The Launch of Formby Lifeboat

Out on the sands of Formby beach for an unusual glimpse of lifeboatmen at work.

In this rare fragment of film, shot during World War One, lifeboatmen conduct a practice launch on Formby Beach, with horses from an artillery regiment stationed nearby towing the lifeboat 'John and Henrietta' out into the waves. Tints in primary colours were added to silent nitrate films to enhance the mood, and the blue colour on this film shows how it would have originally appeared.