been to Looe and Polperro many times.
Dear old Torpoint Ferry. This is four years before I joined but great memories.
What a lovely film. I could, and do, watch it every day. Everyone is so likeable. There must have been a script but it seems so spontaneous. There were clearly several takes of certain scenes, the sailor leaves Plymouth North Road in a compartment train and arrives at Yelverton in a corridor train. The Princetown train is interesting as it is formed of two ex-LMS carriages. The Western Region must have been short of stock. The commentary is well written and narrated. Even the dogs and cats acted on cue. I am old enough to have seen the film when it was made as we had our first television in 1954. It reminds me so much of the glorious 1950s.
Peter Clark
I came across this beautiful gem of a film just over w eek ago and I've watched daily ever since, sometimes twice a day ! Gentle, soothing and a soul refreshing experience toanyone who appreciates gentleness, courtesy and quality
Great film. Surprised that he made it past the distractions of Union Street!
Tamarmole Rick I know what you mean. There were many distractions lol
I enjoyed it's attractions fully, made me a wiser, poorer man.
Show bar 😊
I joined the RN at Torpoint on 3rd January1959 at HMS Fisgard as an apprentice. Most of the scenes in this film are familiar to me, but I’m not sure about Jack going ashore carrying a “shiny Burberry” (oilskin) and his Pussers’s brown case. The Torpoint ferry across the Tamar to Devonport followed by a bus to Plymouth centre was our regular weekend run ashore. We couldn’t afford to drink in pubs in those days, apart from being under age, but enjoyed our shore time at the Cinema, the NAAFI club and particularly at the Cappuccino coffee bar in Saltash St. In fine weather we spent a lot of time courting on Plymouth Hoe. Happy Days!!
Interesting to see you mention Pussers brown case. I still have my late father’s, ( he was Hostilities Only 1942-46 ) I always thought it was called a Ditty box. Dad’s always looked a bit battered till a few years ago when we had a flood, now it looks even worse, but I haven’t the heart to chuck it.
@@michaelcorley9968 This type of small case was issued to all ratings on joining the. RN. The term “ditty box” referred to any type of small box that was kept in your locker, in which you kept your small valuable bits and pieces.There was no specific type of box, just whatever you fancied. When I was an apprentice, we all made a small metal box as part of our workshop training, which was ideal for the job. However tatty your Dad’s case is, it is part of his life history, and must be kept in his memory
I joined in 61. Do you Remember the serge SBs and how we felt inferior in them so always wore our Burberry on runs ashore. Happy days, the preferred beverage for a sixteen year old tiffy of my class was rum and black currant.
I joined the Navy at HMS Raleigh in 1972 and was Devonport based for my whole time, I used to often spend a weekend on Dartmoor and this film has bought back some fantastic memories. Great times!
Was the navy involved with operations in Northern Ireland during that time period?
@@alexhidell8022 Not that I know of,
@@alexhidell8022 Yes. HMS Maidstone was moored off-shore as as a prison ship from late 1969 until about 1974 when she was moved to Sydenham Wharf in Belfast and it acted as a base for minesweepers and from HMS Lochinvar which used to run gun running patrols.
A fascinating film of life before the Tamar road bridge, with branch lines long gone. I was 10 years old in 1954 and the only travelling was a Sunday trip to Dartmoor or the coast in our first family car.
The real deal #2's uniform, port and starboards with silk cap tally, ironed collars, silks, lanyards and gunshirts along with the venerable pusser dirk marlin spike knife hanging around the waist. Takes me back to my RCN days being issued in early 1960 with uniforms and kit date stamped 1944. Haaar matey.
God bless Cornwallis!🍻🍁
What age are you please?
What a fantastic invention was the movie camera! without it we'd have little idea of what bygone day's where like, thankyou for this I love it!
I was born in Yorkshire in 1952. My Father was a sailor, and was born in Gunnislake. We had our childhood holidays in Plymouth where my Grandmother lived, and often took the train to Liskard, and then the branch line on to Looe, sometimes catching the bus to Polperro. This film took me back there; it was wonderful.
cool days cool memories. I envy people of your generation because you guys get live in real world with real experiences. Nowadays our day started with laptop and end with smartphone in hand. Things have became pretty boring and dull.
