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Unseen Newsreel of WW1 Hartlepool Attack Found

Discussion in 'Military History' started by GRW, Mar 4, 2020.

  1. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    What a find!
    "Previously unseen footage of a World War One attack which killed 130 people has been revealed after being found at a market.
    The five minute long newsreel shows the aftermath of the bombardment of Hartlepool on 16 December 1914.
    It was found in a box of broken cameras at Tynemouth Market by Mark Simmons, Hartlepool Council's museums curator.
    Two German warships fired more than 1,000 shells on the town during the 40-minute dawn attack.
    Mr Simmons, who by coincidence had been researching the bombardment since 2011, bought the £20 box of broken cameras and lenses thinking they might useful for art projects.
    "On getting home, I just took out a few useful pieces and put the rest in storage," he said.
    "It was only later that I got around to sorting through the entire contents.
    "In the bottom of the box, wrapped in sheets of old greaseproof paper, was an old film reel and the title card on the first frames - The Attack on the Hartlepools - was just visible."
    The bombardment was carried out by the cruisers Blucher, Seydlitz and Motlke.
    Mr Simmons said the film, which has been donated to and restored by the North East Film Archive (NEFA), was "mostly previously unseen footage" by the Gaumont Company."
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-51726410?fbclid=IwAR1L-4i7RIDumo32jw2EIkZqxbQ9v2PJxRV-Is7jZYm7_-SAP0-exQOHlP4
     

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