The Little Ships of England (1943)

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The British Council Film Collection is an archive of more than 120 short documentary films made by the British Council during the 1940s designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. Preserved by the BFI National Film Archive and digitised by means of a generous donation by Google, the films are now yours to view, to download and to play with for the first time.
'From the woods of Britain comes timber - oak, ash and elm - for the little ships. The scene shifts to skilled shipwrights at work in a West-country shipyard, and shifts again to the exciting rescue of a fighter pilot by a launch on patrol. At Dunkirk the little ships sailed into the pages of English history.'
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[@LHA8925]

A ‘little ship’ (HSL) saved my grandfather’s life. 27th August 1942 he was flying in his Spitfire MKVb from RAF Hornchurch on an air sea rescue patrol and then got bounced by a gaggle of FW190s. He got shot down and suffered a major wound to his leg caused by a 20mm canon shell from the FW190. He managed to bail out over the channel and the bastard shot at him again whilst he was parachuting down and he was hit by three bullets in his back. He also broke his other uninjured leg and arm when he hit the water. Luckily he landed in the sea next to an HSL which had spotted him and they managed to get him out the water and give him medical attention immediately which no doubt saved his life. He was in hospital for two years after this and had to learn to walk again. He never flew again sadly but he passed away in 1999 and lived a great life and had 3 boys and 5 grandchildren, me being one. So I owe my existence to him pulling through but also the crew of a little ship who saved his life. They were very brave men and true heroes. My grandfather in early 1945 received a letter from the wife of one of the crew asking for a spare of my grandfathers wings for her little girl. Sadly her husband had been killed and she wanted to give the wings to her daughter to show her that these belonged to the man her daddy saved. Tragic and sobering 😢

[@olwens1368]

Reminds you of how we won, but heartbreakingly of what we have lost, or rather thrown away. RIP my lovely country.

[@ianperry9914]

They gave it away Not us . KBO and dont let the fire go out .

[@erniewotsit1538]

The UK Government isn't fit for purpose, they have let the country down.

[@TimRenouxBowler]

We haven't thrown anything away. This is great wartime feel good propaganda in a just cause, but it's not ( and nor is it meant to be) a sober historical film about an aspect of naval history

[@davemacdonald6548]

The little ships that helped to rescue an army and so Europe. The best of British.

[@martyrobinson149]

Britain had the largest Navy the world had ever seen. 90% of Allied Navy for the liberation of Europe was made up Royal Navy.

[@Canuckmom128]

Dave MacDonald Here, Here !! And the brave souls who sailed them. A little heartbreaking to see those mighty oaks falling. Probably just starting to recover from the Napoleonic wars where so many Oak from England and Ireland were felled for the big ships. Necessary, but sad.

[@tideswell7799]

Canuckmom1958 The term is "hear hear"

[@phyllispetras3821]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hear Hear!!!

[@nickspong9811]

The way that saw handled the trunk !!! Lovely Austin timber truck also .......it's all rather lovely

[@Paddywack0]

Lovely shots of Polperro in Cornwall at the beginning. Spent many happy times with my Grandparents who ran a cafe there.

[@postwar46]

An inspirational film; non-the -less , one that reveals how things were back then, when the country had it's back to the wall. It is almost like the story of the Mosquito fighter bomber. The little people had the skills, and someone had the wisdom to appreciate the great strength of the little people.

[@adeh503]

Thank you to every man and woman for fighting for our Great Britain... Sorry we gave it all up like we have, you've all been let down

[@johnyoung8727]

WELL SAID YOU.......

[@duanepipe5277]

Bullshit, we have the country we deserve, now our facists have ruined this country,

[@vespelian]

Betrayed by four generations of readers of the Daily Mail.

[@Michaelbos]

@@vespelianplus.

[@stevenickolls8016]

Hey, don't forget the volunteers that came to our aid from across the commonwealth in our darkest hours.

[@nlondonex]

Love the start of this especially... even relatively small and non-commercial films such as this have far more panache and cinematic quality than the blockbusters and modern productions of today

[@tejastiger61]

nlondonex ah........... BRAVO......! Well said .........

[@jillclark6756]

nlondonex How do I get rid of the alphabet at the bottom of the screen of the screen

[@kiwitrainguy]

Hollywood does not know how to make films, just how to make money.

[@ianwilkinson4602]

Bloody marvelous, such enterprise and endeavor. it brings a lump to your throat for things past.