A serendipitous find.....Cox Tor is my back yard now & The Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale is my local.....would have loved to have seen the Princetown train running..
Those old uniforms were lovely. Very smart & with a very well cut line to them.
One time such a welcome everyday sight in Plymouth.
It helps that they weren’t fat knackers in those days. I’ve seen the RN’s new no. 8s/working dress equivalent, I think they are trying for the unisex paramilitary look.
@@columbmurray I expect they have a long list of practical requirements, cost, durability, washability, flexibility, thermal considerations, etc. But in those old uniforms they had to climb the ships rigging, & if you slipped & fell to the deck from the top you were not very likely to survive, so they certainly couldn't afford wardrobe malfunctions.
Uniform had dignity in those days. Just look at the bus driver and conductor, for exampl, and the railway ticket collector in his double breasted jacket and smart peak cap.
Authority personified. Nowadays all so called uniform looks as if it came from a market stall.
Peter Clark
I agree wholeheartedly. There was no mistaking a sailor's uniform for anything else. The tunic style top especially showed off a man's physique to its best advantage - tight at the waist and hips and the blue collar flap at the back emphasising the broad shoulders. Altogether a very smart and becoming form of dress
when life was simple and eveyone had manners
Those days had their scoundrels, cads, con men, rapists, abusers & murderers too.
If you were a leading seaman in the RN taking part in a BBC documentary, of course you'd have good manners. I lived through those `simple` days and certainly wouldn't want to go back.
If only that were true, life has never been simple no matter which era and not everybody had manners I can assure you!
Yeah you got that from a made up film, well done 🤪
Interesting comment. My initial observation was that he didn't let the woman on to the bus first. But maybe that was the director!
I too mourn the loss of continuity,manners,and the wonderful way of life back then,we had bugger all,but we were happy and contented with our lot.
Well not everything was better back then but I would agree that today's society is obsessed with consumerism/materialism with an attitude of I want more and more because I'm never satisfied.
How true my friend
Top notch historical documentary. This is the first time I've seen the full length 'version'. Good to see a glimpse of Cornwall, having recently discovered a genealogy link.
Wonderful trip down memory lane for this Devonshire maid thank you.
Got any ice cream?
I really enjoyed that. Great old film.
The Torpoint Ferry takes me back. HMS Raleigh early 1970s.
Amazing! All those lovely old films and TV series set in England during the first half of the 20th century were based on reality!
My father was in the Navy during WW2. Such a gentle and nice film. Shadows of the past.
My father was too... on destroyers and corvettes on the convoys. My Mother was WRNS
The year I was born. How the world has changed in those 60+ years. How lucky I am to know Plymouth and Dartmoor
Fascinating glimpse into a bygone age. Brilliantly narrated and lovely soft orchestral music music in the background. How things have changed. Going to look at the revisit produced in 2018.
Thank you for sharing, that was Fabulous, reminds me during the 60s,but I would catch the Train to brum ,my wife and I visited looe in 2014 nice fishing Port.
All trains still stop at Plymouth. But no trains to Yelverton & Princetown. A great shame.
Beautiful video - takes me back to Maker/Cawsand in the 1960s. Thanks.
5:11 Mutley plane with north hill sweeping to the right ( briefly) ! Wow
looks weirdly similar to today, just needs a Sainsbury's at the end
My old man joined the RN 1957, a year later he was in the Far East for 18mths, RIP Daddy!
Respect
Many times I travelled the long journey from Plymouth station to Sheffield, then changed for a short journey to Doncaster, when I was a gunnery rating onboard HMS Torquay in the 60's. And Plymouth was a great run ashore in those days.
Correct me if I'm wrong,but I believe that HMS Torquay was the first ship in the RN to have computerised Radar.I was a Radar Plotter,first on HMS Zulu,then on HMS Hermes,which was the second ship to have computerised Radar.Never really got to grips with computers,preferred the old system like we had on the Zulu!!!
@@alanstevens8896 Sorry, I don't know - I was a gunner - the radar said yes, we opened fire! My brother-in-law was an RP on the Hermes in the early 70's . I served on the Gurkha in the early 70's and, in my opinion, the Tribals were the most elegant and impressive frigates the navy ever had, although only having one screw was torture for seasick suffers in rough seas.
