HMS Conway - Click here to return to the menu HMS Conway 1859 - 1974

© Alfie Windsor 1998
HMS Conway - Click here to return to the menu
 

HMS Conway Image Archive - Audio, Film & Video Clips

There are 64 clips organised in six main groups plus some others:

1. Clips of/by individual OCs,

2. "Historic" clips of Conway you can play immediately,

3. Modern clips of Conway scenes today you can play immediately.

4. "Historic" clips of Conway you need to download to play (some must be purchased).

5. Animated Models

6. Slop Chest

7. Videos waiting to be loaded.

8. A list of missing film/sound clips we'd like to find.

9. Another sad loss

1.  OCs' personal audio/video clips just click the links below
Included this as an oddity, an audio book about the life of a cadet aboard the fictional anti-submarine frigate H.M.S. "Conway". Click here.
1860-62 Matthew Chummy Webb - the story of his life click here
1891-92 John Masefield OM D Litt LL.D Litt D. Recitation of his:
-   "St. Mary's Bells" click here
-   "Cargoes" click here
35-37 Rear Admiral R.W. Timbrell CMM DSc MID CD RCN (Retired). During WW II he was given command of a hired yacht (Llanthonthy) and sent to the beaches of Dunkirk to rescue allied troops. He became the first Canadian naval officer to be decorated in WW II and was awarded the DSC "for good services in the withdrawal of Allied Armies from the beaches of Dunkirk". He gives a gripping account of his three trips to the evacuation beaches. The Dunkirk film coverage is impressive. Available through the For Sale pages
34-38 A Corkhill interviewed for the Imperial War Museum here

36-38 Interview with Lt Cdr Ian Fraser VC DSO RD RNR for a recent TV programme on the VC. Available via YouTube here.

An excellent and informative film made by a local school about Ian's exploits is here

42-43 Sid Davies and 56-58 John Duggan The sound plays up sometimes click here
42-44 Gerald Hill Recollections of his life in the navy click here
47-49 Ted Worthington on how to tie a bowtie here
49-51 Sandy Kingsford reminiscing and singing. Click here.
68-70 Steve Webb Music and film   Link 1      Link 2
68-72 Iain Duncan Smith various interviews (actually video and speech). Click here

 

2.  "Historic" scenes - Playable film clips just click the links below
You will need Microsoft Media Player installed to view these clips.
1928 Conway Cadets and Liverpool's marriage with the Sea cadets are seen 39 secs from start.
1938 A short clip of the ship on the Mersey. it starts 6.38 minutes in. 
1940 General film of boys at Aberdovey Sea School. No OCs identified but this is the course they experienced
1940s Film of ship at Bangor, boats crews including the juice barge, starts at 6.00.00 and runs to 7.00.00
1940s clip of a day trip from Liverpool to Menai Bridge with a few shots of the ship.
1953 April 14th The ship aground and being unloaded
1953 April / May The Ship Aground
1953 short clip of the ship aground - judging by her hull lines it was filmed soon after she grounded. Taken from  BBC TV Flog It programme from Bangor and broadcast on 24/8/14. It also describes the Strait and the Suspension Bridge.
1953 Ship aground days after grounding & 1956 wreck on fire
-  Aground starts at 3.39 and was taken a couple of days after the grounding - the ensign has gone, the figurehead is still in situ but the “Danger Do Not Enter” sign has not been hung off the stbd bow.

- starting at 6.00 is a later clip taken a few weeks after the above. The group of men waiting on the gangway must be the gang of Blue Funnel fitters sent down to recover the figurehead, and the danger sign is now in place.