[@mrpurser3136]

Magnificent rescue.

[@gazbee7251]

Dont ya just love old British footage.. Best country in the world

[@catherinetombarasa5662]

I love this and have enjoyed

[@janiceoneil9324]

@Logos Learner qqqqq

[@edwardkerrigan5356]

@Logos Learner Just a matter of opinion.

[@AdhocHoopla]

@Logos Learner Travelled all my life and lived in several countries. Still hasn't changed my mind.

[@scottmitcell3750]

Before it was taken over by Pakistan that is lol

[@francesvansiclen3245]

England has much to be proud of !

[@lowesonia8551]

What happened to our wonderful England?the memories i have are one of love ing caring people . Our beautiful countryside , few cars, slim pretty Ladies with nice dresses, children in uniform, scouts and girl guides, Church sunday morning, afternoon picnic lunch ,boating on the thames , Social work at the vicarage ,where parcels were made up for those in need . At 5 yrs there was a lot I never saw . The airaids the bombs. And driven down to Wales for the next 2 yrs. seeing these documentaries today . These people are gone; the trees have had time to become the sons of the felled . The children now old ,remember . How much life was more harmonious in those days. I will not be sad to leave this World that man has destroyed.

[@ducksinarowpatience3670]

LOWE sonia I'm sorry. Me mom in the USA @ 87 feels as you do.

[@jimflex6341]

LOWE sonia I hope you are heaven bound. If so, please pass me the salt at the wedding banquet. God bless.

[@francesvansiclen3245]

Lowe- I know how you feel- sad !

[@alexandrasmith8868]

Overwhelming numbers of people coming in to make a quick buck and foreign gods. Lack of moral absolutes because of them.

[@johnathandaviddunster38]

​@@alexandrasmith8868millions of white Europeans killed millions of white Europeans twice in living memory and still are

[@rosemarylusty8045]

those were the days. Craftmanship and not a wretched cell phone anywhere.

[@chrisworthen1538]

The cinematography was surprisingly good and some shots under very challenging conditions.

[@marcelinogordovez1046]

Amazing craftsmen

[@rmwein1948]

"There Always Be An England"-God Bless There will always be an England with my British Lads Colin & Lucas-Cheerieo Good Show

[@davebradshaw2537]

So much knowledge and so many skills lost to "progress".

[@kaarlimakela3413]

Little ships, little boats ... brought thousands home from Dunkirk in the nick of time!

[@barrytoast1700]

Jumpers for goal posts, muddy knees. Marvellous

[@stevenhaynes7633]

This is the Britain the world misses

[@johnbull9195]

This is the Britain I miss

[@mjh5437]

And now we can`t even stop rubber dinghies landing here.

[@robinwitting2023]

Have you noticed how all the comments here are written in proper English - know wot I mean? - with classic diction, possibly influenced by the school teacher narrator and the great spirit of Englishness? I bet your voices have also gone up an octave or two? Wonderful film , superbly made. Pip-pip,! Robin Witting

[@ashleyhoward8926]

One concurs wholeheartedly.

[@paulbroderick8438]

When hard physical work was not looked down upon. A departure from the 'hunchbacks' of today staring at the screens of their iPhones!

[@martinjwatts5443]

When Healt hand safety was personal responsibility, Common sense and appropriate attitudes!!

[@johnandrew231246]

Absolutely Fantastic

[@colinayki2350]

Lovely short film. Narrative has splendid accent! Nice journey showing each stage from tree to ship to effective vital service. Well done!

[@danielgreen3715]

Incredible !! What we achieved!! This is Teamwork at its finest what did we do with this knowledge?

[@Rusureabouthat]

We built the NHS ,comprehensive education for all access to culture for all ,universal suffarage ,a rich civic society with well funded local councils .we looked after your nieghbours to be looked after in our turn.

[@robertbutler2481]

Proud to be British

[@pilotgeoff]

Great old film of merry England.

[@JG-mp5nb]

What a treasure!

[@mayhampson4896]

Yes and we.must never forget The our Fathers and Forefather gave their lives so that we could be free Of tyranny and dictatorship, Millions of lives were laid down so we can live in peace and freedom .without fear Of losing those we love , they died in many ways through brutal cruel regime’s , LEST WE FORGET .

[@mayhampson4896]

You should have lived through those times .you would not have said BULLSHIT then , I did live though these times , My Father was discharged and sent home ,with shrapnel wounds . He never once talked about the War it was. Too bad for them to recall .fighting. at the front , killing ones own fellowman .