@@rnf1227 Tell me about it!!! When I was on the Zulu,we left Portland in 1971,bound for Gibraltar,and the Middle/Far East.Just the small matter of crossing the Bay of Biscay first!!! Well it was rough,like as in Force 10 rough.It took us 5 days to go from Portland to Gib........they wouldn't let anyone on the upper deck on that crossing.When we got to Gib,we discovered that part of the deck near the funnel was bent over.Thats the roughest seas I ever experience in my time in the Navy.By the way,the Zulu was F124.Did you ever do Beira Patrol? It would be nice to keep in touch!
1954.i was a kid in plymouth then.remember playing on the bomb sites.
My dad served his national service on the Launceton castle sister ship to the one featured in the film. He was there the year this was filmed. He He joined the RNVR in Glasgow before his service. Then re joined after he finished it. Retired a CPO MEM . Passed away over 6 years ago. . He had 40 years service between RNVR/RNR and RN. One of the few rating to have two bars to his long service medal. I joined when it was RNR 1984 as a seaman mine warfare. Discharged 1992 start of cut backs.
lovely to see burrator by train pity they ever took away the railways especially rural
Just been to Looe in September, still narrow streets, but busy & very commercialized. Good pasties though.
OMG that was like going home
I miss the place where the fairies live
And the salmon leap
Where my heart is tied to a gnarly tree
In the ever flowing Walkham valley
If I ever get to go there again
My heart will cease to long
😂🤣😂🤣
My feelings, exactly - thank you for writing so beautifully
A little gem of a film
I wonder where leading seaman David Watt is today? I moved to Plymouth from Taunton in 1972. Why Plymouth? Drawn out of a hat! Could quite easily have been Bristol to Basingstoke! No regrets. Got jobs at Tecalemit at Marsh Mills and Ham and Sewell in Armada Way. Those were the days. My two eldest daughters were born in Derriford Hospital. There are Cornish connections though. Bought my first house in Saltash, then Millbrook and finally Callington before me and the family moved up country due to job promotion!.I still have a great love for Devon and Cornwall, even support Argyle to this day!
At 1:43 they pass a Daring class Destroyer, moored alongside, with no pennant number. I think it's probably Dainty, which was based in Portsmouth from 1953 to 1955, when she was laid up in reserve. Anyone know more?
I first thought it was a Battle Class but they had no X gun so you are no doubt right. Might even have been Daring herself as she was based there around that time.
@@VOR32 Had a chat with my Dad who served on both Delight and Dainty and he confirms it's a Daring - although he's puzzled why there's no pennant number. I have seen a photo of Dainty during sea trials without a number, which is why I thought it might be her.
Perfect, God Bless Blighty.
ive been ankle deep in that mud next to the slipway at cothele so many times :)
I joined HMS Raleigh in Feb 1966. A week after signing on the dotted line I came down with the worst dose of flu imaginable. I didn't get any sympathy till I was near collapse. Was in the sick bay for a fortnight before rejoining basic training. I was lucky in that I joined the back end of the old navy and had a couple of years of grog rations which I still regard as the best rum on the planet.
We were told not to drink "scrumpy" if we went ashore. Of course one had to try it to see how bad it really was......and it was...
sklenars . Interesting to know that you was in Raleigh in 1966, so was I....I subsequently joined the FAA. We joined the RN at the right time...good memories and friendships.
sklenars yep you joined at the right time. We still had warships then and a whole world to visit, what an adventure.
My dad was in too, his first commission was the then new HMS Ark Royal 1957, he spent the majority of his career on that grand old lady, apart from a couple of stints on tribals, Ashanti and Ghurka and I believe a stint on Llandaff.
As I was about to leave school, 1976, " you know, the navy today is not what it was in my day.
I served my time too enjoyed e very minute of it and thirty years later my son spoke of enlisting, the very same words interrupted my breathing pattern.
Funny old game.........init!
@@redipayp7353 I remember now the journey from Liverpool Lime street station to Plymouth took 11 hours, with a change of loco at Stafford. It was still steam in those days. Pollution wasn't even considered, just a normal fact of life. My first draft was to a "ton" class minesweeper based at HMS Lochinvar near Edinburgh. This class of ship were used for fishery protection. A more unsuitable craft for this type of work would be hard to find. With only 6ft draft, they bounced off the top of waves, crashing into the troughs. In the middle of winter around the top of Scotland mal de mer ruled.