-  6.44 onwards is the wreck burning out. It must have been at least a day after the main fire as the hull is not visible in the distant shot, and from 6.52 onwards most the fire damage is done. Note metal framework of the old Fore Deck
1961 Easter Term  Taken by CCC Dave Chambers it includes 1st XV rugby and a trip he took in Blue Flu to Japan
1963 film of Summer Sports Day
1970 May 23rd Britannia Bridge fire
Short clips of the Ship in the 1920s and aground in 1954 (3 minutes in on film one, and 5.27 minutes in on film 3)

 

3.  "Modern" scenes - Playable film clips just click the links below
You will need Microsoft Media Player installed to view these clips.
A phenominal 3D rendering of the ship produced by the grandaughter of an OC. She has used the Vietnamese model as the basis of her modelling so there are a few discrepancies but they are immaterial compared to the final result. Click here.
2007 Remembrance Sunday Conway ensign rasied on the mast
2008 Installing a new floating pier at the Dock, includes views around the Dock
2008 Bangor Pier
2008 Menai Suspension Bridge
2008 Views from the Suspension Bridge
2009 Twenty seven videos of the 150th celebrations including Plas Newydd
2010 Various views of Plas Newydd
2010 Club Dinner. This lot did not attend dancing classes
2012 ITV local news coverage of the dedication of a blue plaque in memory of James Moody (04-06) and interview with Tom Mason (56-59)  Club President.
2014 BBC programme about the Strait including film of the wreck. Note this is on BBC iPlayer so it might time expire eventually
2014 Nov 11th Conway ensign (David Hulbert ) at Liverpool pierhead memorial service
2015 The New Block Mess Deck
2018 Various views of Plas Newydd
2020 Short image of Conway on Menai Strait section of the Wales Coast path video. They seem to have copied our idea of an image of the ship seeming afloat on the Strait but from opposite the wreck site.
Too many to list! Modern views of the Conway Centre

 

4.  Film clips or video that must be downloaded or purchased from a third party.
-  1901 Ship seen in the background of Mitchell & Kenyon film (clip not yet publically available so watch this space)
-  1914-18  Pathe News film "City & Sea Wedded" shows a brief clip of two Conway cadets throwing the symbolic ring into the Mersey to signify the wedding of Liverpool and the sea. The film can be downloaded free of charge. You can view still images by clicking here and then clicking on the title "City & Sea Wedded" . Set 'view frame every' to 1 second, then image numbers 56 to 70 show the cadets. Each frame can be purchased for £25
-  1914-18  Pathe News film "Cunard River Trip" shows two brief clips of the ship. The film can be downloaded free of charge. You can view still images by clicking here and then clicking on the title "Cunard River Trip". Set 'view frame every' to 1 second, then image numbers 22 to 38 show the starboard side close up, and 56 to 62 from further away. Double click on any image to see excellent quality larger versions. Each frame can be purchased for £25!
-  1931 November 11th  Pathe News film "Prince of Wales as Master Mariner" shows the Prince visiting the ship. The 17 seconds clip costs £500 to buy. You can view still images by clicking here and then clicking on the title "Prince of Wales as Master Mariner". Set 'view frame every' to 1 second, then image number 43 to the end are of his visit to the ship. Double click on any image to see excellent quality larger versions. Each frame can be purchased for £25!
-  1937 August 2nd Conway in Vitorria Dock being repaired. Movie clip can be ordered from the ITN archive
-  1938 September 15th Masting of the new figurehead: Movie clip (not that above) can be ordered from the ITN Archive
-  1953 Loss of the Ship :  Movie clip entitled 'A Sad End to a Great Career" by Isla Johnston, a shipping heiress based in Anglesey. It can be ordered from the National Screen & Sound Archive of Wales
-  1953 Loss of the Ship:  Movie clip can be ordered from the ITN archive
- 1953 Loss of the Ship:  Movie clip can be ordered from the Getty Images archive
-  1974 January 1st Film of Divisions on Parade Deck. Movie clip can be ordered from the ITN archive
-  1995 Quit Ye Like Men Be Strong a filmed history of Conway by Mark Williams. It can be ordered from the National Screen & Sound Archive of Wales.
-  1998 Cambrensis television film company of Cardiff produced a SC4 film on the loss of the Conway. On Saturday 18th October 1998 filming took place on the Swellies. The film is in Welsh and, from time to time, is rebroadcast on other channels. There is no English version and no plans to sell copies.
-  1998 Cambrensis television film. Dubbed version courtesy of David Williams (49-51)