[@edwardkerrigan5356]

@Logos Learner You are missing the point completely.

[@kiwitrainguy]

...and now, alas, we have the rise of Neofascism. As Bertolt Brecht said in 1945 "That bitch (that gave birth to Fascism) is on heat again."

[@radicalcartoons2766]

And millions of Trees. R.I.P. the British rainforest. Now we just have the shit weather without the trees.

[@radicalcartoons2766]

At 11:25 looks like Pyramids in the background!

[@fionamcqueen2539]

Love this !

[@user-jy8mo5fi5q]

06.18. The young boy starting as an apprentice, he would have been 14 yrs of age perhaps 16 fresh from grammar school. If he was still with us he would now be either 95 or 27 yrs of age. How time flies.

[@chuckfischer7202]

Eighty years later, 'tis sad.

[@jasons44]

Old world 🌍 great stuff

[@grosvenorclub]

And generations before ,these folk had sailed west in their little ships to colonise America , that worked out well , with a little hiccup maybe !

[@ASMRMuzz]

England, Britain, England, Britain.... awesome film but I wish they'd make up their mind. This still happens today...

[@alexandrasmith8868]

They were correctly, and in context, speaking of both!

[@kiwitrainguy]

That's why we call them "Poms", it's a term of convienience.

[@fandangofandango2022]

Great History.

[@uralbob1]

What a great, informative film! Thank you!

[@daveturner6006]

These men and women were real heroes, but didn't even know it.

[@mikebutler3263]

Wonderful film.

[@rosscityofliverpool.983]

A great little film and England at its best.

[@vx9013]

Yeah, because only the English fought against the Nazis.

[@rosscityofliverpool.983]

vx x. The little ships came from England, no comment has been made about who was also in ww2. Your comment is a joke.

[@vx9013]

Meanwhile some of the biggest battleships were built in Scotland on the Clyde.

[@keithrose6931]

@@vx9013 prat !

[@edwardkerrigan5356]

@@vx9013 And the relevance of your remark is......?

[@DavidHopson]

Gosh. Well that's what ship building looked like when I was born. When was a tree last sawn down without a chainsaw?

[@leemorgan8478]

We were a Great Nation Us British .

[@number8485]

Could this be Appledore? Looks like MTB's, MGB's or ML's? Lovely stuff!

[@daveg4963]

Caulking!

[@Ubique2927]

I live in the Philippines and I have been attempting to acquire an Adze for years for my workers that shape wood for traditional houses. You just can’t get one any more, except small one handed ones.

[@zen4men]

Surely a blacksmith can make them? How many do you need? /

[@Ubique2927]

@@zen4men NO blacksmiths around any more and I want a sharp Adze not a Gardening tool.

[@zen4men]

@@Ubique2927 You are English? You have tried everyone in England? / I like challenges, which is why I replied. /

[@Ubique2927]

@@zen4men … I am in the Philippines. As my first comment says.

[@zen4men]

@@Ubique2927 Yes, knew that. Have you contacted highly skilled people in England who specialise in forging cutting tools? You could be not English, American or Australian, etc. / I cannot believe there is no-one in England capable of making a first class adze. But maybe you have checked everywhere already. / /

[@danforbes4513]

real men back then

[@marks.6480]

I never knew the Royal Navy still used so many wooden ships in WW2

[@richardd3663]

Particularly when minesweeping.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Being made of wood, they were not susceptible to the magnetic mines.

[@Ubique2927]

Mine sweepers, mine layers, MTBs, Landing Craft etc.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

The RAF also operated air sea rescue launches, such as Vosper Thorneycroft. Fast & seaworhty in heavy weather, trialled by the unskilled T E Lawrence ( of Arabia).

[@crystalalexander6634]

Wow!

[@DeekoWanTahm]

Hands up if Phill Bentham directed you to this.

[@owenwilliams9666]

Once upon a time Britain actually use to make things, now of course we just sell each other financial 'products' a sad end to the once workshop of the world.

[@martyrobinson149]

Rome used to be the most dominant in Europe.

[@martyrobinson149]

Rome used to be the most dominant in Europe.

[@hans2406]

Yes. And who can we blame? The manufacturers that stop producing or bring the factories elsewhere? The consumers buying cheapest? Governments that let it all happen?

[@ellenharold5191]

It used to be that British made machines were synonymous with high quality.

