The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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M.V. “General Guisan” for Suisse -Atlantique Soc de Nav Maritime SA
William Grays of Hartlepool show off their shipbuilding prowess after World War Two, from the skilled craft of ship modelling to the launch and sea trial of the General Guisan.
From the collection of:
Overview
This detailed record of the construction, launch, and sea trial of the General Guisan at William Grays in West Hartlepool focuses on the graft of shipbuilding as well as the visual spectacle of the launch into the River Wear. Amongst beautifully composed
William Gray & Co. evidently continued to employ women first conscripted into shipbuilding during World War Two to tackle the shortage of skilled workers and apprentices lost to the Army and Naval Reserves. These unsung heroines worked as welders, fitters
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