-  Video HMS Conway. Produced by the Friends of HMS Conway, this provides a very full insight into the Conway. It includes rare footage of the final passage through the Swellies and covers the recovery of the Mizzen Mast. There is extensive coverage of the dedication service and an interview with Captain Hewitt. Availble through the For Sale pages

-  Video Memorial Service For The Late Capt. Eric Hewitt RD RND Produced by the Friends of HMS Conway ,His memorial service was on 11 May 1996 at St Mary & St Nicholas, Beaumaris, Anglesey. A video has been made showing the service and including clips from various films including the last voyage of the Conway. Availble through the For Sale pages

5.  Animated Models
- 3D animated model of the shipA phenomenal 3D rendering of the ship produced by the grandaughter of an OC. She has used the Vietnamese model as the basis of her modelling so there are a few discrepancies but they are immaterial compared to the final result. It is simply stunning. HELP! Video has benn made private if you are the owner may we have access please?
- MInecraft game "model" of Conway, confirmed 37 secondds in.

6.  Slop Chest
'O'er the Menai Waters': The TS Conway March by James Olsen
The Conway Dancers 2010 Club Dinner
Wiki Video History






7. Videos still to be loaded by Alfie Windsor
  Year not known - Brookie
  1941 2 minute film of the Ship
  1949-53 archive footage of the Ship and daily life
   1953 The ship under tow (actually I dont have this copy yet but I know who to chase!)
  1956 Conway on fire (British Movietone News)
  1959 Phil Neal's film of the band and the Pinace
  1962 Derek Parfect's film of the Summer Weekend
  1964-65 8mm film maded by Adrian Mitchell
  1974 Jul 16mm film of the last passing out parade
  1993 Sep mast dedication service film by Ian Hopkinson
  1995 SC4 TV interview of Captain Hewitt in Welsh
  1995 Jim Scriven's visit to Plas Newyyd
  1996  Dedication of window in the Conway Chapel Birkenhead
  1996  Dedication of window in the Conway Chapel Birkenhead - second film

 

8.  Lost Film/Sound Clips - we need your help
The BBC made several filming/ recording visits to Conway in the 1950s. The BBC archive is not yet online so if anyone knows the whereabouts of any of the following recordings please let us know by clicking here.
1939 Empire Day Broadcast: The King's broadcast was made from Canada and was follwed by loyal greetings from around the world. Cadet Captain G R Mortimer-Booth sent greetings from the UK. The text was published in The Cadet - click here.
1952 Autumn: a BBC television team filmed scenes on board as part of a programme about N Wales.
1954: Captain Hewitt seemed adept at gaining publicity for Conway, it was an excellent way to attract new boys. In March, the BBC visited and filmed the Conway song and a march past and this was broadcast on 13th April.
1956 Summer: The BBC filmed the Queen Mother's visit to Plas Newydd.
1956 June: Pug Bayliss made a speech on the radio.
1957: Following the success of their previous visit the BBC agreed to return for a full 10 days of filming providing they could erect 20 large floodlights around the Camp. It's not clear if this actually happened.
1952 Autumn: a BBC television team filmed scenes on board as part of a programme about N Wales.1961 August 2nd. After laying the foundation Stone for the New Block Captain Hewitt recorded a broadcast that was transmitted on Saturday 5th August in the "shiops & The Sea' series. It was reboradcast on 9th August over Eurolink. The text was published in The Cadet - click here.
1974:"The BBC came to film the school before it closed and I remember we all went sailing and rowing in a force 5-6. All capsized and I think the RAF Valley rescue helicopter was called. Not the best advertisement for a naval establishment!"
Sian Pari Huws's S4C series Hanes Cymru a'r Môr pisode 2 covered Conway but it cannot be found online.


9. Another sad loss HMS Worcester click here. interesting how similar the two vessels were. Worcester's loss was simple neglect by the RN who took her over during the war.

 

 

 

 
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