[@hughtierneytierney3585]

The usurers and rent seeking financial-isers stole our country.

[@robeveritt]

Remarkable.

[@rjlchristie]

7:36 "You keep your eyes open and mouth shut..." presumably because in the 1940s asking questions was regarded as insolence.

[@craxd1]

Go to 9:42, and look at what was drawn behind the welder, in chalk.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@craxd1 Well spotted. They were the ones truly with their backs to the wall in 1943 although by then the tide (excuse the pun) had turned very much in their favour at Stalingrad and Kursk.

[@kiwitrainguy]

keep your eyes open and mouth shut...Actually that is a very sound philosophy, it has served me well over the years.

[@zen4men]

@@craxd1 Good eyes! The Communists opposed war with Germany, and did their best to slow down industry, until 22 June 1941, when they suddenly changed their minds after orders from Moscow. I wonder how many of our lads died because of their treachery? /

[@alexio1372]

The difference between this film and the current Dunkirk is that the blokes on the beach fought back at the attacking Nazis, not like cowering in fear waiting to be killed.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Explains why I rarely saw a mature tree in England in the 70's. Forests were in name only. War is wasteful and we're doing it again.

[@victorboucher675]

Jolly good old man.

[@wdtaut5650]

11:49 Notice the rescued flyer is barefoot. I have wondered whether this was typical from the shock of the parachute opening. Anyone know?

[@rutabagasteu]

More likely took his shoes off as they were water logged and making it hardcto stay afloat.

[@gregbolitho9775]

"I'm going, if I can't save my Son, I'll save somebody elses!" I heard that in a the Dunkirk Movie! Srill trying to find out about the the writer and voice over people. Sounds like and British Actor I can't put a name too.

[@rubberdc]

Who is the commentator? his voice is amazing and very very English gentleman type.sets the tone for the film.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Norman Shelley, it says so at 0:10.

[@prafter7]

@@kiwitrainguyNorman was in the Archers, played Colonel Danby. For those of a certain age he voiced many characters in Children’s Hour programmes for the BBC. I just about remember Toy Town, he was Dennis the Dachshund. Appeared in many films too. Great voice, where are they today?

[@rcaddict69]

@@kiwitrainguy The commentator sounds like some of our past newsreaders on TV like the late Phillip Sherry and Dougal Stephenson

[@BFDT-4]

Would this perhaps be the shipyard that built the minesweeper that became the RV Calypso? :)

[@puterboy2]

I wish Nolan used actual footage of Dunkirk in his film.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Yes, I could see that that footage was a recreation. Perhaps the actual footage was unavailable to them. All the film taken of the evacuation from Dunkirk was shot by a New Zealander.

[@angelineevans3167]

We need to go back to our old ways and protect this beautiful isle, Gods green and pleasant land

[@audigex]

No, we need to be friends with the countries who were once enemies. The old ways got the world into the mess of WW2 in the first place.

[@vincekerrigan8300]

​@@audigexSorry - you are a deluded idealist.

[@user-tb4ve9os2h]

good

[@markfisher4450]

12:40 It's a 'Grown Knee' !!!

[@richardd3663]

That's what he said, twice.

[@steveplace1232]

The navy had men on horseback for the last 500 years searching the country for "compass timber" , usually oak which has grown the shapes needed for the knees of the ships. The most important part of a wooden ships framing.

[@barrettus]

2:25 Still mindful of their rifles

[@kiwitrainguy]

Of course, that is how it is done.

[@LincolnshireLass63]

Nice to see shots of Fowey at the beginning. Does anyone know the location of the shipyards?

[@MrsJensterG]

The footage was actually of Polperro and later of Looe. The boats shown were Fowey registered though, that probably threw you.

[@stevesherwood3217]

Surely Polperro?

[@snuggles243]

MrsJensterG Mashfords boatyard River Tamar

[@richardd3663]

@@snuggles243 I don't think it can have been Mashfords, at 10:20 steep wooded valley with bridge nearby.

[@snuggles243]

Richard D hi Richard . 10.2O is looe , during the war years Mashfords held a MOD contract for building mine sweepers . . They continued to hold a contract till way up into the 80s for small craft . The fitting out was done away from the yard at looe due to the constraints of the yard and to free up slipways .. those sheds you see in the film are still standing . Mashfords to day are still in operation but under a different name as the family business has been sold .. but the traditions still lives on

[@radicalcartoons2766]

This should be titled "the de-forestation of England".

