This film is part of Free
C.I.V.'s Marching aboard S.S. "Garth Castle"
Volunteers prepare for the long journey to South Africa
Overview
The title of this film dates it around January 1900 - when the first of two contingents of the City of London Imperial Volunteers boarded the SS Garth Castle bound for South Africa. These men would probably have volunteered less than a month before these images were shot for the Hepworth Film Company. A few weeks later they would see their first active service in the successful attempt to relieve the town of Kimberley from its Boer siege on 15 February.
The past tense of the opening intertitle points to the BFI National Archive's print being a reissued copy, perhaps from a few years later.
Related
Vistafjord Exclusive Cruises Vistafjord Exclusive Cruises
Advert 1975 21 mins Location: Southampton
Enjoy this kaleidoscope of images taken aboard the MS Vistafjord - for an exclusive holiday cruise setting sail from Southampton
Embarkation of the C.I.V. For South Africa Embarkation of the C.I.V. For South Africa
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
City Imperial Volunteers head for the Boer War battleground
Train Load of C.I.V.s Leaving Southampton Train Load of C.I.V.s Leaving Southampton
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Location: Southampton
Back in Blighty - after fighting in the Boer War, these volunteer soldiers are heading home to London and Middlesex
Coldstream Guards Embarking on Troopship Gascon Coldstream Guards Embarking on Troopship Gascon
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
This close view of departing troops gets up close and personal with soldiers off to the Boer War.
Lord Roberts Leaving for South Africa Lord Roberts Leaving for South Africa
Documentary 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
With grim news from the Boer War, a popular military commander is given a fond farewell as he leaves to take command
The 'Roslin Castle' (Troopship) Leaving for South Africa The 'Roslin Castle' (Troopship) Leaving for South Africa
Non-Fiction 1899 2 mins Location: Southampton
The 2nd Battalion West Yorkshires head off to join the Boer War
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.