I should have added that in the first week I came down with flu too. I remember going to bed early with all the blankets I could muster to sweat it out...I didn’t want to be backclassed. I was at HMS Collingwood when rum was removed. The best scrumpy was at the Portsmouth dockyard gates, there was a pub that sold it. After 2 pints you got a hang on it. I was always a ‘sportsman’ and played rugby, table tennis and football for the FAA. My greatest achievement was running the gun for FAA in 1976 at Earls court. I’m 73 years now and only memories to look back on, fond memories of the 13 years I did in the Navy. It gave me a platform to travel the world, which I covered mostly. I have now retired in Albania, a country I love..
@@redipayp7353 I think the complete change from a normal civvy street to life in the Andrew was a complete shock to the system, hence our immune system was weakened and left us exposed to whatever virus was going. I went on to HMS Mercury for the R/O training which still stands me in good stead as I'm still able to touchtype at 73. My sport was boxing and I managed to win the Portsmouth command heavyweight title in 1968 (novice) having got knocked out in '67 in the semi-final (ouch). When I went back to Mercury for a course later, I was roped into the Brickwoods field gun crew and we were favourites to win but I got drafted before the event to HMS Leopard where I spent the next 2-1/2 years, a lot of that in the FE.
I left in late 1971 a few years before my time was up for various reasons. Studied for 3 years at the then College of technology in Southampton for R/officers cert. Spent the next 20 years as Radio/Electronics officer on every kind of merchant vessel plus a stint at Portisheadradio. Finally paid off a Chinese owned Panamanian flagged tramper with the cracking name of GREAT NANCY in Bangkok in 1995. I've been living in New Zealand for 22 years and can safely say its the best of the best places to live...
Thank you so much for posting this. It is lovely... but at 4:45 there is reference to horror:. the totally unsympathetic people unfriendly proto-soviet proto fascist American motor city 'replanned ' by vicious Abercombie.
But, thankfully , that is only mentioned briefly and from then on the film is lovely and gentle and there are some very nice parts .. the train , life in the villages . So sad the line was closed. Such beauty lost, such nostalgia. I was eight and living in Plymouth in 1954
My mother was in the WRNS and in the Plymouth blitz. Overall a lovely film.
Would love to know more about him, how long he served ect what he did after the navy?...and info on him?
He could have got from Merrivale by Western National buses, the 113 to Tavistock, 82 to Liskeard and 69 or 70 to Looe, although they were so infrequent and badly timed, he'd probably still be stuck en route now.
0:34 The Great Mewstone in the background. Used to be owned by the MOD but it's National Trust now I think.
Simply outstanding 👌 it’s a shame the BBC forgot how to make programmes like this 🥴
A couple of days well spent !
At 6.27 there are two boats shown. I think the remains of the far one may still be there near to that position today.
@Jim E Yes that is correct. You can see it from the train
@Jim E It is getting more broken as the decades go by but it is still possible to see the shape.
@Jim E Many must see it, though no-one ever seems to mention it or name it. It just rots discarded.
@Jim E It looks like it to me too.
I keep thinking of the Navy lark and HMS Troutbridge whilst watching this..
This is as diverse as it gets in old Devon my dear!....I wish it was still like this now and not gentrified (ruined) by well to do’s from London and the Home Counties who seem to have made Devon and Cornwall their personal playground full of second homes and Chelsea tractors now.
Joined 1958...left 1969..Straight into the London Fire Brigade for another 28 years..More great times.
surprises me a sailor on shore leave wanting to go looking round churches and seeing old farmers even them days most sailors hit the pubs and the nightlife must be one on his own.
I was with 29 in the Citidal in the 80s, Used to go drinking in union street
That boy on the swing would be about 72 now
Excellent 👍🏻
The England I grew up in, what the hell has happened?
Gone.
Thatcher.
the 60s and Harold Wilson's "govt". Stuff you Jack, I'm all right
It was destroyed by the elite, rich and the political left.
Times change.
beautiful
Wonderful.
loved seeing the saloirs in plymouth in there uniforms
Our beautiful country which once was 🙂
When British sailors looked like sailors.