[@rutabagasteu]

Trees grow back.

[@Ubique2927]

It has happened since William 1, Henry VIII, Elizabeth 1, James 1 until even today.

[@zen4men]

The great landed estates planted huge acreages. WW1 needed vast quantites of timber. Wise government wrecked many estates through tax. Assets strippers stripped the trees. In WW2, timber was harder to find. Government obliged to gon Nationalisation = Forestry Commission. Divorced from an estate's love of the land, cold bureaucracy plasters the landscape with monoculture. / What idiots govern us! /

[@psmiddx2096]

Noble folk, betrayed by today's politicians.

[@juk-hw5lv]

Makes me play stormworks

[@albertcamerato7673]

See 9:42 for hammer and sickle a little comradeship in the film cutting room?

[@johnbull9195]

It seems to be on the ship. A little bolshie trade unionism perhaps!

[@kiwitrainguy]

It was probably out of solidarity with The Soviet Union who were, at the time, facing the full might of the Nazis, taking some pressure off Britain. The Cold War was still a few years away.

[@markbenjamin1703]

Could be a ship being refitted for lease to the Soviets?

[@alitlweird]

👍🇬🇧

[@michaelmorgan9289]

And not a "elf & safety" merchant in sight. How did we ever manage before they arrived?

[@ducksinarowpatience3670]

Same with us Yanks as well. Hope it gets better 😓

[@ashleyhoward8926]

We Yanks, please.

[@ducksinarowpatience3670]

@@ashleyhoward8926 oui

[@TheMctwizzler]

11:35

[@ianlitchfield9273]

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@minnie5267]

Et coucou les zamis

[@badgerstan9882]

Coolio

[@tamar5261]

Polpero.Before the tourism swamped it

[@dick1123]

Wood

[@pjdade]

1943 Church Bells.??.....

[@markbenjamin1703]

Most film reels of the times are dubbed with audio, so it's probably a recording from the 30s

[@glynthomas7213]

All the working men doing the work and posh commentator doing the talking.

[@yorkshirelad3524]

I’m still struggling to find the people from sub Saharan who built Britain an saved us during the long history of their country according to what the BBC C4 keep telling our children

[@Max-Bliss]

England LOST, these people in this charming propaganda piece would scarcely recognize ol Blighty today...ah progress

[@jasons44]

U.S wood

[@sr633]

Saved trained pilots that coud fight again. Germans did the same thing..

[@Chernobypi67]

deforestation in England has been catastrophic🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@alexandrasmith8868]

There's probably more trees here now than in the Middle Ages.

[@kiwitrainguy]

I was surprised to see them felling trees, I thought that Henry VIII took them all to build the Navy of his time. Fortunately trees grow back (unlike iron ore deposits).

[@jeffpotipco736]

Ĺots of hot drinks. 😂😅🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧😂❤

[@balkesh7772]

Les cours d’anglais en 202 😂

[@Meuuril]

lol mathis

[@balkesh7772]

NSK_XoTix je crois qu’ont est les seul français 😂

[@Meuuril]

@@balkesh7772 mec c'est Méril lol

[@balkesh7772]

NSK_XoTix je sais😂

[@alanhutchins5916]

Spot Chinese AI troll central in the comments ….. not hard.

[@Ubique2927]

Should have just hung out the white flag and taken German lessons. We would have been millions of times better off.

[@davidforbes7772]

Unless you were Jewish, or Polish, or a Slav, or you had a small birth defect...Sounds like we have a Nazi sympathiser here.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Another idiot. In what way do you believe we would be "a million times better off"? A puppet nazi government? Death camps in the Cotswolds, Pennines & Scottish Highlands? All UK males of working age (14+) deported to the reich to be slaved to death in nazi armaments factories? Sounds just peachy.

[@doctorshawzy6477]

all a waste...england has self destructed..we betrayed our brave ancestors....shame..

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

"we" didn't, the corporate globalist puppets in Westminster that were foisted upon us by the corruption of the mainstream political parties who, in their never satisifed search for "party funds", have been bought out by globalist corporations, and instead of working for the benefit of their "electorate" they now instead plan policy to transfer as much public tax dollars as possible into private bank accounts of global corporations.... THEY'RE the ones who destroyed our country.

[@doctorshawzy6477]

shameful lack of diversity inthose shipyards.....

[@nickspong9811]

The way that saw handled the trunk !!! Lovely Austin timber truck also .......it's all rather lovely