So what do they look like now then
I'm pretty sure that "men dressed as seamen" is still the norm for ceremonial; these guys wore sailor suits all the time but the working rig was different in the 80s, number 8 rig was ordinary trousers in navy blue and a shirt (lighter blue) with name tally on the left breast and rank/specialisation badges as appropriate. I think they wear a camo patterned outfit now as working rig but on ceremonial occasions and on a full divisions I believe the bell bottoms etc. (square rigged for junior rates, fore and after rig for NCOs and officers) are still worn (number 1 uniform with gold badges and medals).
@@22buck1 I joined the Royal Navy in 1978, the year they changed the uniform to how it looks now. There were many occasions when sailors were alongside one another wearing the old and new uniform. Side by side the difference was dramatic, in fact, so bad was the new uniform, when the newly kitted out sailors arrived in front of senior rates unaware of the change, they nearly always received a bollocking for looking like bag of shite, senior rates being totally confused by state of it. you would have to been there to understand.
HMS Carisbrooke Castle was she named after the Isle of wight castle ?
good quality film archive, shame the volume level is so low, could that not be digitally remastered. volume levelling ?
Proper job, thankee
It is a shame there is no train to Princetown now. It would be very popular, especially in the summer.
Delightful!
I was born in 1966 and seeing the state of the world in so called modern times, I yearn for the simple, less busy days gone by. What a crying shame we are where we are now!
Reminds me of the film The cruel sea
A hot pasty for 6d (2.5p in today's currency) and that wasn't all you could get in Union Street.
🤣🤣
They were all lovely gals, sometimes.
What - for 2.5p?
@@HeidiLandRover No mistake Heidi, I was in the service at that time and used to buy an 'Oggie' (Cornish Pasty) from a chap outside the dockyard gate.
@@VOR32 I wasn't referring to the pasties ;-)
4:30 Hot Pasties - 6P
6d = 2.5p.
@@davidirvine4294 We have Cornish pasties up in Michigan from the immigrant miners etc. who moved there. The last one I had was $4.95.
@@poetcomic1 That is excessive, but they are no longer a cheap lunch here!
Awesome
And by the time the sailor got home his leave was over and he had to go back.
you cant believe its the same UK today Talking to strangers and children then getting a lift on a motor bike no helmet crossing a river with out the RNLI on stand by I think I prefer 1954 to 2021 we have lost so much goodness and kindness and yes manners too
The two badge man (8 years undetected crime) would have been serving in ww2
Delightful. Let's open the borders and see what happens.
Good boys they were. Sailors who went ashore and never had a pint.
What a lovely place it must have been back then? Steam trains and a lot more trust than now?
When Ratings spoke like young Officers !
I miss these simple days😔 the west country is overrun these days with grockles and emmetts😢
Wonder if them two sailors are still with us
OUTSTANDING. I LOVE GUZ AND AWAYS WILL. KING WILLIAM YARD WELL WORTH A VISIT. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC NOW. THE HOE AND BARBICAN STILL A THRILL. THANK YOU.
Shore leave would have been VERY different if it had been Sembewang or HMS Tamar !
Jollity good what what !
Bloody hell, young ‘Jack’ is covering more miles on his run ashore than the bloody Royal Marines did in the Falklands campaign. But wasn’t life so simple…
Sailors run ashore... to the red light district...
Would love a time machine, prefer the 50’s Cornwall to now!
those flairs are well over the top...why???
That's your bell bottom trousers dear.
Bell bottoms. Try getting your uniform trousers off over your boots, if you end up in the water, with skinny-fitting legs...
@@tombaxter6228 ok understood. could not swim with regular sized bottoms just as well as underpants? don't tell me they would take it all off???
@Amplify According to my father, the trick was, to get the bell bottoms off and tie knots in the legs, gather as much air as you could in them, fold over, and use as a crude buoyancy device, during swimming tests, where you had to swim completely around the vessel you were serving in. Not so bad if you were posted to a destroyer or frigate, however, he was part of the flightdeck crew of a carrier....
@@tombaxter6228 thats fantastic background info. thank you Tom I will never mock the sailers trouser again thats for sure!
Is the narrator John Le'Messurer?
Not John, a chap called Charles E. Stidwill.